Post-Renovation Cleaning in Burnaby: A Field-Tested Method to Eliminate Fine Dust

Project at a Glance (Burnaby, Detached Home)

• Location: Waltham Ave, Burnaby

• Scope: 3-bed, 2-level house with dark wood staircase, two full bathrooms, one half bathroom, open kitchen, entry/foyer

• Pain points: Drywall sanding residue, light construction debris on floors/ledges, haze on glass & mirrors, fine dust in stair nosings/railings

• Crew & timing: 3 cleaners × 4.5 hours

• Outcome: Surfaces pass a white-glove wipe; glass/mirrors clear; kitchen range restored; stairs/railings dust-free

Why post-reno dust is hard to remove (and how we beat it)

Our 3-Stage Post-renovation Cleaning Method (proven in the field):

1. HEPA capture — We start with HEPA filtration at contact points (floors, stair nosings, window tracks, baseboards). HEPA removes sub-micron dust that regular vacuums recirculate.

2. Damp-wipe to lock dust — Microfiber (high GSM) + neutral cleaners appropriate to the surface: glass/mirrors, stainless, sealed wood, engineered flooring, tile/grout. The moisture binds particles, so they can’t “rebound.”

3. Top-down finish — After upper surfaces are dust-free, we work downward for the final pass, then dry finish/polish where needed to prevent water marks or film.

Material safety:

• Sealed hardwood/engineered wood: neutral pH, minimal moisture, dry finish.

• Natural stone (if present): no acid cleaners.

• Glass & mirrors: ammonia-free options to avoid streaking; lint-free towels.

• Stainless & black enamel: non-abrasive, film-free polishes.

How this Burnaby project started

Foyer (Before)—fine dust across hardwood and the entry path; staircase and railings show a grey haze.

When we first arrived, the entry and foyer looked like a typical post-reno scene: a fine layer of drywall dust across the hardwood, light footprints near the doorway, and debris tucked along the stair edges. The dark wood staircase and railings showed a visible grey haze, and tools/packaging were still on the side. Before any detailing, we cleared the floor, protected traffic paths, and planned a full top-to-bottom dust removal so the home could transition from “construction zone” to live-in ready.

Kitchen Stove (Before & After)

Process: HEPA around trim & knobs → damp-wipe cooktop plane and seams → residue removal → stainless & enamel polish.

Burnaby kitchen stove (Before)—black cooktop and panel covered in renovation dust.

Burnaby kitchen stove (After)—dust-free surface and polished stainless.

Renovation dust loves glossy and enamelled surfaces, so we treat the range as a precision task rather than a quick wipe. In Burnaby homes—especially open-plan kitchens—drywall particles settle into control seams, burner bases, and the lip where the cooktop meets the counter. We start with targeted HEPA extraction to prevent recirculation, then use a high-GSM microfiber damp-wipe to lock the dust rather than push it around. Residues and light construction film are lifted with a non-abrasive, film-free agent safe for black enamel and stainless steel. We finish with a dry polish so the panel reads clean at multiple angles and stays that way after the first heat cycle.

Staircase & Railings (dark wood shows everything)

Process: Tread-by-tread HEPA (paying attention to nosings and edge lips) → damp-wipe rails/spindles → dry buff to prevent streaks.

Staircase (Before)—visible fine dust on dark treads and railings.

Staircase (After)—dust removed; treads and railings restored to a clean finish.

Dark stained treads and metal spindles show even the lightest sanding haze, so a staircase demands a methodical, step-by-step approach. In this post-renovation in Burnaby project, we work heel-to-toe with a crevice tool to pull dust from nosings, edges, and post bases, then damp-wipe rails and balusters to break static that makes dust re-adhere. On sealed wood we keep moisture minimal and finish with a dry buff to avoid streaks or haloing under down-lights. The result is a staircase that feels grippy underfoot and reads uniformly clean along the handrail—no chalky fingerprints, no grey film in the corners.

Bathroom — Start with the “Heaviest Dust”

Mirror & shower glass (Before)—haze and hand marks from sanding residue.

Renovation haze is most obvious on glass, and this Burnaby bathroom shows it clearly—drywall dust has bonded to the mirror and shower glass, leaving a milky film that smears when wiped dry. Our approach is to stop the smear cycle: we start with targeted HEPA capture along the vanity edge and shower tracks, then use high-GSM microfiber with an ammonia-free glass agent to lock the particles instead of dragging them around. After a careful edge-to-center wipe, we dry-finish with a lint-free towel and check the surface from two angles under light to ensure it’s truly streak-free. The result is clear reflection, clean etching on the shower panels, and no residue on fixtures or granite ledges.

Toilet & floor (Before → After)

Bathroom (Before)—black tile and toilet base covered with drywall dust.

Bathroom (After)—toilet, tile, vanity edge, and shower glass restored to a spotless, streak-free fin

What you’re seeing: Drywall dust settled on black tile, along the toilet base and shower track. We started with targeted HEPA around edges and corners, then used a neutral-pH cleaner with high-GSM microfiber to lock particles without leaving film. Hinges, bolt caps, and silicone lines were detailed, the shower track lips were flushed and wiped, and we finished with a lint-free dry pass to prevent streaks. Result: clean porcelain, dust-free grout lines, and a floor that reads uniformly matte under light.

Toilet (Before → After)

Toilet (Before)—dust on the rim, hinges, and grey floor tile.

Toilet (After)—bowl, seat, and floor cleaned; edges and corners finished.

Dust from the reno had settled around the base, hinges, and along the floor edges. We wiped down the bowl inside and out, cleaned the seat and hinges, scrubbed the rim and base, and mopped the surrounding tile. Edges and corners were detailed so there’s no grey line left behind. The toilet now looks fresh and the floor reads evenly clean.

Kitchen — Final Result

Kitchen (After)—counters, cabinets, backsplash, and appliances restored to a spotless finish.

By the end, the kitchen read clean from every angle: countertops wiped edge-to-edge, backsplash and outlets dust-free, cabinet faces and handles cleaned, and the stainless appliances polished. The island, sink area, and floor lines were finished so there’s no dull film or residue—just a bright, living-ready workspace.

Summary

This Burnaby project began like most post-renos: fine drywall dust across the foyer and staircase, haze on bathroom mirrors and shower glass, powder along toilet bases and tile edges, and a dusty black cooktop. We cleared the space, worked top-to-bottom, and detailed the high-visibility areas—stove, staircase, and bathrooms—so every surface reads clean from multiple angles. The result is a ready-to-live home: streak-free glass, polished stainless, dust-free railings and floors, and bathrooms that feel fresh—not chalky.

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