Tips on cleaning a new build

16 years ago

We will be closing at the end of the month. I was quoted $600 to clean the whole house. For a 3000 sp ft house I know that is not bad but we are out of money. A few family members have offered to come and help us out so we will do it on our own.

Other than the basic sweeping, mopping, dusting, window cleaning, and bathroom sanitizing; what else should I do? Any special supplies that I need? I think I will get a micro duster with a long handle to clean up the walls. Other than that I am not sure what else we will need.

Any help would be great.

TIA

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Comments (9)

srercrcr
16 years ago
The windows are time-consuming...labels hard to remove, markings from the plant, sloppy caulk on the perimeter.
kangell_gw
16 years ago
Depends a lot on how clean the builder is leaving it. I'm trying to remember the terminology, but I think I had cleaners come in for 'rough construction clean' which got the heavy dust/junk in the bathtub/etc stuff cleaned up and then came back later after the dust had settled to do the 'final clean'.

I think dust settling may be your biggest issue depending upon your type of construction. Start from the top and work your way down.
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cs6000
16 years ago
Get a big shop vac, and a couple of extra filters for quick change outs as sawdust and sheetrock dust clog them fast.
Brooms work best to get the heavy stuff first.

Also grab a gallon of lacquer thinner and some razor blade scrapers. The scrapers can take whatever overspray, stickers on windows down pretty well, then finish up with laquer thinner. Be careful around finished surfaces.

Might need an air compressor with a spray nozzle some, but this really just blows dust out that well settle elsewhere, so do it first. For places you just can't reach with a shopvac.
brickeyee
16 years ago
"Get a big shop vac, and a couple of extra filters for quick change outs as sawdust and sheetrock dust clog them fast."

The only filters I have used that reliably stop drywall dust are the Gore Cleanstream filters.

Buy at least two of them so you can wash one out and let it dry while using the second filter.

If you have vacuumed drywall dust do not then vacuum any liquids.
It will be that much harder to clean the filter off.

I hire a cleanup company/crew for anything but the smallest jobs, and it is included in costs.
rollie
16 years ago
Depending on how bad the drywall dust is, sweeping compound can be a huge asset for the initial removal. It collects the dust on the compound, and really slows down the airborne particles/
rockmanor
16 years ago
Two products that I find very useful are Goof-Off for paint splatters and Goo-Gone for sticker residue. I'd also buy a bag (or two) of cheap microfiber cloths from a big box store. You may choose to toss out some at the end of the job, but most could probably be washed to use again.
emilynewhome
16 years ago
Be careful with scraping labels off windows, some manufacturers finishes can be scratched off leaving ugly marks when the sun hits them!
2ajsmama
16 years ago
Just peel the labels off - I didn't have a hard time with mine - and use glass cleaner. You may scratch them and void the warrnty if you scrape.

Goof-off will take the lacquer off your cabinetry so be careful - usually a fingernail will do a better job.
brickeyee
16 years ago
A quart can of Xylene is cheaper than a few ounces of GoofOff, and is the major ingredient.

Rubbing alcohol or denature alcohol is less damaging to finishes and will remove latex paint.