Oh my goodness - how much longer am I going to be cleaning up plaster dust

[HurdyGurdy19]

Had our hall/stairs/landing replastered last week, and although I know that plastering is a messy business, realistically how long should it take to get all the plaster dust gone?

He only finished on Friday, so maybe I'm being too impatient, but I've gone over the tiles in the hall and kitchen at least 12 times each with my steam mop, and the pads are still coming up black each time.

Still also getting lots of dust settling on the kitchen worksurfaces (our own fault, really, for not keeping the kitchen door shut whilst he was working), and on the grooves in the kitchen cupboard doors.

I feel as though I am going to spend the rest of my life cleaning up plaster dust 😂

Or does anyone have any brilliant tips for getting rid of it?

it’s a nightmare, we have had our whole house re plastered, it’s been about six weeks now and it’s clean!

I live in a mid-terrace, with a small backyard and my next door neighbour is having the front and back repointed. My little backyard is full of black brick dust. Of course the cat walked it in. I could cry, tbh.

Roughly until February.

(sorry).

I had no idea that plastering was dusty!! It's not powdery when put on, is it? It's like paste. Im confused.

Oh it's a nightmare isn't it!

Has it been sealed properly?

Look. I appreciate the replies. Really I do.

But these answers are not what I was looking for 😂😂. I was hoping for - "oh, by bedtime tomorrow", or I'd have stretched it to "definitely by the end of next week".

@Bluebellsintheforest33 - it goes on the walls (and my carpet, skirting boards, all the doors etc 🙄) like a paste, yes. But the plaster powdery stuff has to be mixed with water, rather like using a big electric whisk to make the paste, and the dust produced by that process gets absolutely everywhere 😕

@SaraHoliday - no, it's still drying out (almost all dry now) but the plasterer said to leave it a week or two, to be absolutely sure it's thoroughly dry, before applying a mist coat, ahead of decorating.

I agree with leaving it a while before decorating but not sure on the 'mist coat'. Is the Plasterer returning to do that?

My dh vacuumed the ceilings and walls after we'd had building work done and it did help because the dust is in the air and settles everywhere!

No. The mist coat is a job for the decorator.

Sigh - another trade in the house.

Had the electrician two weeks ago, then the plasterer next week.

Next (I think - I am absolutely winging it in terms of "project management"), its a joiner/carpenter/handyman to replace skirting and architraves.

Then a de orator.

And finally a carpet fitter.

Why did I think this ptoject was a good idea 😂

Couple of months on the tops of kitchen cabinets. As me how I know…

But can't they do the mixing bit outside?!

Stop using the steam mop for a few days! Steam/moisture turns fine plaster dust into a wet paste that just smears around and settles back into the grout/tile texture once it dries—that’s why your pads are coming up black every time.
Try this instead:

1. Vacuum dry first using a vacuum with a HEPA filter (or sweep with a microfibre dust mop).
2. Use a damp microfibre cloth with a bit of warm water and a splash of white vinegar to wipe down surfaces—the vinegar helps neutralize and break down the alkaline plaster residue.
3. Change your water/cloths frequently so you aren't just wiping old plaster paste back onto the floor.

Thank you @jackiesmith2

I will follow your instructions, and hope for success!

Agree with the @jackiesmith2 advice to dry vacuuming first - we had to have our bathroom stripped back to bare brick and replastered after a flood and the dust was awful, even though all the doors were shut it gets everywhere.

Not a great idea to get it wet first off, then it gets sticky - dry vacuum everywhere including walls and ceilings, light fittings etc, then get your damp cloths out.

Eventually it will stop appearing I assure you!

We had one room (our bathroom) replastered and the dust was everywhere! It was all over the toaster in the kitchen which is a floor below. I think I've pretty much got rid of it but it took several cleans.