Any suggestions on how to keep the dust down when working in rooms that are otherwise clean and tidy? I've had to do some minor DIY (chasing in a cable, filling and sanding) in a living room. The room is generally clean and recently decorated but is full of furniture/books/clutter etc. Cutting holes in walls (even single socket-sized holes) generates vast amounts of very fine dust that seems to get everywhere. I've experimented with dust shields around my tools which I can connect directly to a vacuum cleaner, this is great and will suck up 90% of the dust before it even gets into the room. The problem seems to be that the dust is incredibly fine - much smaller than normal domestic dust. The filters on my bag- less vacuum cleaner get clogged within minutes, or if I use my old 'bagged' vacuum then the dust seems to flow straight through. Is there a better solution? I don't really want to spend half a day emptying the room of everything before starting work, but the only alternative seems to be to spend hours afterwards individually cleaning everything in the room once the work is finished. The basic problem is that the job takes 30 minutes, but cleaning up afterwards takes half a day!
A ordinary vacuum cleaner throws out a lot of fine dust, ideally you need to use a proper dust extractor to use with power tools, Class L minimum, which removes 99.0% of dust with limit value for occupational exposure >1.0mg/m3, perfect for gypsum plaster & filler. I have a Makita VC2012L which is class L, when connector to the sander, there isn't a hint of dust elsewhere in the room, very effective collecting the dust. Look at the Nilfisk Aero 26-21, but be carefu there are two modeals available, one L class, one is not. Also Makita VC2512L is excellent Class L extractor.
Thanks KIAB - wasn't previously aware of different classes of vacuum cleaner. Shame they're so expensive. A colleague has just suggested to me that his solution is to use a cheap/**** vacuum cleaner outside of the house and an use a long extension hose. Most of the dust will end up in the vacuum cleaner, and any that gets through the filter will remain outside of the house.
One other idea. Use a cyclone filter,will collect fine dust before it gets to vacuum cleaner. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Plastic-...587629?hash=item23926ec26d:g:KgYAAOSwETJZ8fuM Triton do a dust collector, never used one, so no idea how good it is. https://www.screwfix.com/p/triton-dust-collection-bucket-23ltr/3754r
I take the view that stuff is going to get dusty and will have to clean afterwards anyway so pointless trying to prevent everything getting dirty. Take a pragmatic approach...put small items away, then they won't get dusty at all. For bigger items of furniture, get decent dust sheets to make sure the worst is kept off and accept you'll have to get the hoover and duster out afterwards. Biggest issue is carpets, which I don't have (yet) In my bedrooms upstairs I've put duvets and pillows etc in bags, in big clear boxes in the loft. Quite quick and easy to make beds again. Doesn't take that long to hoover and dust furniture and floors if they're clear of stuff.
It’s an annoyance for sure and know what you mean about the clear up taking longer than the actual job A lot of the good domestic hoovers have a good rate of dust collection but due to over complicated filters, they clog up repeatly with fine dust and you then run the risk of burning out the motor - then the wife will kill you Had a few Dysons over the years and like them for general around the house cleaning but never use them for decorating clear up - too much hassle and blockages I’ve also got 2 ‘basic’ hoovers, a Henry and a Screwfix Titan. Find both of these way better when cleaning up general decorating mess, don’t get blocked up, easy to clean filters and good dust retention Hold nozzle as close to chopping out as possible (another pair of hands is helpful) and suck up all you can Can’t stop fine dust that just travels across the room and it’s in the air for several days Can minismise dust getting through doors to clean rooms by either taping around door frame, using poly dust sheets and masking tape and blocking up any gap under door
I too have two "Hoovers", a Dyson and Titan. Just bought this kit for the Titan https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/32mm-Min...l-Kit-Fits-Titan-Vacuum-Cleaners/252471018508 The rectangular brushed tool is brilliant for scrubbing floors and walls to get all the dust off, cleans the stair carpet pretty well too. Dyson is used for "clean" hovering.
Normal vacuum cleaners are not designed to collect building crud. I normally sheet off the work area from rest of room, clear plastic dpm wrapped about a length of tile batten & clamped against ceiling with a adjustable support pole, & same for the bottom.
Do need to run masking tape down dpm & wall to stop dust escaping. Bought a 50mtr roll of heavy gauge clear dpm,it comes folded, but opens up to 4mtrs wide, so goes a long way, as it's tough, it's usually reusable a few times.
Imagine the scenario when you have to start taking walls down and doing knock throughs. Hand tools will generally mean less dust, if applicable. Helper holding vac nozzle always good. Tenting off area in certain cases. You cannot get away from dust...just minimise it.
It's an unfortunate reality of building, it's unavoidable no matter how well you protect the surrounding area, in an ideal world homeowners would have the gumption to move all the clutter before you start, but that's just wishful thinking. Open the window, tape up the doors, set up the clarke industrial fan towards the window and get on with it.
Reminds of a incident I had many years ago,working on the 3rd floor of a old house ripping down plasterlath ceilings, filthy job, thick black dust, had window open, fan going, radio on loud & in my own little world. When all of a sudden the bedroom door disintergrated, & there were two large firemen with a hose & sledge, I nearly s*** myself, & trousers were wet, but it wasn't from their hose,someone had seen dust & mistook it for smoke & called the bridgade.