Cleaning After HDB HIP Works – What Every Flat Owner Should Know
SG House Cleaning
If your HDB flat recently underwent the Home Improvement Programme (HIP), you’re likely enjoying new bathroom fittings, improved pipes, or better flooring. But before you settle back into daily life, there’s one more task many homeowners overlook: proper cleaning after HIP works.
HIP upgrades, though beneficial, often leave behind dust, cement stains, and renovation residue that can make your home feel far from refreshed. In this article, we’ll explain what kind of cleaning is needed after HIP, why it's more than just a quick wipe-down, and how it connects to proper post renovation cleaning services in Singapore.
What Is HIP and Why Is It So Messy?
The Home Improvement Programme is an HDB initiative that modernises older flats by upgrading:
Toilet bowls, sinks, and bathroom tiles
Water pipes and sanitary systems
Ceiling and wall finishes
Doors, gates, and windows (optional)
While these upgrades improve safety and hygiene, they also generate a surprising amount of mess:
Fine cement and tile dust
Grout haze on floors
Adhesive and paint splatters
Debris behind doors, inside cabinets, or under sinks
Contractors often provide a basic sweep, but it’s far from the deep clean needed to make your home safe and dust-free again.
Post-HIP Cleaning: What Really Needs Attention?
Bathrooms
Most HIP works focus on the bathroom. After upgrades, homeowners often find:
Dust on floor and wall tiles
Cement stains around pipes and behind the toilet bowl
New fixtures covered in fingerprints
Living Spaces
Even if your living room wasn’t renovated, it’s affected by airborne dust:
Ceiling fans and lights collect debris
Skirting boards and wall edges trap fine cement particles
Fabric items like curtains absorb odors and dust
Windows and Corners
Dust from HIP drilling travels far:
Window grilles, tracks, and sills are rarely spared
Corners of the room may contain cement bits or sand
Door handles, switches, and air vents are often overlooked
Is “HIP Cleaning” a Real Service?
Technically, “HIP cleaning” isn’t an industry-standard service. What you really need is a post-renovation cleaning service designed for homes affected by construction or upgrading.
HIP cleaning is just one scenario under the larger umbrella of post renovation cleaning. These services are built to handle the exact type of mess HIP works leave behind — including ultra-fine dust, paint splatter, and stubborn cement stains.
Why Regular Cleaning Isn’t Enough
You might be tempted to do it yourself — but here’s why that often falls short:
Regular vacuums can’t trap fine renovation dust
Mopping often spreads cement particles rather than removing them
You risk damaging new tiles or fixtures with harsh chemicals
Many hidden spots (above cabinets, behind doors) are easy to miss
It’s not just about appearance — HIP dust can affect health, especially if you have elderly family members, kids, or asthma sufferers at home.
What a Proper Post-Renovation Cleaning Covers
Professional post-renovation cleaners bring the right tools and checklists to ensure your home is truly clean after HIP upgrades. This includes:
Vacuuming all floors, walls, and corners with HEPA filters
Safe scrubbing of cement stains and grout haze
Disinfection of new bathroom fittings without scratching surfaces
Cleaning air vents, switches, ceiling fans, and skirting boards
Dusting and wiping furniture, grilles, and shelves
If your home also had minor personal renovation works (e.g. carpentry, electrical upgrades), this cleaning ensures those messes are covered too.
You can explore our Post Renovation Cleaning Service for full details.
What Our Clients Say After HIP Works
“I didn’t realise how much dust HIP works would leave. Even my fan blades had cement powder. SG House Cleaning came in and made everything livable again.”
— Joan, Woodlands
“My elderly mum couldn’t stop sneezing after the bathroom upgrades. Their cleaning team did a full wipe-down and the air felt clean again.”
— Mr. Chua, Tampines
How to Prepare for Post-HIP Cleaning
Before booking a cleaning session:
Ensure HIP works are fully completed
Remove valuables or personal items from surfaces
Open your windows for light ventilation
Inform the cleaning team about any sensitive surfaces (e.g., marble, special coatings)
This helps the cleaners move efficiently through your home and ensures nothing is missed.
Combine with Spring or Deep Cleaning for Full Refresh
In many cases, HIP upgrades only target the toilet or kitchen — but the dust spreads throughout the flat. If your entire unit hasn’t been deep-cleaned in months, this is a great time to book a full spring cleaning or one-time deep clean alongside post-renovation cleanup.
This ensures:
Bedrooms and living areas are also dust-free
Shelves, ceiling corners, and hidden spots are wiped
Under-bed and under-furniture zones are cleared
The whole house feels fresh and fully reset
When to Book a Post-Renovation Clean
✅ After you receive handover from the HIP contractor
✅ Before reinstalling furniture or shifting items back
✅ Before a family event or festive celebration
✅ If any family member has allergies or respiratory sensitivity
✅ When your home still “feels dirty” despite the new upgrades
A professional clean ensures you start fresh in a clean, healthy space.
Avoiding Health Risks and Long-Term Stains
Dust and cement particles that settle into corners or inside aircon units can stay for months if not properly removed. Over time, they may:
Harden and become harder to clean
Get into ventilation systems and spread
Trigger coughing, sneezing, or eye irritation
Stain your new flooring or grout if not handled early
Timely cleaning prevents all of this and helps protect your upgrade investment.
Final Thoughts – Choose the Right Cleanup Approach
Your HIP works are complete, but the job isn't done until your home is dust-free, comfortable, and safe again. Instead of searching for “HIP cleaning services,” what you truly need is a professional post-renovation cleaning team experienced in HDB flats and construction dust.
At SG House Cleaning, we’ve helped hundreds of Singapore residents restore their flats after HIP upgrades — giving them peace of mind and a home they can enjoy again.
👉 Learn more about our Post Renovation Cleaning Service today and get a free quote.