Renovating a home is an exciting venture for anyone who wants to achieve the desired design for their house. However, the work is far from over after the project is finished. The construction crew will likely have left quite a lot of dust, dirt, and hazards to deal with. 

These dangers won’t be easily removed by a regular cleanup. You need to do some special post-renovation cleaning instead, which may involve hiring a professional service. 

Let’s explore the risks we face if we take on this major task ourselves. 

Types of Hazards Left Behind After Renovation Projects

Loose Debris

Chunks of wood, metal, tiles or other materials could lie around the renovated area. People could trip over or get scratched by such debris. These could also damage your home’s new surfaces too. 

Stray Nails, Screws, and Glass Shards

During any home renovation work, there are bound to be some nails, screws, or shards of broken glass scattered around. These tiny objects can cause injuries if you accidentally step on them. They’re also choking hazards for children and pets. 

Construction Dust

Construction dust can comprise various particles from sawdust, cement, drywall, and metal shavings. Even inhaling a small amount can lead to respiratory problems like wheezing and coughing. Your lungs could also suffer from inflammation.  

The dust can also irritate the eyes and skin if exposed. 

Chemical Fumes

Paints, varnishes, and other construction materials used in the renovation can leave residual fumes. Not only do these emit strong, unpleasant odours, but inhaling the fumes can also cause allergic reactions and harm your lungs.

Power Tools Left Behind

Occasionally, a renovation contractor might leave behind their tools by accident. It’s important to find and secure these during the post-renovation cleaning as well. Like stray nails and glass shards, these can also be dangerous to your children and pets. 

Prolonged Exposure Can Lead to Long-Term Illnesses

If we don’t conduct a post-renovation cleaning session on our homes, we could have medical issues later in life. Some of these complications include: 

• Cancer: Some of the fumes or dust particles inhaled can contain carcinogens. 

• Silicosis: This is the permanent inflammation and scarring of the lungs caused by silica dust inhalation. 

• COPD: a shortcut for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, this comprises various lung diseases that block our airways. 

How to Stay Safe During Post-Renovation Cleaning

Now that we’re well aware of the hazards we face, we should take precautions when cleaning after the renovation. Here are a few tips to remember before you start the cleanup. 

Wear Protective Equipment

Always make sure you’re already wearing protective clothes and gear before entering your renovated home. These safety equipment include: 

• Gloves to protect your hands when picking up debris, power tools, or glass

• Goggles to keep your eyes safe from fumes and construction dust

• Respiratory or dual-filter gas masks to avoid inhaling dust and fumes

Keep the Area Well-Ventilated

Before cleaning, keep the doors and windows wide open to ventilate the space. This helps clear out any lingering fumes and airborne dust in the room much faster than if you were cleaning a completely enclosed space. 

Clear the Large Debris First

The very first task you should do in your cleaning checklist is to remove the large debris first before dealing with dust and smaller objects. This makes the rest of the cleaning process safer since you have less risk of getting injured by the debris. 

Post-Renovation Cleaning Should Be Taken Seriously

While it’s possible to clean your home yourself after the renovation, we highly advise against it because of all the dangers you face. It’s safer to hire post-renovation cleaning services in Singapore and have them deal with all the dust and dirt in your newly refurbished home. They already understand the potential hazards and already have the tools and knowledge to mitigate the risks and ready your house for moving in. 

With a serious task like post-renovation cleanups, we’d best leave it to the professionals.