Home renovations can be a messy business.  Even if you take precautions to minimize dust and debris, there's no avoiding some post-construction cleaning. But what happens when the renovation isn't quite finished? Can you still get a good clean?

A Real-World Case Study

In a recent project, our team at Smart Serve was tasked with cleaning a home renovation project for a valued client. Due to confidentiality, we cannot disclose their name, but they were facing the challenge of needing a clean space while the renovation was still underway.

Our Approach

Our first step was always to communicate clearly with the client to establish cleaning priorities and boundaries.  It was important to explain that certain areas would be difficult to access or clean thoroughly due to ongoing construction.

With that understanding, we developed a phased cleaning plan. This allowed us to focus on cleaning the completed areas while minimizing disruption to the ongoing renovation work.

For the completed areas, we followed a similar cleaning process to a standard post-renovation clean:

Dusting all surfaces including furniture, shelves, and decorative items.
Vacuuming floors with a particular focus on high-traffic areas.
Mopping and disinfecting floors
Cleaning and disinfecting kitchens and bathrooms (focusing on completed areas)

Challenges and Overcoming Them

Of course, cleaning an unfinished renovation presented some unique challenges. Here are a few of the biggest ones we faced, and how we addressed them:

Incomplete Work Areas: Areas undergoing active renovation were off-limits for cleaning. We concentrated our efforts on finished areas and performed a preliminary sweep to remove larger debris like wood scraps and packaging materials from these zones.

Dust and Debris: Construction dust is an inevitable consequence of renovations. We used HEPA-filtered vacuums to remove dust from all accessible surfaces. Larger debris from the renovation also created obstacles for thorough cleaning in some areas. Our cleaners performed preliminary sweeps to remove these obstacles before standard cleaning procedures.

Paint Spills: Paint spills are another common byproduct of renovation work. We treated any paint spills we encountered with appropriate cleaning products, always testing them in an inconspicuous area first to ensure they wouldn't damage the surface.

Safety First

Safety was a major priority throughout this project.  Our cleaners never worked in actively used construction zones, and we provided them with all the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) to guard against dust and potential hazards.

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A Note to Clients Undergoing Renovations

If you're planning a renovation, it's important to factor in the cleaning process. While it is possible to get a good clean even when the renovation isn't finished, a final, deep clean will likely be necessary once construction is fully completed.  Communicating with your cleaning company throughout the renovation process will ensure a smooth cleaning experience  and a sparkling clean home once the project is finished