While converting the attic is a smart way to gain living space, for many, the loft often still serves as a storage area for old memories and dusty old belongings. When was the last time you visited the attic? Prepare to sneeze and cough if you haven't been there in a while!
To save you from wide-eyed wonder and wiping your nose with the back of your sleeve, why not take the bull by the horns, finally get your hands dirty and clean your attic once and for all?
How to clean your attic to properly convert your loft space?
We're usually much more eager to get out of the attic as quickly as possible than to actually clean it. A necessary step for proper attic conversion, an attic shelters much more than just dust: allergens, mouse droppings, mold, dead insects, and all sorts of debris. Enough to give any asthmatics in the house a serious coughing fit!
Every time you go up to the attic, you bring back countless pollutants, which weigh down the air in your home. As you can imagine, there's nothing healthy in there! All the more reason to have your attic cleaned, ideally annually.
If the task seems insurmountable right now, you'll find reassurance in breaking down your plan of attack. We've subdivided it into 5 less daunting steps for you!
Cleaning your attic in 5 steps in Montreal
Far from being child's play, cleaning an attic in preparation for future conversion requires a minimum of goodwill and elbow grease. The past years have left behind a quantity of objects and dust that will require even more courage to clean. But as with everything else, having a plan of approach in mind will greatly facilitate the task.
You will proceed in 5 steps, which are as follows:
1. Equip yourself with the necessary equipment :
Especially if it's so dusty it catches in your throat, you won't tackle your attic without a filter mask, a pair of gloves, and safety glasses: you'll need them to effectively combat the airborne dust and get rid of the mold.
You will also need to have your vacuum cleaner, a broom, and a dustpan nearby. For cleaning attics that are not connected to the electricity grid, be sure to bring a flashlight or headlamp.
2. Make some space for yourself :
First and foremost, think about your safety. Take great care, especially if your attic floor is unstable, not to put excessive weight on a fragile floor.
Now that you're safe from a foolish accident, clear away any boxes, containers, and other objects obstructing your path. Then, tackle any furniture that might be stored there.
3. Start dusting your attic :
Using your broom, sweep away dust from walls, window frames, light fixtures, and other surfaces. For heavier furniture left upstairs, don't hesitate to use your vacuum cleaner. Less accessible corners will benefit from a quick sweep.
With all the dust you've accumulated on the floor, a vacuuming is necessary. Choose a smaller nozzle to vacuum even the tightest gaps in the floor.
Once dusted, clean the windows with a microfiber cloth dampened with window cleaner. Be sure to wipe the frames as well. Once everything is clean, put any bulky furniture back in its place.
4. Inspect your attic carefully :
Now that the bulk of the work is done and there is nothing left of the dust that discouraged you so much before you started, it is time to make sure that there are no structural problems in your attic.
With a flashlight in hand, inspect the condition of your attic insulation panels. While replacing damaged panels yourself isn't necessarily complicated, any signs of mold or mildew caused by excessive humidity in the attic should be reported as soon as possible to a licensed carpenter, who will professionally replace them.
5. Organize, tidy up and furnish your attic :
Once the cleaning and inspection are complete, consider which of the cards, boxes, and containers brought down in step 2 are worth bringing back to the attic. A careful look will help you determine whether to keep, donate, or discard some of the items in your old boxes. You'll soon see that you have significantly fewer items to bring back upstairs than you brought down previously.
Before being brought upstairs, the items and personal belongings you've decided to keep should be carefully arranged. For example, put all your important documents and sentimental photos in a fireproof container and your clothes in plastic containers with airtight lids. It goes without saying, but get help when putting your things away, and arrange them in a way that makes it easy to access the attic space and avoids tripping.
Hiring a residential maintenance and cleaning specialist in Montreal
If you undertook the cleaning of your attic on your own, you can now close the door of your loft behind you with the truly rewarding satisfaction of a job well done!
Those who are too busy to clean their attic themselves before conversion can just as easily turn to a residential cleaning company. Le Chiffon Vert, a professional residential cleaning service in Montreal and the surrounding areas – Repentigny, Mascouche, Laval, Pointe-Claire, etc. – is committed to coming to your home to take care of your household chores, upon online appointment booking. Don't wait any longer, and contact us !