How To Clean Up Concrete Dust (Basement, Plants & Furniture) 2024

When applying grout to the wall or floor tiles, there is no doubt that you are also preparing for the aftermath (concrete dust).

And this happens because of thin layers that will always remain behind even after the work is complete.

So, this leaves you with the question, how do I clean up concrete dust?

Let me assure you that by the time you approach the end of this article, you will not just get a general idea about how to clean up concrete dust.

But you will also learn how to specifically clean concrete dust from basement plants and furniture.

The best way to clean up concrete dust is to do it immediately after the work is complete. You can easily do it with just lukewarm water and a sponge. Whereas, if allowed to stay uncleaned for some while, you will come to use things like tea towels, vacuums, scrapers, air purifiers, and or even a mixture containing vinegar.

Table of Contents

How to Remove Concrete Dust from Plants?

If the concrete dust on a plant is of little amount or quantity, you can just wash it off the plant by using water.

But if the concrete dust is of large quantity, then you shouldn’t wash it away; instead, you should replace it with fertile soil.

Furthermore, you should not wash it down because if you wash down large quantities of concrete dust, they will leach into the soil.

Then they will become hard wherever they end up resting below the soil, causing the death of plants.

Cement made in concrete is a mixture of limestone and powdered gypsum (formed from non-metallic minerals).

When they react with your plant’s soil carbon dioxide in the air and water, they cause a change from the usual pH level of 6.4 to an alkaline pH not less than 8.0.

Below is the list of adverse effects that concrete dust usually has on the soil and plant it ends up on;

If water washes concrete dust down into the soil, they form a solid layer that restricts the movement of water, air, and nutrients. And this will limit the growth of plant roots, thereby leading to the death of the plant.

Depending on the plant, the pH of the soil will determine how the nutrient will move around. So a poor pH for a particular plant will result in poor circulation of nutrients.

The thick layer of concrete dust will prevent the plants from receiving sunlight. And this will impair the photosynthetic process, which is necessary for starch formation, something essential to plants.

When alkalinity becomes high, it becomes difficult for your plant to absorb iron resulting in the yellowing of leaves.

Concrete dust can reduce the overall yield of both the soil and the plant.

In addition, plants can die if it is exposed to concrete dust by 2 mg to 4 mg of every 1-meter square.

And at this rate, your plants will begin to show signs of cement poisoning and undoubtedly die off after the third day.

Notwithstanding, prevention is always the better option. Therefore let us consider a few things we can do to prevent the death of your plant from concrete dust.

The following are a few preventive measures you can take;

Cover your plants with plastic sheets while working with or on concrete.

If you are constructing or reconstructing, do it away from your plants.

Move plants and not bring them back until post-construction cleaning work is complete.

If there is no plant, the plant is complete after the construction.

Then wait to see whether other plants are growing around where the concrete dust has fallen before growing your plant.

#1. Cleaning and Remedial Care for Plants Affected by Concrete Dust

Below is the list and remedial care you should give your plant if it is affected by cement dust particles;

Remove concrete dust by removing the top layer of your soil with the thick form from the concrete dust that fell into the soil. Do this by digging 7 inches down with a garden hoe or digger.
Take away rocks, gravel, dirt, and all dead plants from healthy ones.
Make sure you replace the 7 inches of topsoil with new and fertile soils.
The soil should be sloppy with drainage to wash out the concrete dust.
Test and adjust pH level to the expected range
If your soil is too alkaline, mix vinegar with water and spread it on the soil.
Make sure soil is receiving air with natural fertilizers.
You should apply Additives and fertilizers to increase the chance of better yield.
Next, you can wait for the regeneration of your plant if there is only a small amount of concrete dust spilled on it.
After 2 to 3 weeks of constant watering, you can reseed your plant.
Do not walk close to where you have planted the new seeds.

How to Clean Up Concrete Dust in the Basement?

There are many ways you can go about cleaning your basement when it has concrete dust everywhere.

And these ways are what we will be considering, but first, we need a list of what is needed to complete this task.

The following are required to clean a basement;

Gloves

Face masks

Safety goggles

Detergents

Spray bottles

Vacuum cleaners

#1. Precautions Before Cleaning Basement

Wear goggles, gloves, and a facemask to prevent concrete dust from entering your eyes, nose, hands, or lungs.
Make sure the basement is well-ventilated.
Vacuuming everywhere can reduce the amount of concrete dust in the air.
Your cleaning principle should be from top to bottom; you start with the ceiling, the furniture, and the ground. It will ensure that dust does not fall where it is already clean.
After vacuuming, use a damp rag to clean. And this will help absorb dust particles.
Cleaning curtains, carpets, and furniture with rags will not always be possible. So, using a HEPA filter will help you in catching concrete dust.

#2. Ways and Steps to Clean Up Concrete Dust in the Basement

Below is a table displaying the four ways to clean your basement and the steps that you are required to follow;

S/N	Detergents	Vacuums	Wiping	Hydrogen Peroxide
1	Get water in a bucket.	Even after cleaning the walls, you can still see dust particles on the floor and upholstery	Once the renovation is complete, begin to clean by wiping off the debris that is around	If used in a mist form, you can apply hydrogen peroxide on surfaces with cement dust making it absorbable by a towel when cleaning
2	Pour in a little liquid dishwashing soap	To achieve the best result, give special attention to seats and cushions, which is why you must vacuum the floor before moving these	While wiping off surfaces, you should do it from top to bottom. That way, even when the particle falls off, it will be on the ground that is not yet clear	The mixture in a bucket should be 12 ounces of hydrogen peroxide to 1 gallon of water
3	Get a half-filled spray bottle with soapy solution in it	You need to gather knowledge on how to clean cement dust from your home	While wiping, walls, shelves, cabinets, and cabinet doors should be in your mind	Use a spray bottle to apply the solution
4	Use a soft cloth to wipe surfaces with after spraying the solution and rinse	Once furniture is clean, attention should move to the carpets	Use the specified cleaning product for each surface you come across	And clean cement dust thoroughly with a rag
5	Then use a new damp soft rag to wipe the surface again	It would help if you vacuumed more than once to remove concrete dust particles that stay hidden	Employ different techniques for different surfaces like whether or not to use a wet or dry cloth on walls	You may need to re-rinse the rag multiple times to wipe to clean cement dust
6			Remember to check the nook and crannies, places you don’t always visit, and thoroughly clean them up.	At this point, after removing cement dust, you should only use hydrogen peroxide with a damp rag to clean furniture, walls, and the floor.

How to Clean Concrete Dust From Furniture?

This part of the house demands a lot of attention. A seat is usually the first thing you offer a visitor, and the appearance of your home furniture tells a lot about who you are and your taste.

And so, it is no wonder moms don’t let their kids play around with the furniture.

Below are the different ways you can go about setting up your house and cleaning cement dust;