End of build clean - can we get away without one?

[Wiifitmama]

We are nearing the end of a major refurb and extension project. I had planned to get professionals in to clean before we moved our stuff and ourselves back in. But we are sooooo far over budget that I don't want to spend any money we don't have to. Is it something we can easily do ourselves? How bad a state do builders leave it in? Right now, as they are mid kitchen fitting, every single kitchen cupboard is full of debris, the dust is unbelievable, and I do not want to even look in our family bathroom which the builders have been using for months (we are living off site). So what is your experience of this?

[QuiteLikely5]

No experience but of course you can do it yourself.

Cleaners don't have any magical processes they are just the same as us!

Me personally I would firstly Hoover the whole place, skirtings included - if you have the attachment (usually a little brush with bristles attached)

Then I would clean clean and clean.

Then Hoover again. You could have it done in a couple of hours

[wowfudge]

And then a load more dust and sawdust would settle again.

We are nearing the end of building work and the kitchen is nearly finished. The place has been filthy and parts of it still are. Just be prepared to have to clean more than once. Buy or hire a canister vac as a normal domestic vacuum cleaner can't cope with the muck and you'll end up having to replace it.

Sweep, vacuum and mop to actually get the dirt out. Have carpets and curtains cleaned if they are affected by the dust.

[Ilovewillow]

We did a major renovation and build a few yrs ago! It went six months over so we had to move back whilst they were still working so we cleaned a lot! It wasn't too bad to be fair just be prepared to be cleaning plaster dust up more than once it seems to linger for ages. We have a cleaner but to be honest if she had done it I would have done it again myself anyway as I'm a bit picky!!

[QuiteLikely5]

You can just repeat again the following day.

How much is the clean going to cost privately?

[didireallysaythat]

Don't use a regular vacuum !!! Get a cannister one as the dust will kill a regular upright. Mist a room to get the dust to settle, vacuum and then expect to do it again.

I've never used a cleaning company post build - so i can't comment if they manage to get rid of plaster dust in one go. Be bloody amazing if they do - in my experience it takes a few weeks for all the dust to settle between cleans

[CiderwithBuda]

Our builders did it. House was spotless. We had the renovation done on U.K. House while we were still living overseas. Came back after a holiday and had booked three nights in a Premier Inn to get house cleaned before removal men came and then get moved in. Didn't need the first day which was planned for cleaning. Builder's wife works with him on design and some other things and I suspect she did a lot of it but we have used him since on stuff and he always cleans up well.

[Wiifitmama]

Interesting thanks. I guess if we are just going to have to repeat, it makes sense to do it ourselves. I will make dh do the bathroom though - no way am I going in there!!!