Drywall dust cleanup

beer_geek · 04-03-2009, 09:16 AM

My neighbor just had his basement drywalled. They hauled away the scrap and did a light sweeping of the floor. However, there is still dust everywhere--walls, floor, ceiling.

What's the best way to get rid of the dust so we can begin priming/painting?

J187 · 04-03-2009, 09:30 AM

Begin by SLOWLY and carefully taking up whatever you can with a broom and dust pan. Lower the pan into the barrel all the way before dumping to avoid having dust kick up. Buy the Drywall filter for your shopvac - presuming you have one - they work GREAT! Again, when emptying the vac, take precautions to minimize dust kick up... you can also use a mist bottle to keep the dust down by spraying slightly the area - this keeps dust down, but makes a bit a of muddy mess as well. ... another thing you can do is buy a "sweeping compound" like these http://www.acehardware.com/search/in...0compound&sr=1 .. probably a bit pricey and I've never used it, but I've heard great things.

gone_fishing · 04-03-2009, 09:48 AM

I simply used my shop vac to clean it up from the floor...afterwards I took the vac outside to clean it...really cleaned up the filter but dropping it over and over in my driveway. I also used a broom to get the dust out of the vac. Did this a few times over the last 3 years and the vacuum is still fine.

To get the dust off the walls I get a rag damp and wipe lightly.

Bob Mariani · 04-03-2009, 01:10 PM

Use a cloth filter over the vacuum's filter and you will not have any dust moving through the vacuum. Sweeping will spread the dust.

Leah Frances · 04-03-2009, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gone_fishing

I simply used my shop vac to clean it up from the floor...afterwards I took the vac outside to clean it...really cleaned up the filter but dropping it over and over in my driveway.

I also like the 'hold the filter inside a bag lined trash can and bang it against the sides of the trash can repeatedly' technique.

**Gary in WA** · 04-03-2009, 03:54 PM

Put a box fan in a window with a furnace filter in front of it. Close off the rest of the window, plastic,etc. Close all other windows and doors in that room, but one door. Open windows in other rooms, to draw from. Creating a negative pressure in dusty room, wear masks!!!!!! Be safe, GBAR

Bob Mariani · 04-03-2009, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GBAR in WA

Put a box fan in a window with a furnace filter in front of it. Close off the rest of the window, plastic,etc. Close all other windows and doors in that room, but one door. Open windows in other rooms, to draw from. Creating a negative pressure in dusty room, wear masks!!!!!! Be safe, GBAR

And open the neighbor's windows. Recycling is in!

Tracymc · 04-04-2009, 02:46 PM

Sweep Compound, fine sweep push broom is the only way to go, I use this method prior to paint and in commercial areas (hospitals, clinics, and such) where dust control is an issue, almost zero airborn particulate, and super fast prep @ $10 a box.
Trace

bjbatlanta · 04-04-2009, 06:15 PM

Tracymc has the right approach, then vac the rest....

jimmyjames · 04-05-2009, 01:49 PM

Dampen everything and use. When finishing use a damp sponge instead of sand paper. It's almost as fast, and there's no dusty clean up, thus saving time in the long run.

bjbatlanta · 04-05-2009, 02:02 PM

"Sponging" is fine for a repair or small job, but hardly practical for a whole room or basement size job where 15 - 100+ sheets are involved. There are "dust free" options available for a large job, but a sponge isn't one of them....

Bob Mariani · 04-05-2009, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjbatlanta

"Sponging" is fine for a repair or small job, but hardly practical for a whole room or basement size job where 15 - 100+ sheets are involved. There are "dust free" options available for a large job, but a sponge isn't one of them....

Agreed, but seems we have this combination of pros and Joes here. All offer some incite and makes for interesting reading. I use Porter Cable vacuum system and have no dust to pick up. Seems to work fine for me.

bjbatlanta · 04-05-2009, 02:48 PM

Yep, and there are a variety of hand and "pole" sanders that attach to a shop vac for smaller jobs....

Bob Mariani · 04-05-2009, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjbatlanta

Yep, and there are a variety of hand and "pole" sanders that attach to a shop vac for smaller jobs....

Yeah , have some to use for smaller jobs, touch-ups and patches.

beer_geek · 04-05-2009, 08:56 PM

Thanks, guys.

I got new filters for the shopvac. I vacuumed the ceiling, walls and floor. I then used a slightly damp dust mop. I also had the box fan in the window to help get rid of the airborne particles.

04-03-2009, 09:16 AM	#1
beer_geek Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 209	Drywall dust cleanup My neighbor just had his basement drywalled. They hauled away the scrap and did a light sweeping of the floor. However, there is still dust everywhere--walls, floor, ceiling. What's the best way to get rid of the dust so we can begin priming/painting? __________________ It takes less time to do a thing right than it does to explain why you did it wrong. -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Last edited by beer_geek; 04-03-2009 at 09:20 AM. Reason: spelling

04-03-2009, 09:30 AM	#2
J187 They're all fixer-uppers Join Date: May 2006 Location: MA Posts: 962	Drywall dust cleanup Begin by SLOWLY and carefully taking up whatever you can with a broom and dust pan. Lower the pan into the barrel all the way before dumping to avoid having dust kick up. Buy the Drywall filter for your shopvac - presuming you have one - they work GREAT! Again, when emptying the vac, take precautions to minimize dust kick up... you can also use a mist bottle to keep the dust down by spraying slightly the area - this keeps dust down, but makes a bit a of muddy mess as well. ... another thing you can do is buy a "sweeping compound" like these http://www.acehardware.com/search/in...0compound&sr=1 .. probably a bit pricey and I've never used it, but I've heard great things.

04-03-2009, 09:48 AM	#3
gone_fishing DIY Expert in Training! Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Warminster, PA Posts: 297	Drywall dust cleanup I simply used my shop vac to clean it up from the floor...afterwards I took the vac outside to clean it...really cleaned up the filter but dropping it over and over in my driveway. I also used a broom to get the dust out of the vac. Did this a few times over the last 3 years and the vacuum is still fine. To get the dust off the walls I get a rag damp and wipe lightly.

04-03-2009, 01:10 PM	#4
Bob Mariani Remodeling Contractor Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sandy Hook, CT Posts: 3,590	Drywall dust cleanup Use a cloth filter over the vacuum's filter and you will not have any dust moving through the vacuum. Sweeping will spread the dust.

04-03-2009, 03:54 PM	#6
Gary in WA Moderator Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 8,851	Drywall dust cleanup Put a box fan in a window with a furnace filter in front of it. Close off the rest of the window, plastic,etc. Close all other windows and doors in that room, but one door. Open windows in other rooms, to draw from. Creating a negative pressure in dusty room, wear masks!!!!!! Be safe, GBAR

Drywall dust cleanup