Minimize Mess from a Wet/Dry Vac
A few simple techniques when handling a wet/dry vac can limit the mess.
For someone who specializes in small home-improvement projects, there is hardly a more important piece of equipment on an interior job than a wet/dry vac. But sometimes those canister-style vacs can create their own mess. Here are a few suggestions to help minimize that mess.
I’ve noticed that after transporting it to a job, my vac sometimes blows out a large puff of dust on the first startup. To prevent that dust from making a bigger mess than the one I’m trying to clean up, I start the vac while holding the suction hose near the exhaust outlet.
And to prevent dust from spreading even further when I’m cutting or sanding, I hook a second hose to the exhaust port and run it out the window. Finally, because dust always seems to accumulate inside the fittings, which can result in a small mess on the floor, I always change or separate my attachments with the motor running.
— Brent Briggs, Kintnersville, Pa. Edited by Charles Miller.
From Fine Homebuilding #317
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View Comments
I can't count the number of times I wish I'd remembered this tip.
If you have to do all those things to get your vacuum not to blow dust around you need a better vacuum with hepa filtration. These cheap vacuums are just spreading toxic dust around the clients home and into the air you are breathing. You would be better off with a broom.