How to best get rid of building dust?

[instantfamily]

I am preparing myself for the workmen finishing off the renovation of our house (new wood floor, new tiles, new kitchen, bathrooms, etc). I want to save on the professional cleaners' fees do the cleaning myself. What is the best way to get rid of all that dust?

I have

1 good vacuum cleaner with a supply of new bags
2 microfibre rags
3 millions of other rags

Where do I start? Vacuum and then wipe all surfaces with a wet cloth?

TIA

[justaweeone]

I am trying to remember how they used to clean the new build houses when zi used to sell them years ago
They used to do 2 cleans
First a builders clean and then a sparkle clean
I think your builders clean involved removal of a rubbish etc , then any large bits brushed up with a broom,then a Hoover,any stickers etc removed off sanitary wear,damp dusting(remembers to do inside cupboards)
Then the sparkle would involve cleaning the windows and everything wiped over using a can off furniture polish,they even used it is the bathrooms,skirting boards etc
Hope that helps,good luck!

[PigletJohn]

hide your good vacuum cleaner. Hide its hose and attachments in a different place, preferably someone else's house. Builders dust will damage it. Wrap electronic items including computers, TVs, DVD players in big plastic bags and do not unwrap them until all the dust is gone.

get a canister vac from a DIY shed or online. It must be one with a cartridge filter, get a spare cartridge to swap when the first gets clogged. You can clean it with a stiff nylon brush into the bin (it will be dusty) and eventually you can hose it clean. The cartridge can be used when you are sucking up water.

get some big paper bags to fit (they are the size of pillowcases and curl round inside the tub, they will catch the dust and delay clogging the cartridge, and you can put them in the bin. The bags cannot be used wet.

(you will have to get compatible bags and cartidge for the model you buy. They are often cheaper on ebayt)

After hoovering up all you can (remember lamp shades and tops of cupboards) start wet-mopping and damp-sponging. This will avoid stirring up the dust.

Use the canister vac for a couple of weeks after you think the dust is gone. It isn't.

[mermaidbutmytailfelloff]

My dyson was BRiLLIANT at sucking up the builders dust. I was less impressed when it stopped working and the repair man said I'd clogged the motor.....

[mermaidbutmytailfelloff]

Ahhh what piglet said!

[betterwhenthesunshines]

Don't use your regular good hoover. We got a cheap one which did the job (although it did used to get a bit hot and smell of burning occasionally...) but you can also hire proper ones from DSS or similar.

[instantfamily]

thanks all! Off to search for that vacuum cleaner.

[sheeplikessleep]

I used a brush, an old vacuum cleaner, bucket of wet soapy water and several hundred jay cloths!

[poozlepants]

If you can't get rid of the plaster dust by hoovering alone put a little olive oil in the water you use to mop or wipe. It can be a real bugger to get rid of and the oil works a treat.

[instantfamily]

I see lots of experienced builders/cleaners! Thanks for the advice.

[IvanaHumpalotCountDracula]

Put your tea bags/coffee, cup and spoon in plastic box to keep clean whilst the dust is flying everywhere.

Clean bathroom and kitchen first. Kitchen to save your sanity when you need to have brew/lunch. Bathroom when you're knackered and need to clean and soak in bath. Have bubble bath to hand and wine in fridge.

[FishfingersAreOK]

Watching with interest - though have already started some stuff today. Though am feeling it is somewhat premature as I have someone coming to sand my bedroom floor on Wednesday.....and as yet zero internal doors fitted....

[instantfamily]

Our professional parquet guy made less dust than I thought, but still dust, so I wouldn't clean quite yet, Fishfingers.

My fingers are itching to clean and move but I am waiting til I've seen the back of the dirt makers.

[FishfingersAreOK]

I've mostly been tackling windows- to shift the odd bit of paint/plaster stuck on...and am hoping if they are shiny before the extra dust is created they will be easier to clean afterwards..(hopeful)