GETTING READY FOR NEW WINDOWS: WHAT DO YOU ACTUALLY NEED TO DO?

- Totally get what you mean about the plastic drop cloths. I tried them once, ended up slipping and nearly wiped out - never again.
- Canvas is way sturdier, but sometimes I worry about paint or dust getting through if they’re old or thin. Guess nothing’s perfect.
- Taking down window treatments sounds like a hassle upfront, but yeah, cleaning blinds after is even worse. Did that once...regretted it.
- Feels like more work now, but probably saves time (and sanity) later. Thanks for making me feel less crazy for wanting to do things the hard way.

“Taking down window treatments sounds like a hassle upfront, but yeah, cleaning blinds after is even worse. Did that once...regretted it.”

I thought skipping the whole “take down the blinds” step would save me time - nope. Ended up with dust and mystery gunk all over them, and scrubbing those slats was way more painful than just popping them off at the start. And I’m with you on the canvas drop cloths. Just bought new ones because my old set turned into Swiss cheese over the years... paint finds every hole, I swear. Sometimes doing it “the hard way” is actually just avoiding future regret.

I tried leaving the blinds up once thinking it’d be less work, but ended up with a streaky mess and somehow even more dust. Never again. Taking them down is annoying, but at least you don’t have to scrub each slat for an hour. And yeah, drop cloths are a must - mine looked like Swiss cheese too after a couple projects. Funny how “saving time” always seems to backfire with home stuff...

Leaving blinds up always seems like a shortcut until you’re halfway through and realize it’s just making more work. I’ve found it’s actually faster to take them down, even if it feels like a hassle at first. For drop cloths, have you tried the thicker canvas ones? They’re pricier but last way longer - mine’s survived several window jobs without a single tear. Curious if anyone’s had luck with the disposable plastic ones, though... I’ve never trusted them not to rip.

I’m with you on taking the blinds down. Tried leaving them up once - never again. Ended up juggling them the whole time and scratched the frame anyway. As for drop cloths, those thick canvas ones are worth every penny. I did use the cheap plastic sheets in a pinch, but they bunched up and tore as soon as I moved my ladder... total mess. If you’re doing more than one window, I’d say stick with canvas.

As for drop cloths, those thick canvas ones are worth every penny. I did use the cheap plastic sheets in a pinch, but they bunched up and tore as soon as I moved my ladder... total mess.

Can’t argue with that - plastic drop cloths are basically a slip-n-slide for tools and paint cans. I’ve watched more than one apprentice go skating across the room on those things. Canvas is heavier, stays put, and honestly, you can just toss it in the wash after. Only downside is if you’ve got pets, those things attract fur like crazy... but still better than scraping paint off hardwood floors.

Those plastic ones are a nightmare, aren’t they? I once watched a five-gallon bucket take a slow-motion tumble across the living room thanks to a slick plastic drop cloth - took hours to clean up. Canvas is the way to go, even if you end up with a bit of pet hair embedded. On window jobs, I’ll sometimes double up with an old sheet under the canvas just in case something leaks through. Not perfect, but it saves a lot of stress when you’re working over nice flooring.

Plastic drop cloths are like banana peels for buckets - one wrong move and you’re mopping up paint water all afternoon. I’m with you on canvas, even if my dog’s fur is now part of every project. I do wonder about the double layer, though… sometimes it feels like overkill unless you’re working with old windows that are likely to leak. I’ve started using those reusable painter’s mats in high-traffic spots - less slip, still washable, and they don’t bunch up as much. Anyone else tried those?

I do wonder about the double layer, though… sometimes it feels like overkill unless you’re working with old windows that are likely to leak.

I’ve only ever used one layer (just a cheap canvas drop cloth), and honestly, I still got a few drips sneaking through when I was scraping the old paint. Are those painter’s mats much thicker? I’m not sure if I should just double up or invest in something reusable. My house is from the 50s, so there’s always some surprise mess.

I’ve had the same struggle with canvas drop cloths - those paint drips seem to find the one weak spot every time. The painter’s mats are thicker and have a sort of rubbery backing, so they’re better for soaking up spills and keeping stuff from seeping through, but they’re definitely pricier. For my last window project, I doubled up with an old sheet under the drop cloth, and it actually worked pretty well. I guess it depends on how much mess you expect… with a 50s house, I’d say err on the side of caution. These old places love to surprise us.

I get what you mean about doubling up, but I’ve actually had more luck with those cheap plastic tarps from the hardware store - just the thin ones. They’re not fancy, but they’re totally waterproof and surprisingly tough. I know they’re not as eco-friendly, but if you’re careful, you can reuse them a bunch of times. Plus, they’re way easier to shake off outside if you get a ton of dust or old insulation falling down (which definitely happened in my 1948 place).

“with a 50s house, I’d say err on the side of caution. These old places love to surprise us.”

Couldn’t agree more there. Just saying, sometimes the simplest stuff works better than we expect.

- I’ve tried those thin tarps too, but honestly, I had a few rip on me when dragging them around corners or over rough stuff. Maybe I’m just too rough on gear.
- For my 1952 place, I switched to the thicker canvas drop cloths. Not totally waterproof, but they handle nails and splinters better and don’t end up as landfill as quickly.
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“sometimes the simplest stuff works better than we expect.”

“sometimes the simplest stuff works better than we expect.”

I get what you mean about canvas lasting longer - my neighbor swears by them too. But I’m curious, how do you deal with keeping dust out of the rest of the house? I’ve read about taping plastic sheeting around the work area, but it seems like a pain if you’re moving in and out a lot. Is there a trick to making that less annoying, or is it just part of the process?

“I’ve read about taping plastic sheeting around the work area, but it seems like a pain if you’re moving in and out a lot.”

Yeah, I totally get that. When we did our windows last winter, I tried the whole plastic sheet and tape thing - honestly, it *is* a pain, especially if you’re hauling tools or have folks coming in and out. What worked better for us was using those cheap zipper doorway kits. You stick the plastic up, then cut a slit and attach the zipper - it sounds gimmicky but it actually made moving between rooms way easier without letting clouds of dust escape every time.

One thing I’d add: turn off any HVAC or fans in the area while you’re working. Otherwise, dust just finds its way into every vent and corner. We also put old towels along the bottom of doors as an extra barrier. Not perfect, but it helped.

Canvas is great for floors, but for dust control, the combo of plastic + zipper + turning off airflow was honestly worth it. Still a hassle, but less than re-cleaning the whole house.

Is the zipper doorway kit really that much better though? I’ve seen them online but wasn’t sure if they’re worth the extra cost. When my neighbor did his windows, he just used overlapping sheets of plastic and kind of made a “curtain” effect - said it was quicker than setting up zippers and worked fine for him, even with people walking through.

Turning off the HVAC makes sense, but how do you deal with the cold if you’re doing this in winter? I’d be worried about freezing the house out, especially if it takes more than a day. Also, does anyone ever just skip the plastic and just vacuum a lot after? I feel like no matter what, dust gets everywhere... maybe I’m just being lazy, but I’m not sure the hassle is always worth it.

I feel like no matter what, dust gets everywhere... maybe I’m just being lazy, but I’m not sure the hassle is always worth it.

Honestly, I get where you’re coming from. I did the overlapping plastic “curtain” method for my window project last fall, and it sorta worked, but dust still crept into the hallway. The zipper kit was a pain to set up, but it actually kept the mess way more contained when I tried it for a closet reno. If you’re only doing a couple windows, I’d say skip it, but for a whole house or if you’re sensitive to dust, the zipper’s worth considering.

About the cold - yeah, turning off HVAC in winter is rough. I just closed doors to rooms I wasn’t working in and used space heaters (very carefully) in the work zone. Not perfect, but the house didn’t freeze. Vacuuming after is a must either way, but the less dust you let loose, the easier cleanup is.

Yeah, dust is just relentless. I tried the blue tape and plastic method on my 70s ranch when I swapped out four windows last spring, but honestly, it was only about 80% effective. I will say, if you’ve got a shop vac with a HEPA filter, that’s a game changer for cleanup. I’m not convinced the zipper kits are worth it unless you’re doing a ton of demo or have allergies - felt like overkill for me. Cold was a pain, though... my wife was not thrilled with the drafts, even with doors closed.

I hear you on the blue tape and plastic - it’s the go-to, but it’s not exactly airtight. I’ve actually come to appreciate the zipper kits more than I expected, especially in older homes where the dust seems to find its way into every nook. On a recent job, we used one in a mid-century split-level, and it made a noticeable difference. Not just for dust, but it kept the cold from seeping into the rest of the house. The initial setup is a bit of a pain, and yeah, it’s not cheap, but for a couple days of work, it kept my client’s living room from turning into an arctic tundra.

That said, if you’re only swapping a few windows and you’re not tearing out plaster or lath, I get why it feels like overkill. Still, for folks with pets or little kids, or if you’re doing work in winter, I’d argue it’s worth considering. The HEPA shop vac is non-negotiable though - totally agree there. Nothing like seeing that fine dust disappear instead of just swirling around.