Recommend an intial pass with a shop vac, which will capture probably 95% of the dust. It is good to use a shop vac to clean the surface between sanding grits, removing the larger grit particles from the wood before sanding with the next higher grit.
In general no, sawdust isn't going to harm a vacuum. That said, lots of saw dust will clog the filter on a shop vac quicker than some other things, and one should be conscious of this fact with replacing / cleaning filters for them.
So yes, your regular vacuum will pick up the fine dust. The problem occurs after the fine dust is inside your vacuum. If you have a high-end vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter the filter will quickly clog and put strain on the motor.
Fine dust
"Fine dust will clog the filters or bag right away," says Forte, and then the machine might begin spewing dust back into the air.
If you vacuum up sand once in a while, it won't hurt the vacuum, but if you do it often, it will lose power, wear out faster, and break. The microscopic sand particles can be sucked into the vacuum's engine. Then, these particles can build up and get stuck in the system, which can do a lot of damage to your vacuum.
Luckily, your Shop-Vac makes cleaning up camping equipment a breeze. Vacuum pine needles, sand, leaves, cobwebs, and whatever other debris makes its way into your tent with a Shop-Vac. Be sure to clean the crevices of camp bins, too!
The fine particles can stay airborne for a few hours. I use a shop vac connected to the dust outlet of my bench sander and always wear a respirator when sanding in an enclosed area. I try to limit my sanding to outdoors as long as the weather permits. Drywall dust is heavy, so it settles fast, maybe 5 to 10 minutes.
Particles less than 10µm in diameter (thoracic) will take about 3 minutes to settle. Particles at 5µm in diameter (respirable) will settle in about 8 minutes. Particles with a diameter of 1µm (respirable) will take up to 4 or more hours to settle.
Risks to health from wood dust
A person's upper respiratory system can filter out the larger particles, but smaller particles can go deep into the lungs causing damage and scarring to the lung tissue. Each time this happens a small amount of irreversible damage occurs.
Oddly enough, allergy symptoms often worsen during or immediately after vacuuming, sweeping and dusting. The process of cleaning can stir up dust particles, making them easier to inhale. People with dust mite allergies often suffer the most inside their homes or in other people's homes.
We recommend dusting before vacuuming, this is because dust particles usually get moved around the room when you dust, meaning all your hard work will go to waste. A top tip is to wait at least 2 hours after dusting to get the vacuum out.
Clean walls after sanding
If you've just sanded your wall, perhaps after applying a dollop of filler to a crack, then you'll need to clean it before going any further. This will prevent that stray plaster dust from nestling into the carpet or getting mixed up with your paint.
Sandpaper hazards
Titanium Dioxide sandpaper puts tiny particles in the air which when inhaled is a known carcinogen and Aluminium Oxide paper uses Formaldehyde resins which when airborne may cause lung damage (fibrosis) with symptoms of coughing, shortness of breath and diminishing breath capacity.
Construction dust is not just a nuisance; it can seriously damage your health and some types can eventually even kill. Regularly breathing these dusts over a long time can therefore cause life-changing lung diseases.
One way to improve a shop vac's ability to capture sawdust is with a dust separator. This is basically a 5-gallon bucket with a low profile or cyclone style separator lid. The shop vac's hose connects to the lid, and then a second hose runs from the collector bucket out to any tool with a dust port.
Initially, shop vacs were mostly used for industrial purposes. Nowadays, they are more customized with added features. Hence, they can also act as household items. On the other hand, home vacuums are only used in households and cannot be utilized for industrial purposes.
Soil and Plant Debris
Soil and plant debris can clog a vacuum, and damp or wet leaves can lead to mold in the bag or canister, so it's best to use a broom or your hands to pick those up.
Coins, paper clips, and plastic items are dangerous for your vacuum. They are hard on the motor and can leave pieces in the brush roll or interior. Pick up small items before you vacuum, so you don't damage the appliance. Some small items, like dry cereal, can be picked up using the hose attachment instead.
Microfiber Cloths
Professional cleaners know that microfiber is the way to go, and there's even science to back up this thinking. Unlike a traditional woven cloth, the microscopic bristle-like fibers in these cloths grab hold of dust and don't let go.
There are certain precautions you can take to avoid allergens or get rid of them but regularly dusting and vacuuming can be a huge help. Dusting all your surfaces can get rid of allergens such as dust mites, pet dander and fur, and pollen. Vacuuming goes hand in hand with dusting.
For best results use a damp, clean, microfiber cloth. To dampen the cloth, hold the cloth by a corner and lightly mist it with clean water from a spray bottle. You want the cloth to be damp enough to pick up dust without leaving moisture streaks behind on surfaces.