Drywall is a construction material that is used to create interior walls and ceilings. But when it comes to the dust on the drywall, it can be a pain to clean up. However, you can use a few simple techniques to clean up the drywall dust easily and quickly. But which one you should use?
According to the report of the Queensland Government, breathing in dust that is made up of tiny particles can cause health problems such as chest pain, coughing, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing.
Also, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that drywall dust can irritate the eyes and nose and cause respiratory problems.
So this problem might get bigger especially if you have children and pets in the house. To avoid these health risks, you should read this complete article. Because in this article I have shared the best way to clean up drywall dust easily.
Also, I have covered some important preventions that you should follow before starting this work. Otherwise, you will end up with some mess around you.
Let’s Get Started!
Table of Contents
Preparation Before Cleaning Up Drywall Dust
Preparation always comes first before starting any work. Because if you don’t prepare well, then you will end up with a big mess. So here are a few things that you should do before starting to clean up the drywall dust.
- Open Doors & Windows: It will help to ventilate the room by opening doors and windows. You can also use fans to circulate the air in the room.
- Wear Protective Gear: To protect yourself from the dust, it is important to wear the right gear. This includes wearing a dust mask, gloves, and goggles.
- Cover Furniture: Another important thing to do is to cover the furniture in the room. You can use sheets or plastic covers to protect them from dust.
- Turn Off the HVAC System & AC: You don’t want the dust to circulate in the room, so it is important to turn off the HVAC system and AC.
How To Clean Up Drywall Dust: 4 Simple Ways!
Cleaning up the dust from the drywall is a necessary but often overlooked step in the home improvement process. There are four main ways to clean up drywall dust:
Required Tools & Materials
Before proceeding further, you will need to gather the following tools and materials:
- Broom and dustpan
- Vacuum cleaner
- Damp cloth
- Drywall Sander (if necessary)
- Painter’s tape
- Protective eyewear (goggles or safety glasses)
- Nose and mouth mask
- Water
- Hand Brush
1. Hand Brush With Broom
A brush is a tool with bristles, either made of natural or synthetic materials, used to clean or move liquids or solids. A broom is a brush with bristles made of stiff synthetic materials, such as nylon, polypropylene, or polyester.
So the first way is to use a hand brush with a broom to clean up the drywall dust. This is the most common and simplest way to clean up drywall dust. However, it is not the most effective way. But it works better if want to go with a simple and easy way.
That doesn’t require any special equipment. So if you want to use a hand brush with a broom and dustpan to clean up the drywall dust. Then you should follow this process so that you can make your house dust-free.
Cleaning is a three-step process that must be done in order. First, you need to wear the dust mask and gently brush away any dried dirt from around your house’s walls with an old broom or hand brush.
Then the second step requires sweeping up all of this dirty debris off of both floors and carpets using one sweep motion across each surface area. Finally, take care never eat anything dusty because it will track into million tiny particles throughout our bodies which can cause serious health problems.
2. Vaccum Cleaner
A vacuum cleaner, also known as a Hoover, is a device that sucks up dust and dirt from floors and carpets. It is one of the most common appliances in households. So, it is no surprise that using a vacuum cleaner is one of the best ways to remove drywall dust.
The advantage of using a vacuum cleaner is that it is very effective in removing drywall dust. It can also be used on different surfaces, such as carpets and hardwood floors. Whether you can use a drywall sander with a vacuum attachment or not will depend on your vacuum cleaner model.
But, this time by following this process you need to use a shop-vac with either of two nozzles: one that has wide holes and is best suited for dusting or small particles like sandpapery residue left behind by paper pulp.
Another brush type is designed specifically as opposed to brushes used on other floor types that can cause static electricity and actually attract dust. Use the shop-vac on low power so as not to disrupt the finish on your newly cleaned drywall.
But make sure the hose is long enough to reach the entire room. Otherwise, you will have to stop and move the vacuum cleaner around a lot, which can be frustrating. It is also important to empty the vacuum cleaner often so that it does not get overloaded and stop working properly.
3. Wet Clean
Wet cleaning is a method of cleaning that uses water to loosen the dirt and dust from the surface. The water can be used with a sponge, mop, or rag. Drywall dust is often attracted to water, so this method can be very effective.
Especially, if the dust is hard to remove from a vacuum cleaner and hand brush. So firstly, you need to make a solution of water and dish soap. Now, take a sponge and soak it in the mixture. Gently rub the sponge on the areas with drywall dust.
Once you have removed as much dust as possible, rinse the area with clean water. Most importantly, if you are going to use a power washer, make sure to keep the pressure low. High pressure from a power washer can damage the drywall.
Also, be careful not to get the drywall too wet, and while using bleach. If the drywall is soaking wet, it can cause the paper on the drywall to peel off. The wash should be soft so that the dirt and dust can be removed easily without damaging the drywall.
Keep in your mind do not use water around the electrical outlets and switches. Because there is a risk of electrical shock. Or you can turn off the power at the breaker box before starting to wet clean.
4. Normal Or Regular Cloth
Normal or regular cloth is a type of fabric that is used to clean surfaces. It can be made from a variety of materials, such as cotton, polyester, or microfiber.
Regular cloth is a great way to remove drywall dust because it is very effective and can be used on different surfaces. However, it is important to use the right type of fabric so that you do not damage the surface.
For example, if you are cleaning a painted surface, you should use a microfiber cloth. Or you can also use a cotton cloth if the surface is not painted.
To use a regular cloth, you can dampen it with water as I have explained above, or without water. However, using a cloth with water will not spread any mess around you. But it can be dangerous around electrical outlets.
So in this situation, you can use a normal dry cloth without water to clean the dust from the drywall. So first, you need to consider the type of surface you are cleaning and the level of dust.
If the dust is light, then you can use a regular cloth without water. But if the dust is heavy, then you need to use a damp cloth or a vacuum cleaner.
5. Mix All Above
You know how to use a hand brush with a broom, vacuum cleaner, wet cleaning, and normal or regular cloth. Now it’s time to mix all of these methods and do a deep cleaning of the drywall.
To do this, you need to first you need to take a hand brush and a broom. And start from the top of the drywall and work your way down. Then vacuum clean the area with a vacuum cleaner. This will remove the hard-to-reach dust.
After that, wet and clean the area with a sponge or mop. But make sure the area is not too wet. Once you have removed as much dust as possible, rinse the area with clean water. And allow the area to dry completely before continuing.
Finally, take a regular cloth and wipe down the area to remove any remaining dust. These are the best ways to clean drywall dust. You can use these methods to keep your home or office clean and dust-free.
Clean Up Drywall Dust On Window, Door, & Ceiling
Windows, doors, and ceilings are the places where drywall dust can easily accumulate. So this is very important to clean these areas regularly. Here are the ways how you can do so?
- Window: To clean the dust from the window, you need to take a microfiber cloth and dampen it with water. Then gently wipe down the window to remove the dust.
- Door: For the door, you can use a vacuum cleaner with attachments to reach the dust that has collected on the door.
- Ceiling: Use a vacuum cleaner with a long attachment to reach the ceiling and suck up the drywall dust.
Tips For Reducing Dust On The Drywall
There are a few tips that you can follow in order to reduce the amount of drywall dust that accumulates in your home:
- Use a damp cloth to dust your drywall regularly. This will help to prevent the build-up of dust.
- When sanding drywall, use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter to collect the dust.
- Use low-dust joint compound when patching or repairing your drywall.
- Avoid using power tools, such as drills and saws, on drywall. If you must use them, be sure to wear a dust mask and eye protection.
In general, it is best to avoid creating dust in your home. However, if you do need to work with drywall, following these tips will help to reduce the amount of dust that is created.
Is Drywall Dust Flammable?
Usually, drywall is made with gypsum, which is not flammable. However, the dust from drywall can be combustible if it is mixed with other materials, such as paper or wood dust. If you are concerned about the possibility of drywall dust being combustible, it is best to consult with a fire safety expert.
Also, be sure to keep your drywall dust clean and free of any other materials that could potentially be combustible. But in general, drywall dust is not flammable.
Wrap Up On Best Way To Clean Drywall Dust
To sum it up, the best way to clean up drywall dust is by using a hand brush with a broom, vacuum cleaner, wet clean, or regular cloth. You can also mix them all together for the most effective clean.
Be sure to take precautions when cleaning up drywall dust such as wearing a mask and goggles to avoid breathing in any harmful particles. Finally, make sure you reduce the amount of dust created while working on your next project by following some simple tips. Thanks for reading!
FAQ: How To Clean Drywall Dust In No Time
Removing the dust from the drywall is quite difficult. That’s why many people just like you have lots of questions. That can be solved easily. That’s why I have added some of them in this article to provide appropriate answers.
Q1. Can drywall dust damage the vacuum cleaner?
Ans: No, the drywall dust cannot damage the vacuum cleaner. However, if you have allergies, it is better to clean the vacuum filter after using it to clean the drywall dust.
Q2. Which is the best way to clean up drywall dust?
Ans: Mixing some ways like a vacuum cleaner, wet cleaning, hand brush with a broom, and regular cloth dusting can make the task of cleaning easier and more efficient.
Q3. Why does your drywall produce that much dust?
Ans: Your drywall might be old and need to be replaced. Also, if you live in an old house, the walls are probably not as smooth as they used to be. So, the drywall dust is produced because of the roughness of the surface.