I’ve tried the shop vac trick a couple times—honestly, I think it helps, but you’re right, it’s pretty awkward if you don’t have an extra set of hands. I end up doing this weird dance trying to hold the vac hose in one hand and pry the window with the other, all while not tripping over the cord. Definitely feels like a two-person job unless you’ve got some kind of third-arm attachment I haven’t seen yet.
The foam board idea is clever. I usually just tape up plastic sheeting, but like you said, that stuff slips around or gets sucked in by drafts. Then I’m chasing dust bunnies all over again. Last winter, I tried using a big old moving blanket under the window—figured it’d catch debris and not slide as much. It worked okay, but man, it was full of splinters and paint chips by the end. Took me longer to shake it out than to actually pull the window.
Funny thing about towels: my dog thinks they’re fair game, so half the time he’s dragging them off before I even get started. Not super helpful for keeping things tidy.
I keep telling myself one day I’ll just splurge on one of those zip-up dust doors for the room, but then I remember how cheap I am and go back to improvising with whatever’s in the garage. At least with old windows, you know there’ll always be something new to try next time… or at least another mess to clean up.
That whole balancing act with the shop vac is almost a rite of passage. I tried looping the hose around a chair to hold it in place, but then the suction kept pulling it off anyway. I’ve also noticed that when I use plastic sheeting, static electricity seems to attract even more dust, which kind of defeats the purpose. Foam board sounds smart though—I hadn’t considered how rigid material would stay put better.
I’m with you on the moving blankets getting trashed. Last time I used one, I ended up with so much lead paint dust in the fibers that I just tossed it rather than try to clean it out. One thing that sort of worked for me was taping down a disposable painter’s drop cloth and then folding it up carefully afterward, but it’s definitely not perfect.
Funny about the towels... my cat just sits right in the middle and acts like she owns the place. I keep thinking there must be a more efficient way, but every window seems to have its own set of surprises. Maybe there’s no “fastest” way, just less-messy ways depending on what you’ve got lying around.
I’m right there with you on the static from plastic sheeting—felt like I was living in a snow globe with all the dust clinging everywhere. Tried the painter’s drop cloth trick too, and honestly, it’s about as good as it gets for single-use, but then I feel guilty every time I toss another one in the trash.
The foam board idea is interesting. I’d never thought about using anything rigid, but now I’m wondering if it would be worth the hassle to cut the boards to fit each window opening exactly. Or would that just add to the chaos? My last attempt was with cardboard taped down, and it worked... until I had to move around and ended up tracking dust everywhere anyway.
Anyone ever try those zip-up containment doors? I see them in renovation videos but not sure if they’re overkill for just a few windows. Or maybe there’s some magic combo of materials and techniques that keeps both dust and pets out of the way?
I’ve actually tried those zip-up containment doors and, honestly, they’re a bit much for just a couple windows unless you’re doing some serious demo. The zipper’s handy but the frame is kind of a pain to set up in tight spaces. About the foam board—cutting it to fit exactly sounds great in theory, but in practice I found it just made more mess with all the trimming and little bits everywhere. I ended up going back to heavy canvas drop cloths that I shake out and reuse, even if they don’t seal perfectly. Static is still an issue sometimes, but at least I don’t feel as wasteful. Pets are another story… mine seem to find any gap no matter what I use.
I totally get where you’re coming from with the zip-up doors—feels like overkill for a couple windows, and I’ve wrestled with those frames in cramped hallways before. The foam board thing is interesting... I wondered if it would actually save time or just lead to more cleanup, so it’s good to hear your take. Heavy canvas drop cloths seem like a solid middle ground, especially if you can reuse them. Have you noticed any difference in dust levels compared to when you tried the other setups? Static always seems to be an issue for me too, especially in dry weather. And pets—yeah, mine act like they’re on a mission to find every possible escape route.
Honestly, I’ve always found the foam boards more trouble than they’re worth. They can help with cleanup, but if you’re using a multi-tool or reciprocating saw, the static just makes the dust cling everywhere anyway. Heavy canvas is sturdy, but for fine dust, it doesn’t always seal tight at the edges—especially in older homes with uneven floors. I’ve had better luck taping up plastic sheeting and running a cheap box fan out the window to create negative pressure. Keeps most of the mess contained, and the pets stay put... unless someone opens a door at the wrong time.