How to Remove Renovation/Post Construction Dust When Cleaning Homes in Toronto

It's exciting to renovate. Your basement is finally finished, your kitchen looks brand new, or you've made something useful out of that extra space. The part that no one tells you, though, is that after the contractors depart, you're left with a post-construction mess that's more difficult to handle than you anticipated.
It takes more than a quick vacuum to get rid of drywall dust, fine debris, and remaining construction particles. They drift, return to your recently cleaned surfaces, and even infiltrate your vents. If you want your home to truly feel finished, post-renovation cleanup must adhere to a very specific procedure.

Why does dust from drywall keep returning?

The white film will most likely reappear within a few hours if you have already completed one cleaning cycle. That's just the way renovation dust operates; it's not because you did a poor job. Because drywall dust is so fine—almost like powder—it floats in midair and resettles repeatedly.

To truly get rid of it, you will therefore need to vacuum and wipe down multiple times. Here are some tried-and-true tips for cleaning drywall dust.

Before going wet, start with a dry clean.

Taking out a mop at the first opportunity is the biggest mistake homeowners make when cleaning up after construction. You smear fine drywall dust into a paste rather than eliminating it when you combine water with it.

Rather, start by removing the dry dust:

1. To ensure that fine particles are trapped rather than blown around, use a vacuum with a HEPA filter (shop vacuums are ideal for this).
2. Start with the baseboards, windowsills, shelves, light fixtures, and then move on to the floors.
3. Continue using microfiber cloths for cleaning. Microfiber collects dust rather than merely moving it, in contrast to paper towels or old rags.

The double-wipe technique: Wet clean and then dry clean

It's time for damp wiping after you've vacuumed and gotten rid of the majority of the loose dust. The trick is to always wipe with a dry cloth afterward.

For instance:

Wipe the surface with a damp microfiber cloth that has been well-wrung out and is not dripping, then quickly wipe it off with a new, dry microfiber cloth.

The only way to prevent that chalky drywall haze from resurfacing on walls, cabinets, counters, and tables is to use this two-step technique. Simply wiping with a damp cloth will leave residue or streaks. The dust will return if you only dry wipe. In fact, combining damp and dry solves the problem.

Don’t forget the walls.

The amount of dust that accumulates on walls during renovation cleanup is astounding. Even if they appear fine at first, you'll be surprised at how much can be removed if you gently rub them with a cloth or a microfiber mop. Just take care not to soak walls that have just been painted. All you need is a microfiber that is slightly damp.

Floors require several passes.

Don't assume that a single vacuum and mop will be sufficient to complete the task. It will take at least two or three rounds to thoroughly clean your floors after a renovation:

1. Vacuum Round #1 - To gather the first layer of drywall dust, use a HEPA filter
2. Vacuum Round #2 - To catch what you missed, make sure you run the vacuum in the opposite direction.
3. Use a damp mop with a microfiber flat mop, frequently washing the pad.
4. A final dry mop or microfiber sweep frequently aids in streak removal.

Carpets are particularly challenging. Several slow vacuum passes are necessary because drywall dust gets deeply embedded in the fibers. After renovations, many homeowners in Toronto schedule a professional carpet cleaning to get rid of everything that a home vacuum cannot.

What about the vents?

Your HVAC system is a major factor in why dust seems to be everywhere after a post-construction clean. During renovations, dust enters the vents and is blown out when the system is operating.

Although vent cleaning is outside the purview of our cleaning crew, we strongly advise Toronto homeowners to give it some thought following a significant renovation. Replace your furnace filter and take off and clean your vent covers, at the very least. For a full reset, call a professional duct cleaning service. It's the only method to totally prevent the flow of construction dust into your house.

The follow-up maintenance cleans:

Over the next 48 to 72 hours, a thin layer of dust will likely reappear even if everything was done correctly. The secret is to avoid becoming frustrated and simply schedule two quick "follow-up cleans":

1. Vacuum the floors once more on day two, and give the major surfaces a quick wet and dry wipe.
2. On the third day, look for dust-collecting, clean surfaces such as baseboards, counters, and nightstands.

Eventually, most of the dust should be gone by the end of that cycle.

Conclusion

Regular house cleaning is not the same as a post-construction clean. It requires several rounds, the appropriate equipment, and certain drywall dust removal tips like the damp + dry microfiber technique and two-way HEPA vacuuming. Remembering the vents is also essential to completing the job correctly, even though it will require a separate duct cleaning service.

Too exhausted to handle everything? Give IOC Solutions a call. From drywall dust removal to thorough surface cleaning, our Toronto post-construction cleaning crew will take care of the heavy lifting so you can enjoy your renovation without any hassles.