- I’ve tried those zip-up barriers a couple times—honestly, they’re useful if you’re doing a big project or have allergies, but for just swapping out one or two windows, I usually skip them. They take a bit to set up and sometimes the adhesive doesn’t love old trim.
- Instead, I tape up cheap plastic drop cloths around the opening and lay an old sheet on the floor. Quick, low-fuss, and keeps most of the dust in one spot.
- About the fan: I used to point it straight out the window, but realized if there’s any gap around the frame it just sucks dust through the rest of the house. Angling it slightly and sealing off doorways with towels seems to help.
- Do you have carpet nearby? That stuff holds onto dust forever... I vacuumed twice and still found grit days later.
Ever tried misting the area with a spray bottle before you start? It helps keep fine dust from floating everywhere. Wonder if that would work better with older plaster walls?
Misting definitely helps, especially with the really fine dust that just loves to float around forever. I tried it when we pulled out the old windows in our 1920s place—plaster walls and all. It cut down on the airborne stuff, but I still ended up with a layer of grit in weird spots (like inside a closed cabinet… how does that even happen?).
Plastic drop cloths taped up are my go-to too. The zip-up barriers seemed like a good idea until I realized the adhesive peeled paint off my old trim. Plus, my cat found a way in anyway, so much for keeping it sealed.
Carpet is the worst for this. I thought I was being clever by laying out tarps, but I swear dust just migrates under them somehow. Ended up renting one of those heavy-duty vacuums after and still found bits weeks later. If you’ve got plaster walls, misting is worth trying, but nothing seems to beat a good old-fashioned deep clean when you’re done.