Hearth & Home - Cleaning Interior Log Walls

No naive individual should attempt a major construction project at their home. Even with an experienced contractor. We added a large room to our timber frame log home using the existing exterior log wall as one of the interior walls of the addition. I didn't think of asking them to cover the log walls to protect them from all the construction dust. The contractor didn't either, regrettably. So what do you do when you have tons of construction dust on very rough log walls?

What doesn't work:

• A blow dryer. Just pushes the dust further into the log cracks, spreads it to neighboring logs and to the rest of the room. (I admit to a degree of intelligence. I didn't try this.)
• A paper towel or sponge with water. On a rough textured wall these will last a micro-second. (Didn't try this one either, but I'm sure someone will somewhere.)
• A face cloth. All the fibers will stick to the logs. Won't be pretty.
• A broom. Other than not pushing the dust further into the log cracks, the end result is the same as option 1. (I did try this.)
• A spray bottle with vinegar and water with a brush. Messy. (This was my second attempt.)

What does work:

• Take a new high thread count polyester and cotton blend pillow case.
• Wash it thoroughly in water to eliminate any run off of dye.
• Grab a pail of lukewarm water and some extra absorbent towels.
• Soak the pillow case in the water and ring out until still slightly wet but not dripping.
• Wipe down your walls.
• You will need to change the water with some regularity and rinse out the pillow case.
• There will be some water mess to clean up with the towels but it will be slight.
• The pillow case is just absorbent enough to hold the water and any dust or debris but strong enough for the job.

Starting out with zero experience and an open mind does provide an education, however, and, therefore, tools for future projects. So, make mistakes, smile, carry on and be the better for it.