Cleaning concrete dust from your tiles or furniture can be a difficult task that you need to do without hesitation.
Cleaning could be challenging if left for a very long time, and the dust can cause health issues.
Therefore, I will give you easy and effective ways to clean cement dust in this article.
The best way to clean concrete dust is using a detergent, hydrogen peroxide, a tea towel, vinegar, dust mop treatment, ammonia, or a concrete dust cleaner. If you use a detergent, hydrogen peroxide, or vinegar, get a bucket, add water, and add your detergent, hydrogen peroxide, or vinegar. Then, wipe off with a damp cloth till the concrete dust goes off.
Best Way To Clean Up Concrete Dust
Before cleaning concrete dust, you must take precautions to protect yourself and make the work easier.
- First, make sure the place you are cleaning has appropriate ventilation.
- Reduce the cement dust before cleaning using a vacuum cleaner.
- Use a face mask, gloves, and glasses to prevent you from inhaling the dust and dust from getting into your eyes.
Cement dust is abrasive. Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter. The best methods of cleaning up concrete dust are:
#1. Clean With Detergent
- Pour water into a bucket
- Add detergent into the water
- Get a spray bottle and pour the soapy water into it.
- Spray the area you are to clean and wipe with a cloth. Rinse the clothes when filled with dust.
- Wipe the surface with another damp cloth. Keep wiping it till the detergent gets off the surface.
#2.Clean With Hydrogen Peroxide
- Add water to a bucket and pour hydrogen peroxide into it.
- Pour it into a spray bottle, spray on the cement dust and wipe it.
- Use a damp clean cloth and wipe the surface.
The hydrogen peroxide suspends the dust particles and makes them easier to clean off.
#3. Clean With A Tea Towel
- Rub the surfaces hard with the tea towel. Do not spray any liquid on the towel. Instead, gather the dust and pour it on an old newspaper for disposal.
#4. Clean With Vinegar
- Get distilled vinegar and water. Pour equally into a spray bottle.
- Spray every surface with cement dust and leave it for two minutes.
- Wipe the surface with a cloth and rinse it once it gathers dust.
- With another damp cloth, wipe the surface again to clean the vinegar.
#5. Clean With Dust Mop Treatment
- Get a dust mop treatment and spray it on your dust mop.
- Wipe the surfaces with the treated dust mop and dust off the cement dust.
- Continue cleaning till the concrete dust goes off.
#6. Clean With A Concrete Dust Cleaner
Concrete dust cleaners are chemicals based, and they are very effective. To clean cement dust,
- Mix the concrete dust cleaner with water. This chemical has specific instructions for use. Ensure you go through it to know the right amount to be used.
- Using your mop, apply the solution to the floor. When cleaning the floor, put some into a spray bottle and spray it in the air to eliminate dust.
Best Way To Clean Up Drywall Dust On Concrete Floor
Sweeping and vacuuming cable throw drywall dust into the air. To easily clean up drywall dust, follow these steps.
- Wear a face mask and safety goggles. The face mask will prevent you from inhaling dust, and the safety goggles will prevent eye irritation.
- Wipe off drywall dust from all the surfaces above the floor before you clean the concrete floor. This cleaning prevents the dust from dropping on the floor later.
- Use a damp cloth to clean drywall dust from windows and walls.
- Sweeping and vacuuming spread the dust in the air, and it will settle on the surfaces you have cleaned. To prevent this, spread the sweeping compound on your concrete floor. The sweeping compound will control dust, and you will sweep without the dust spreading in the air and settling in other places. Make sure you use gloves while applying the sweeping compound to avoid sticking. Do not spread too much. Use only a thin layer.
- Using a stiff-bristled broom, sweep the drywall dust and the sweeping compound. Do not lift the head of the broom too high to prevent the spreading of dust into the air.
- Gather the drywall dust into plastic bags. Tie it properly so that dust will not escape into the air.
- Use a vacuum cleaner to get rid of the remnants. Install a HEPA filter so that dust will not enter the vacuum motor.
After sweeping and vacuuming the floor, use a mop and soapy water to clean off any dust residue.
How Do I Get Rid Of Concrete Dust On My Garage Floor?
Your garage floor can be dusty due to unsealed concrete floors and broken seals or gaps.
To get rid of concrete dust on your garage floor,
#1. Clean With A Tea Towel
Remove any trace of concrete dust you see on the walls and floor using a tea towel.
Next, use a dust cloth and wipe all the surfaces where the dust settles. Avoid using a broom to prevent the dust from spreading around.
#2. Use Vinegar And Water
Add equal amounts of vinegar and water to a spray bottle and spray it. Leave it for some time and wipe it off using a damp clean cloth.
#3. Seal The Concrete Floor
Use an acrylic topical sealer to seal the concrete. This sealer forms a protective coating on the floor and prevents dusting.
If the dusting is severe, contact a garage floor coating company for solutions to stopping concrete dusting on your garage floor.
Keep your garage organized. An organized garage will have better airflow and less clutter.
To permanently get rid of concrete dust on your garage floor, install garage floor tiles. The garage floor tiles reduce the amount of dust in your garage.
Also, check your doors for broken seals and gaps. If there are any, seal them properly.
Can You Vacuum Up Concrete Dust?
You can vacuum up concrete dust. To clean up areas with large quantities of dust, you will need a vacuum cleaner with high voltage.
Regular household vacuum cleaners will not pick up dust. The dust might get into the motors and cause wear or clogging.
Vacuum cleaners with High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters are helpful in the removal of concrete dust.
It retains dust and prevents it from spreading on the work surface. Cleaning up fine dust requires a high filtration system.
These HEPA vacuum cleaners also offer minimal exposure to silica. Since the vacuum cleaner cannot remove all the dust, get a gallon of water, add 12 ounces of hydrogen peroxide, and wipe the surface with a cloth.
This solution makes it easier for the cloth to absorb the dust by suspending its particles. SO vacuum cleaners can be effective, but they also have disadvantages.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| It can access difficult-to-reach areas. Areas that are difficult to reach can have lots of dust accumulation. Using a vacuum hose, you can clean these places properly. | Vacuuming alone will not remove all the dust because the particles are fine. You will still have residue left on the surface. |
| The HEPA and other filters block dust from spreading to other surfaces. It also prevents you from inhaling the dust, which is harmful to the lungs. |
Since the vacuum cleaner cannot remove all the dust, get a gallon of water, add 12 ounces of hydrogen peroxide, and wipe the surface with a cloth.
This solution makes it easier for the cloth to absorb the dust by suspending its particles.
How Long Does It Take For Concrete Dust To Settle?
There is no exact time for the settlement of concrete dust. The settlement is dependent on the size of the particles.
If the dust has larger particles, settling on the ground will not take long. If the dust has fine particles, it remains in the air for a long time. If inhaled, these particles can move to the lungs.
Particles having a diameter of 15um to 100um settle in a minute. In a larger room, the time for settling may be longer.
Particles less than 10um in diameter may take up to three minutes. Particles having a 5um diameter will take eight minutes to settle, and particles with 1um may take four or more hours to settle.
Conclusion
Constant exposure to concrete dust increases the risk of inhaling some harmful silica particles.
This harmful silica can cause scarring in your lungs. Use a mask, gloves, and glasses to minimize exposure while cleaning.
If concrete dust sits for a long time, it can dry up, making it difficult to remove. Follow the guidelines highlighted in this article for a more accessible and effective concrete dust removal.
