Keeping hardwood floors clean is not always an easy task, especially when dealing with drywall dust. This type of dust is notoriously difficult to remove and if not dealt with properly, it can have a lasting negative visional effect on your flooring.
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In this blog post, we’ll discuss the various steps you must master for how to clean up drywall dust from hardwood floors.
Step 1: Prevent Dust from Settling Directly on Floor
Lay down a painter’s tarp directly on top of your hardwood flooring before any sawing or sanding is done. This will create a barrier between the drywall dust and your floors. Once the job is finished and all the dust has settled, fold up your tarp carefully and shake it outside, as far away from your house as possible.
This will help ensure that no particles remain trapped inside folds of fabric for future use. Be sure to form up the tarp neatly so that you can use it multiple times in the future.
Step 2: Sweep up the Drywall Dust
Sweeping up drywall dust from hardwood floors can be a tedious task, but it is essential for keeping your floors looking their best. Before starting the job, make sure you are wearing a dust mask because drywall dust can be hazardous to your health.
Start by sweeping up the edges of your hardwood floors with a broom and gradually move inward, creating a pile of dust in the center of the room.
Once all the dust has been swept into one area, use a dustpan to carefully scoop it all up and empty it outside in an appropriate container or a trash can.
Step 3: Vacuum the Hardwood Floors
Vacuuming the hardwood floors after sweeping off the drywall dust is a crucial step in protecting your flooring. For best results, add a brush attachment to your vacuum cleaner and use short movements to cover every square inch of floor.
Start at the edges of each room and gradually move towards the center. Pay particular attention to where the hardwood meets walls, as there will usually be more crevices and cracks that can trap drywall dust particles.
Make sure you are thorough in your vacuuming and once finished, empty the vacuum outside in an appropriate container or a waste container. This will help ensure that no dust particles get reintroduced to the flooring.
Step 4: Mop it Up
Mopping the floors is the final step to eliminating any remaining drywall dust. Even after sweeping and vacuuming, some dust will still remain in your hardwood flooring. To eradicate it all, use a mop device that has a damp cloth attachment.
Begin by mopping the entire floor surface twice, focusing on the quarter rounds and the baseboards along the walls since some dust will still be there.
Make sure to rinse well the damp cloth to remain dust particles so that you can reuse it in future.
Now your hardwood should be void of any drywall dust, leaving you with a clean and safe environment.
