Construction Dust and Allergies: How to Breathe Easier After a Remodel

That Cleaning Girl · Post-Construction Cleaning

If your nose started running the day the drywall crew showed up, you are not imagining it. Construction dust is irritating, and for people with allergies or asthma, a remodel can make home feel miserable. Timing the cleanup well helps, as we explained in When to Schedule Post-Construction Cleaning Around the Punch List. This article is about the cleaning itself and how to get the air in your home feeling clean again.

We are cleaners, not doctors, so if you have a medical condition, talk to your doctor about what is right for you. What we can share is how to remove the dust that causes most of the trouble.

Why construction dust bothers people

Construction dust is a mix of fine particles: drywall and joint compound dust, sawdust, concrete dust, insulation fibers and plain old dirt tracked in from outside. The finest particles stay in the air for a long time and drift into every room. They also settle on surfaces and get kicked back up every time someone walks by or the HVAC kicks on.

For people who are sensitive, that means sneezing, itchy eyes, a scratchy throat or a cough that hangs around until the dust is truly gone.

Clean in a way that does not stir it up

The goal is to remove dust, not move it. A few rules make a big difference:

• Vacuum with a good filter. A vacuum without a fine-dust filter can blow particles right back out.
• Damp wipe instead of dry dusting with feathers. A barely damp microfiber cloth traps dust instead of flinging it.
• Work top to bottom. Fans, fixtures and ledges first, floors last.
• Rinse cloths often. A dirty cloth just spreads a thin layer around.
• Avoid sweeping hard floors. Brooms kick fine dust into the air. Vacuum instead.

Do not forget soft surfaces

Construction dust settles into anything soft:

• Carpets and rugs
• Upholstered furniture
• Curtains and drapes
• Pillows, bedding and mattresses in nearby rooms
• Stuffed animals and fabric toys

Vacuum carpets and upholstery slowly, in several directions. Wash curtains, bedding and anything else that can go in the machine. If furniture was in the room during construction, vacuum the cushions and under them, and wipe hard frames.

The HVAC system matters

Your heating and cooling system circulates air through the whole house, and during a remodel it has been pulling in dust the entire time. To help:

1. Replace the filter after the dusty work is done.
2. Wipe off vent covers and return grilles.
3. Run the fan for a while after cleaning to pull dust into the new filter.
4. Replace the filter again a few weeks later.
5. Ask your HVAC company if a finer filter is appropriate for your system.

If dust keeps coming out of the vents after all of this, an HVAC company may need to look at the ducts. That is a separate service from house cleaning.

North Texas makes it trickier

We do not just deal with construction dust here. Spring brings oak and grass pollen, fall brings ragweed, and winter brings mountain cedar season, which hits a lot of people hard. Windy days kick up dust from open fields and new construction sites in growing areas south of Dallas.

During a remodel, try to keep windows closed on high-pollen or windy days. Use the HVAC system with a fresh filter instead of open windows to air out paint smells when the pollen count is high. Put sturdy mats at every door to catch dirt and pollen before it comes in.

Products and smells

Some people react to strong cleaning product smells as much as to dust. If anyone in your home is sensitive, let your cleaner know. Mild, low-scent products and plain water work well for most post-construction cleaning, and we can use your preferred products if you have them.

Fresh paint, caulk and new flooring can also have a smell for a while. Good ventilation and time usually help. Run the exhaust fans in bathrooms and the kitchen, and air out the house on mild, low-pollen days.

Keep it up after the clean

Once the big clean is done, a few habits help keep dust down:

• Vacuum regularly with a filtered vacuum.
• Damp dust instead of dry dusting.
• Wash bedding weekly.
• Change the HVAC filter on schedule.
• Take shoes off at the door.

Breathe easier

Construction dust does not have to linger. Remove it the right way, deal with soft surfaces and the HVAC system, and work around pollen season. For a thorough clean after your remodel, see our post-construction cleaning service.