Tips on Drywall Cleaning After Sanding

• Before you can paint drywall, you must clean up the excess dust.drywall, sheetrock image by Greg Pickens from Fotolia.com
  
  From nailing to applying compound, hanging and sanding drywall is a time-consuming task that requires a host of tools and supplies. Sanding repairs any uneven drywall surfaces and any mistakes made during the compounding process, but sanding yields a lot of dust. Once your drywall project is complete, you must clean up the dust from the drywall and the room/area in which the material is installed. Failure to clean the area properly can lead to an accumulation of dust in corners and other tight areas.
  
  

Wearing the Proper Protection

• Before removing sanding dust from the drywall and the surrounding area, put on a two-strap dust mask or a respirator to keep the dust from entering your lungs. If wearing a two-strap dust mask, change it every half hour if you are in an area that is not well-ventilated. Also wear a hat, safety goggles, and a long sleeve shirt. Two-strap dust masks and respirators are available at hardware and home improvement stores.
  
  

Use a Sweeping Compound

• Before using a shop vacuum to remove dust from corners, crevices, and other areas, sprinkle the floor with a sweeping compound to collect any loose dust the shop vacuum could not remove. Sweeping compound is available at hardware and home improvement stores as well as online. The substance stops any loose dust from spreading. Let the sweeping compound stand on the floor overnight.
  
  

Use a Shop Vacuum

• Use a shop vacuum with a clean filter designed for removing drywall dust and sweeping compound. Use the vacuum's attachments, if available, to remove dust from tight places like electrical outlets and electrical switches. If there are any windows or doors in the room, do not open them--the air will circulate the dust to other rooms or areas in your home or structure.
  
  

Sand Dust on the Drywall

• Only remove sanding dust from the inside corners of the drywall and any dust from wide-taped seams and fastener strips. Leave an even layer of remaining dust on the drywall surface--the dust helps bind the paint to the drywall. The dust also helps mask any scratches left from the sanding tool you used, any pinholes made from tools, and any chafed taping paper. If you notice an area of the drywall that contains a large amount of dust, sweep the dust off gently with a soft cloth or rag. You want the remaining dust on the drywall even and smooth.
  
  

Cleaning Up the Shop Vacuum

• Once you are done removing the sanding dust from the floor and surrounding areas, dump the contents of your shop vacuum into a large trash bag and remove and dispose of the vacuum's filter, if the filter is not one that can be washed. Wipe the inside of your shop vacuum out with a damp cloth to remove any dust residue. Clean any related tools by wiping them off with a damp cloth or rag. Do not remove your protective gear until after you are completely done cleaning up your shop vacuum and related tools.