Ask a House Cleaner, Post Construction Clean, Savvy Cleaner

Post Construction Clean

A post construction clean is necessary after every new home is built and before the tenant can move in.

What cleaning supplies should you use in a post construction clean? Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru dishes on all-purpose cleaner, grout, mold prevention, DIY cleaning tips and how to steam a hardwood floor.

A post construction clean involves extra one-time projects before moving into the new house.

In this “come clean with me” episode you’ll see how the pros do a move in cleaning. 

Today’s show sponsor is https://HouseCleaning360.com

HouseCleaning360 is a business referral network for house cleaners and maids and housekeepers.

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Hey there, I’m Angela Brown, and this is Ask a House Cleaner. This is a show where you get to ask a house cleaning question, and I get to help you find an answer.

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Question: Post Construction Clean

Today’s question comes from a guy who’s moving into a new house. And he says, “What do I need to do to clean my new house before I move in?”

He says, “The builder will provide a broom clean environment. But I know that there are still some dust and sawdust and stuff that needs cleaning. What do I need to know? What specific products do I need to clean granite and hardwood floors and fiberglass?”

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Answer: Post Construction Clean

Okay, so that’s a great question. And the answer is yes. There will be a post-construction cleaning company that will come in and clean up the house.

You know how a couple of months after Christmas you’re still finding the pine needles that have from the tree and somehow made their way under the sofa? A move in is like that. You’ll be finding bits of debris for a while.

There will be dust and debris that will come from turning on the air conditioning unit. There’s stuff inside those air ducts that are going to get blown out. And you will find dust and places that you thought were clean.

So, the first thing you need to do is be patient. And just realize there will be dust until everything kind of settles.

Make an All-Purpose Cleaner

All purpose Mix for post construction cleanup, water, vinegar, dawn dish soapOne of the things that I recommend is that you get an empty spray bottle. Fill it up half with vinegar and half with water and put maybe two drops of dishwashing soap. Like Dawn dishwashing soap or Joy,
inside there and just shake it up and use it as an all-purpose cleaner.

Get yourself an all-purpose mix because that’s going to be safe on most of the surfaces that you will clean.  So for example, around your window seals the molding around the walls.

Granite

I don’t recommend that you use the vinegar on the granite because as a little bit of acidity to it. 

Just a clean damp paper towel to clean and shine up granite. So just a damp paper towel or a damp microfiber cloth that’s all you need on granite.

Fiberglass

Fiberglass might be in your bathtubs. Your sinks are most likely porcelain or ceramic. For fiberglass, you can use Bar Keepers Friend which is a cleanser or Comet cleanser.

Hardwood Floors

Steam Cleaner Safe for Hardwood Floors, HooverMate Steam Scrubber ProI would recommend getting a steamer. A steamer is going to be great for hardwood floors. They now make steamers that are just for hardwood floors.

I’ve put a link to my favorite one in the resources section below. This is great for a house. 

Steamers are great for cleaning hardwood floors. They are also great for cleaning bathroom tiles.

My husband bought me one a couple of years ago and I have never used a regular mop since I steam everything. It’s awesome.

In a brand new house, there’s going to be some glue and stuff that they used when they put down the hardwoods. A  good steaming is going to be a great way to clean all that up. It is kind of an intro product I like I say.

The hardwood floors are able to use the steam because it leaves so little water. So, it’s not like it’s going to warp your floorboards or anything like that.

Seal the Grout on the Tiles

post construction clean up sealer for grout, granite and natural stoneNow, in the bathroom, if you have tile and grout the first thing I would recommend is that you seal your grout.

And this means going to the hardware store. I’ll put links to some sealer in the resources as well. But you can buy this at Lowe’s, Home Depot, or Ace Hardware. You can buy it in any home improvement store.

What it is, is a little bottle that looks like a ketchup or mustard bottle that you would see at a restaurant.

But it has little bristles on the top like a little toothbrush. And you just wipe it along with all the grout, and all the different tiles that you have in your bathroom.

I would do it around in the showers, and on the floors. And if you have tiles on the walls, or if you have them in the kitchen as a backsplash. I would use it on all the grout in the home.

The Purpose of Sealing Grout

post construction clean up sealer for grout, to prevent mold in showerThe purpose of sealing the grout is to help keep out moisture. Moisture attracts dust and dirt and grease and stuff like that.

So, in your showers that’s where the mold collects is in the grout. And it’s hard to get the grout clean if it’s not sealed.

It is also good to seal grout if it is porous. If you do not seal the grout, as the house gets older, the water can seep down behind the tiles and grow mold. Then you will have mold behind the tiles in your shower and under your shower floor. 

So you want to make sure to seal all the grout, that way it makes cleaning super easy.

My Recommendations Might Not Be Available Where You Live

post construction clean up for bathrooms, cleanser and no scratch scrub spongeIt’s going to depend on where you live. I know in the UK a lot of products are not available that are here in the US.

A lot of products that are available in the US or not available in Canada.

But, there will be common items. So a cleanser for example, or a dishwashing soap. That’s going to be available wherever you live.

I don’t know what the brands are but there will be something available.

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Plan on a Mess for A Month or So

So, those are some of the things that I would recommend early on as you move into your house.

There’s going to be dust that comes from the cardboard boxes that you’re bringing in. 

So, as you bring stuff in from the storage unit you might be bringing in cobwebs or dust or other things.

And so just plan on it being a little bit messy for the first three or four cleanings. Until you get everything kind of settled, and put away and organized. And then just a regular maintenance cleaning.

So anyway, I hope that helps. I hope that answers some of your questions. And until we meet again, leave the world a cleaner place than when you found it.

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During the shows we recommend services, sites, and products to help you improve your cleaning and grow your cleaning business. We have partnerships with these companies to provide you with discounts, and savings. By clicking on and buying from the links in the show notes, we may receive a commission which helps pay for the production costs of the show.

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Resources For This Episode

How Much Does Post Construction Cleaning Cost? http://bit.ly/2xVT0Kt

Post Construction – After the Dust Settles – http://bit.ly/2zh6sMw

Start a Post Construction Cleaning Business – http://bit.ly/2zgCA2D

Bon 87-346 Grout Sealer Applicator Bottle – http://amzn.to/2u2f0UG

Tuff Duck Granite, Grout, and Marble Sealer 1 Quart Stone Tile – http://amzn.to/2u7ThLU

Hoover WH20401 FloorMate SteamScrub Pro Hard Floor Steam Mop – http://amzn.to/2tYDnDe

All-Purpose Cleaning Solution: 50% Water + 50% White Vinegar + 3 drops of Dawn Dish Soap in empty spray bottle

DilaBee Empty Plastic Spray Bottles Pack of 4 – 16 Oz. – 100% Leak Proof, Professional Heavy-Duty with Bonus Funnel, Caps and Labels! – http://amzn.to/2znRcv5

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HOUSECLEANING360 – Referral database of the world’s most prominent home service providers and the homeowners they serve. https://housecleaning360.com

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