If you’ve ever renovated your home, you know drywall dust gets everywhere. So, you’d probably want to remove it as soon as possible, and you might use your brand-new vacuum cleaner. But is this really a good idea? Won’t drywall dust ruin it? Let’s take a look.
As long as filters are cleaned and changed regularly, Drywall dust will not ruin your vacuum. It’s highly recommended to also use a wet/dry vacuum bag for the best results and safety.
There’s no denying that drywall dust is tough on your lungs. Inhaling too much of it can lead to serious respiratory problems. But what about your vacuum cleaner? Would all vacuum cleaners suffer the same fate? Or are there vacuums out there that are specially made for this?
What Exactly Is Drywall Dust?
When you hang Drywall, you will fill the seams with joint compound, and you’d need to smooth the surface by sanding it. This is also called the sanding process. During this process, tiny particles of that same Drywall joint will be released into the air, known as Drywall dust.
Is It Ok To Vacuum Up Drywall Dust?
Yes, you can and should vacuum up drywall dust because you’ll most likely have a lot of dust lying or in the air once you finish sanding. But also on your walls, which is essential to remove before you Prime or paint your walls.
Even though Drywall dust can be vacuumed, it cannot be with a typical home vacuum. To properly remove fine drywall dust, use a high-quality vacuum or make sure your ordinary vacuum is equipped with a heavy-duty HEPA filter.
Will Drywall Dust Ruin My Vacuum?
If you own a heavy-duty good quality vacuum, drywall dust may not be a massive issue as it will not ruin your vacuum. However, it would still ruin vacuums in many cases simply due to poor usage. By poor usage, I mean not changing filters or not cleaning often enough.
For example, while vacuuming drywall dust, it’s a good idea to use a wet vacuum filter bag since it will catch the little particles in the bag and stop them from entering your air supply.
How Does Drywall Dust Ruin Vacuums?
This happens in most cases because owners forget to clean and change the filters, which leads to clogging, which, if not taken care of, might ruin your vacuum cleaner. But this is not the only reason.
There are numerous ways it can get ruined, such as:
- High dust volume in your house: It could imply that you are cleaning more frequently than usual, and most likely, your regular cleaning routine needs to be adjusted.
- Large amounts of big particles like wood shavings or bigger particles of drywall dust: If too much dust is present, the particles will become trapped in the filter and prevent the motor from sucking air.
- You do not clean your vacuum cleaner properly: Always keep your vacuum away from heat sources because doing so could harm its interior components.
- Dirtbags are not being changed regularly: Every time you vacuum, ensure the machine’s exhaust port is clear of all dust. If this is not done, dangerous pollutants risk being pulled into your equipment.
What Is The Best Way To Vacuum Drywall Dust?
By now, you already have a pretty good idea of what to do and what not. But let’s go over the exact steps on how to vacuum Drywall dust without having to throw away a newly bought vacuum cleaner.
This is a three-step procedure. However, before starting the process, ensure that you have covered the furniture with plastic sheeting.
Use A Broom To Sweep First
Work your way toward the room’s center, beginning at the edges. To prevent stirring up the dust more than necessary, take your time and sweep gently. The dust pile should be collected using a dustpan and put in a garbage bag. To keep the dust inside, immediately tie the bag.
Vacuum The Floors
A wet/dry vacuum bag is the best option for this task, a really good one is the WS32045F Fine Dust Collection Shop Staubsaugerbeutel. Don’t forget to use vacuum bags explicitly designed to capture drywall dust. Use a washable, reusable filter if possible because they can become clogged. Use a hose attachment to access difficult-to-reach spots where drywall dust could accumulate.
Wipe The Area With A Slightly Wet Microfiber Towel
Cool water should be put in a bucket. A soaking wet cloth might harm recently installed Drywall, so dip it in the water and wring it out thoroughly. Work your way down the walls after beginning at the top. The material will need to be rinsed and dried frequently. Clean the entire room’s horizontal surfaces after cleaning the walls.
Tips To Minimise Drywall Dust
If possible, you should try minimizing dust release when sanding and cleaning. But how do you do that?
- Create a plan: Be careful to have a plan before demolishing your walls. Even though a DIY project could seem like a wonderful idea, there are numerous factors to consider. Depending on your project, you must choose which area of the room to cover with plastic to reduce dust.
- Hang plastic sheets: Hanging plastic sheets is a good idea because they help your furniture stay clean from drywall dust. If you are very sensitive to drywall dust, you can open the windows and cover the lights and air conditioners with plastic sheets.
- Close your vents and cover them: This way, you will not allow the dust to get inside them and hurt you later on.
- Clean up as you go along with the project: When you clean up after every little step, you save yourself some time and energy, which would be spent on cleaning up huge dust at the end.
- Protect your flooring so that the dust does not stick to it.
- Have a sanding plan so the residues don’t go off everywhere.
Are There Any Health Issues That Could Result From Inhealing drywall Dust?
Yes, some serious health concerns are attached to drywall dust, especially for people with a very sensitive immune system. If you want to know more, check out this article. Inhaling it could lead to pneumonia, skin allergies, and coughing. So make sure to clean it properly.
FAQs:
How To Get Drywall Dust Out Of The Carpet?
First, pick up all the bigger particles of wood shavings or drywall material from the carpet. Then, sweep it with a broom. The dust will not be out just yet, so pull out your vacuum cleaner. Vacuum the carpet, and it will be clean. If the dust is stubborn, please use a detergent to clean it.
How Long Does It Take For Drywall Dust To Settle?
Within one minute, inhalable particles with a diameter of 15 um to 100 um can settle; in bigger areas, the volume of air may cause the process to take longer. Thoracic particles of a size of less than 10 um will settle in 3 minutes. The estimated time for the 5um diameter (respirable) particles to settle is 8 minutes.
Does Drywall Mud Come Out Of Clothes?
Most of the time, drywall compounds won’t leave stains on your clothes. Using a damp sponge and the compound, it is simple to remove it before it dries. But as the stuff begins to dry, getting rid of it gets harder and harder.