Anyone who’s ever done DIY work in their own home (or someone else’s house) will find that most of the time the project takes longer than expected and no matter how small it may seem, it’s usually pretty exhausting. I know that This means you have to make tough decisions when it comes to tidying up. You can either push it away and clean it up or put it off for another day.
And while it might be tempting to change into your work clothes and spend the rest of the day relaxing, your future self will be very grateful if you take the time to at least do some light tidying up during the day. Luckily there are a few steps you can take to get most of the job done so you don’t have to scratch your head.
read more
How to clean up after a DIY project
I know you’re exhausted, so I’ll keep this short. The goal of this cleanup is not to spend hours going through all the nooks and crannies trying to achieve a Monica Geller-level cleanup. Instead, leave space so that at least you can have a safe conversation in your work area. Here’s what to do (in chronological order):
Remove large debris from the space and place it in or near trash cans, garbage cans, cars that carry it, etc. Create a pile/area for tidying up tools and appliances. When you’re done working in that room, put the equipment back in its place.
If your project contains screws, nails, metal shavings, or other metal debris that you don’t want someone to step on, use large magnets to keep floors, counters, tables, and objects where they land. Explore other possible surfaces. One of these magnetic sweepers is ideal. Use it if you have one, or see if you can borrow one from your neighbor.
Next, use a broom and dustpan to sweep up any large debris that is still on the floor, counters, tables, etc., and place the dustpan in a large (sturdy) garbage bag.
Try to remove as much stuff as possible from the surface: the next step is to vacuum them. after times.
Ideally, it should not leave much on floors or other surfaces. Use a vacuum cleaner if you have one, otherwise a regular vacuum will suffice. Sweep the entire floor and inhale as much as you can over time. Remove attachments such as corners, counters, woodwork and tall objects.
Some DIY projects may still have some dust on them. Grab a few microfiber cloths and wipe everything down, including ceiling fans, vents, woodwork, and other areas where dust tends to accumulate. Vacuum one last time to remove any dust that may have fallen or spread.
After dusting, if you’re happy with how the area looks, at least for now, you can stop there and tackle everything else later. Take it and use your household cleaning product of choice (or one of these DIY options) to wipe down your tables and counters. Finally, if you have spare time and the rest of your DIY schedule is fine, mop the floor.
More Lifehacker Articles
Sign up for Lifehacker’s newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, twitter and Instagram.
Click here to read the full article.
