The plasterboard is used to make the internal walls of houses and buildings; it needs to be sanded and this process releases a lot of dust. Even the demolition of an old wall built with this material develops a lot of particulate that is really fine, creeps into every crack and has an impalpable consistency, similar to that of talc. For all these reasons, it spreads quickly and easily throughout the home. You must proceed with caution to prevent this from happening by taking preventive measures before starting work.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Prepare the Zone
Step 1. Close all vents and openings with plastic sheeting
Use thick, sturdy ones to minimize dust escaping into the air ducts. Protect all openings in the home, such as doors and windows; for best results hang the sheets from the ceiling and fix them to the floor.
- Cover all vents and openings on ventilation systems.
- Secure the plastic sheets with duct tape.
Step 2. Cover the floor and protect the furniture
Bring as much furniture out of the room as possible and cover those that you cannot move with plastic sheets, especially the elements covered with upholstery, because the dust of the plasterboard penetrates between the fibers; locks the protections with elastic cords.
- Lay the protective sheets all over the floor of the room where you plan to work.
- If the rest of the house is carpeted, consider covering it with self-adhesive plastic sheeting.
Step 3. Turn off the central heating and ventilation system
If you leave it on, the drywall dust is sucked up and spread throughout the building; even if you have protected the vents before starting, it is always worth turning off the system.
- Do not turn it back on until you have finished the job and cleaned the room of dust.
- In the weeks following the grinding operations, check the air system filter often; it may need to be replaced soon.
Step 4. Put rectangular fans on the windows
In this way, the room remains well ventilated; take care to leave open the ones on which you place the appliance and direct it towards the outside. Use plastic sheeting to seal the window all around the fan using duct tape.
- If some windows are equipped with air conditioner units, take them apart and take them out of the room, otherwise the filters will easily clog.
- Start the rectangular fans at idle to create a slight draft of air; if you turn them on at maximum speed, they suck up a lot of dust, but also increase what remains suspended in the room.
Step 5. Remove mosquito nets from doors and windows
This way, you allow dust to easily escape from the room and improve air circulation. If you neglect this step, the drywall particles get trapped in the room and you will need to clean the mosquito nets after the work is done.
Method 2 of 3: Handling the Dust While Grinding
Step 1. Take breaks to clean
As this dust creeps everywhere, remove as much of it as possible before it can accumulate; It is certainly not ideal, but frequent cleaning while sandblasting the plasterboard reduces the amount of dust that remains on the surfaces. The timing of these breaks is up to you, but as a minimum, you need to take them once a day.
- Dust the surfaces with a microfiber rag or a damp cloth; use a vacuum cleaner to remove drywall particles from the floor.
- Do not remove the mask during these phases; inhaling drywall dust causes serious harm to health.
Step 2. Restrict access to the room you work in
The dust of this material is very fine and even the simple passage of people disperses it in the air. Even after finishing sanding, the particulates remain in the air for some time; walking, you do nothing but disperse it even more.
- The greater the number of people moving into the area, the faster the dust spreads.
- Allow access only to other insiders.
Step 3. Find a single entrance
It is not at all easy to avoid bringing plasterboard dust out and into the work area, so choose only one access route and seal all the others. Put a doormat in front of the door; maybe it doesn't make a big difference, but at least it helps reduce the dust carried by allowing workers to scrub the soles of their shoes before leaving.
If you are working in your own home, it is worth taking off your shoes and leaving them in the room
Method 3 of 3: Clean Up After Job Finish
Step 1. First use the broom
Start at the perimeter by moving towards the center of the room. Take your time to sweep with gentle movements and avoid scattering the dust more than necessary. Use a dustpan to collect the dirt and transfer it to a garbage bag; immediately close the latter with a knot to seal it. If there is a lot of dust, know that there are commercial products that keep the particulates on the ground and that facilitate cleaning operations.
- You can buy these compounds in hardware stores; they are typically sold in buckets or bags and have a texture similar to sawdust.
- To use them, sprinkle them on the floor you need to sweep. These products work by keeping the dust on the ground so that it can be collected with less difficulty.
- In some cases, you have to wait for the substance to settle on the particulate matter for 24 hours before you can use the broom; therefore carefully read the instructions on the package.
Step 2. Use the vacuum cleaner
The most effective tool for this kind of cleaning is the wet vacuum cleaner; if you don't have it, you can rent it from a large DIY store. Use special bags to collect drywall dust and, since it is very fine particulate, make sure a HEPA filter is inserted.
- Since the filter can become clogged, if possible use a washable and reusable one.
- It's worth having a spare if needed.
Step 3. Dust each item with a damp microfiber rag
Fill a bucket with cold water, dip the cloth and squeeze it well - if it is soaked in water it could damage the drywall while it is still fresh. Starting at the top, scrub all the walls down to the floor; remember to rinse and squeeze the rag often.
- Change the water in the bucket as soon as it becomes cloudy.
- After cleaning the walls, move on to the horizontal surfaces of the room, such as baseboards, chandeliers, power sockets, and so on.
Step 4. Use the vacuum cleaner a second time
Use the brush attachment for the second pass, as it allows you to reach cracks and difficult points; alternatively, you can use the spear one to clean the walls. Start at the top of the walls and work your way down.
- After taking care of the walls, vacuum the floor again.
- Chances are you will have to clean the corners of the room and the joints twice.
Step 5. Clean the still soiled areas with the microfiber rag
Inspect the room and eliminate any residual dust; run the cloth once more along the baseboards and window sill. If you want to be very thorough, wash the floor as a final step.
