No matter how hard you try to get a different outcome, the fact is construction jobs get messy. Pieces of wood, nails, and a huge amount of dust are present throughout all projects. You can try to minimize the chaos with the help of better planning and daily clean up schedules. It sounds good in theory but following up with that after a hectic day, generally does not happen.

You could argue that extensive cleaning is not part of your job as a contractor. But doing so would help your client. This would surely distinguish you from the other contractors in the market. The industry standard says ‘broom-swept’ is enough. Rise above those norms and keep these tips in mind to deal with specific parts of clean up after work.

Flooring

As soon as your work is done, the dirtiest place will often be the floor. Dust is an obvious enemy but start the work with bigger things. Collect the pieces of wood, nails, and any other objects. Not only will it help clean the place up, but it will also prevent any accidents related to them. This habit will also help reduce your wastage of resources while working. These pieces can be used again if they are in good condition or recycled if they aren’t.

Dust can be removed with the classic broom and mop method. For smaller particles, you can use a vacuum too. Flooring type matters when you are choosing which method to use for cleaning.

Walls

Any paint that was scraped off by accident can be touched up with a single coat. You still need to apologize if such mistakes happen from your side. In case there are grease or oil stains, a 3:1 ratio of baking soda and water will do the trick. Apply that to the area and gently rub with a nylon scrubber. Use a damp cloth to wipe it clean.

For dust on walls, you can use any one of the following depending on the amount of dust: broom, vacuum cleaner, microfiber cloth. Some homeowners prefer drywall because of the ease of cleaning them.

Air Quality

The air quality of the home or area of construction is affected while working. If it’s a closed area, keep this in your mind and open windows to let some fresh air in and the dust particles out. After the work is finished, check up on the air filters of the ventilation system of the place. They would probably be dirty. Clean them with warm water and make sure there is no residue.

Finishing Up

Any piece of furniture or other property of the owner that was left exposed during your job should be taken care of. Dust them off but if there is heavy dust settlement, choose to vacuum them instead.

In the case of upholsteries, the dust could be in between the fiber. A simple vacuum cleaner might not do the trick for this. Use HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) vacuum cleaner to clean minute particles. You can use this to finish up the cleaning process.

As discussed earlier, cleaning up after your work is not a necessity. But this is one of the points where most contractors fall short. Caring for your client and their property will help establish a warm relationship with them.

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