Dust everywhere - how to clean up?

[lizziecupcakes]

Hi all
After the electricians did their rewire and we took our lime plaster (to lath) ceilings down in the main bedroom, there is dust everywhere. We weren’t great with the dust sheets. There is only the old carpet runner on the stairs (also full if dust) which we will get rid of but I though to do this after the jobs below. I’m mainly keeping them because of staircase safety (I’m afraid of slipping).

Apart from the carpet runner, the whole house is just wooden floorboards (original and untreated). I plan to sand them all and varnish eventually (after adding suspended floor insulation). After these I aim to add the new stair runner.

In the meantime, how do I get rid of the dust that seems to be everywhere? I have hoovered many times with the henry hoover but it keeps coming back. Is it the dust in the carpets spreading everywhere? Do you think I should just bin them now?

I’m thinking about using a large damp sponge and just wiping the wooden floors down and skirting boards too. Is this a good idea or will I ruin the untreated original floors?

Examples of the floorboards have been attached. The first one was taken at night; middle one with the sun shining; last one is of the floors with paper still stuck to it (I’m still working on this lol)

Thank you!!!

 

[a twig]

Unfortunately it’s all a bit stable door after horse is already enjoying the clover in the next county. Just keep vacuuming I’m afraid.

Shouldn’t be any problem with damp sponging as long as the sponge is only damp rather than wet.

Next time make sure you are on the case with dust sheets and it also helps to open a window and point a large fan at it from the other site of the room to push dust outside while works are ongoing.

Folk of this parish have even gone as far as mounting a large toilet extractor fan with a plug onto a sheet of ply that is cut to fit in an open window as a way to push dust outside

 

[Itchinfilth]

This is something I left for my Mrs to come into on the ground floor after I took a ceiling down upstairs. It didn't go down well . This was even with what I would call sensible precaution of dust sheets etc but my house is full of holes. My advice. Clean, clean, clean & clean again!

 

[Zebra]

Keep at it, you'll get there. A wipe with a damp sponge won't do any harm as long as it's only damp not sopping.

 

[paulc]

The dust gets everywhere and clings to all surfaces. Wiping down the walls as well as the floors will get most of it.
If you have any more ceilings to take down, misting the air while you are doing it helps to control the dust. And when sweeping up the debris, keep misting the air.

 

[lizziecupcakes]

Thanks all, especially for the reality check. It’s feel like an endless job, and we are getting nowhere with it. I’ll stick to a damp sponge only (I really can’t wait to sand and varnish the floors eventually).

@paulc that’s a good idea, I’ll wipe down the walls too. I’ve taken a note of misting the air for the next ceiling take down!

 

[mardinor]

Next time, you can buy plastic sheets with zipper doors in that you tape over doorways. It's a bit 'Dexter' but they work to contain the dust, assuming no airflow through floorboards.