Complete Guide on How to Get Rid of Construction Dust in the Air

Have you just finished a construction job? Congratulations on your new place! But, even as the newly constructed building gleams before you, you have an important job left, i.e., how to get rid of construction dust in the air?

There is a significant amount of cleaning that needs to be completed urgently. The dust you see all around – even stranded in the air as particles – must be eliminated. Else it can badly affect the health of all those around you.

Now how to get rid of dust in the air? It’s on the walls, floors, the ceiling, the newly installed fixtures, and even in the air!

Thinking of it as a DIY job without help will only get your knees down into it but won’t get rid of it entirely. It is now necessary to seek assistance from expert cleaners for a comprehensive cleaning task.

What is Construction Dust?

Construction dust is the collective term for all the dust generated and collected on the construction site. 

A newly constructed site cannot become a child’s playground. A lot of things must be moved about and cleaned to make the place safe, like falling or improperly adjusted objects, unused or cut-out planks, and of course, dust.

Construction dust is produced upon every construction project’s culmination and can be deadly if not dealt with. The longer it stays, the higher the possibility of it getting released into the air affecting the health of all those around you.

It can cause allergies and respiratory difficulties. So as a building owner, you should know how to make post construction cleaning and the dust removed from the air after each construction project.

How is construction dust harmful?

The dust particles can cause breathing difficulty, flare your allergies, and lead to lethal health issues.

The longer you stay exposed to this dust, the higher the chances it may cause silicosis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and even lung cancer.

While some of these issues occur immediately, followed by exposure, other conditions like lung cancer take time to develop, and it’s already too late by the time you get the treatment.

Types of Construction Dust

There are three types of construction Dust.

Silica Dust

This one is released when work is done on mortar, concrete, and sandstone.

Wood Dust

As the name suggests, this comes from hardwood, softwood, ply, and MDF work.

Lower Toxicity Dust

Lower toxicity dust is produced when the workers work on dolomite, limestone, marble, gypsum, etc.

These are the three main categories. But the dust you see around you also has particles from other construction materials used on the site. We have the VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, that come from paints and formaldehyde.

These particles are so small, usually invisible to the eye, that they are easily taken in through our respiratory system and can wreak havoc on our lungs. 

A few statistics can give you a bigger picture of how dangerous this dust is:

• In the US, 1.85 million workers from the construction domain are exposed to hazardous dust.
• As per Samantha Wilding, B&CE’s health policy and public affairs, 81% out of 500,000 people exposed to silica dust are associated with the construction industry.
• Five Hundred construction workers (present and retired) died from exposure to silica.

Hence it is very important to use heavy equipment like air blowers, scrubbers, and purifiers to take care of this dust and give way to cleaner and healthier air on and around the site. 

Tips to Contain the Dust During Construction

I’d like to share some helpful tips with you on how to get rid of construction dust in the air before you begin construction work.

• Contain the vents, windows, and all other places possible by covering them with plastic sheets, tape, and staple pins.
• Keep single points of entry and exit during the construction process.
• Cover the carpets with cling wrap to keep them from collecting dust 
• Vacuum thoroughly time and again during the construction. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter.
• Use cardboard to protect the hardwood flooring.
• Use shoe guards to keep from spreading the dust all over the house.
• Keep cutting and sanding outside.
• Clean the ducts before settling in the new place to ensure no dust is left behind.
• Use VOC-free paints.

How to Eliminate Dust

Construction dust spreads fast and can easily stick to the walls and ceiling.

The best time to remove the dust from the premises is after the paint and polish have dried and the construction job is complete.

Prepare

It’s important to be well-prepared for the dust. Ensure you have protective gear like a mask, gloves, and goggles. Also, open up the doors and windows to let in fresh air.

Then you need to bring out the equipment for the cleanup. Here’s what you’ll need

How to Clean the Walls

Use Industrial Grade Vacuum Cleaner

Use a vacuum cleaner to first clear the loose dust particles off the walls. Go room by room, cleaning each wall from top to bottom.

You may be tempted to use a cleaning brush or duster, but that will only spread the dust further.

Clean the walls 

Next, you need a bucket of water, dish soap, sponges, and towels.

Some of the dust might be stuck in the walls. You’ll have to take it out by scrubbing it. Be careful not to use very harsh sponges. Those may damage the paint and wall.

Wash the Wall

Next, take some warm water in a bucket and rinse the walls. Do not soak them; wash them and let them air dry to remove leftover dust.

Are you wondering how to get rid of construction dust in the air? Here are some helpful tips to make the air cleaner and safer for breathing.

Next, you need to cleanse the air of the particles. Different companies use different methods and approaches to do that.

It also depends on the site and how bad the air quality is. Here are the top methods usually used to rid the air of these harmful dust particles. 

Water Suppression

In this approach, the dust is made damp as soon as it’s released. Since light dust can easily float in the air, making it wet, increasing its weight, and forming a sort of sludge.

But don’t over-dampen the dust; it’ll only create a mess. 

On-tool Extraction

This method, too, is used just at the time the dust is produced and released. A local exhaust ventilation system is fitted onto a tool to suck all the dust in before it gets released into the atmosphere.

However, some of the dust particles will still manage to get into the air. 

For these, you’ll have to wait for some days to let them settle. Once all the construction work is complete, a final deep cleaning will be required to get rid of them.

Final Deep Cleaning

Deep cleaning of a site after construction requires an in-depth walk-through. Everything should be thoroughly examined for safety and cleanliness, like the tiled flooring, installed units, etc. 

Also, while you’re at it, ventilate the whole area. Keep the doors and windows open to allow fresh quality air in.

Once you’ve identified the areas that need to be cleaned, getting a professional cleaning company to help you with the cleanup is the best strategy. 

Qualified professional post-construction cleaning services can do everything there for you.

Air Purifiers and Scrubbers

Air purifiers, air scrubbers, and blowers are potent devices used to draw in dust from the air and surfaces of the site. But does an air purifier help with dust? Let’s find out.

Air Purifiers 

These heavy and powerful machineries remove dirt from the air, leaving you with clean, quality air. They have special HEPA filters to capture dust particles and other allergens from the air.

These air purifiers are a must in closed spaces with poor ventilation. 

Moreover, this equipment also keeps the surrounding area clean. If you have people living close to the premises, they also keep the dust from traveling to their residences.

Companies usually use multiple scrubbers and purifiers across the site for effective cleaning.

Air Scrubbers

Air Scrubbers and professional blowers work to improve the air quality. These usually have variable speed settings to control the airflow to purify the air and improve the performance of all air conditioners and heaters.

They have dust bags inside that extract the dust from the air to ensure only quality and fresh air is blown into the rooms.

Additional Tips and Tricks – How to Get Rid of Construction Dust in the Air

Here are some tips and tricks on how to get rid of construction dust in the air.

• Look for air cleaners that can be affixed to the air conditioning unit. These remove dust from the whole area instead of focusing on a single room.
• Use blowers and fans to draw in the air from the site and prevent airflow outside.
• Ventilate as much as you possibly can.
• Never use a duster or brush to sweep the dust.

Youtube Video with tips from Expert Home Tips

Conclusion

Post Construction cleaning isn’t a job for a newbie. You need a team or the required equipment to roll up your sleeves and get to it.

The best way to get about it is to hire experts for the job. At Sunlight Cleaning NY, we provide top-notch post construction cleaning services. We send out a team of experts who are hands-on with the knowledge of how to get rid of construction dust in the air. 

We bring all the necessary equipment to the site, freeing you up to sit back and relax while we prepare the place for living or moving in.