After your horizontal dry cleaning is complete, the next step is to remove airborne and hidden dust from the space using air washing. This step helps purge fine particles from the air and hidden corners that vacuuming and dry wiping can’t reach.

Pro tip: Turn off HVAC systems and seal supply/return vents during this phase to avoid spreading dislodged dust into ductwork.

You have two options for air washing, depending on outdoor conditions and what equipment you have available:

Option A – Fresh Air Ventilation (Weather Permitting)

One of the most effective and affordable ways to clean the air during fine particle cleaning is by using natural ventilation, also called air washing. This method helps remove airborne particles by flushing out stale indoor air and replacing it with fresh outdoor air.

When to use this method:

• Outdoor air quality is good (no heavy pollution, smoke, or high humidity)
• Weather is fair—ideally dry, breezy, and not too cold or hot

Steps to create cross-ventilation:

1. Choose a day with light to moderate wind, if possible.
2. Open windows and exterior doors on opposite sides of the house.
3. Remove window screens to increase airflow.
4. Place box fans or air movers facing outward on the downwind side to pull air through the home.
5. Use a battery-powered leaf blower to gently agitate dust on shelves, walls, and baseboards—always blowing toward the exiting airflow.
6. Blow down the house a total of three time from the windward (upwind) side of the house toward the leeward (downwind) side.

Tip: Start on the windward (upwind) side of the house and work your way toward the leeward (downwind) side.

This process helps remove settled particles from crevices, trim, wall surfaces, and edges that dry wiping alone can’t reach.

Option B – Mechanical Filtration (When Weather Doesn’t Cooperate)

When to use this method:

When outdoor conditions aren’t suitable—due to humidity, pollution, or extreme temperatures—ventilation may do more harm than good. In these cases, mechanical filtration is a safer option.

Use HEPA Air Filtration Devices (AFDs)

• Designed to remove 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 microns
• Ideal for sensitive individuals
• Can often be rented from equipment rental stores (e.g., Home Depot, Sunbelt)

Budget-Friendly DIY Option:

• Use a box fan with a MERV 13 or higher filter taped to the intake side or Corsi-Rosenthal boxes (DIY air scrubbers using MERV 14 filters)

Steps:

1. Close all windows and doors.
2. Place Corsi-Rosenthal boxes (DIY air scrubbers using MERV 13+ filters) or commercial HEPA air scrubbers in each room.
3. Arrange them in a vortex or cyclonic pattern and use box fans to circulate particles efficiently.
4. Run the filtration devices continuously during and after the cleaning process.
5. Use the leaf blower to agitate and dislodge dust from ceilings, walls, and trim. Direct airflow downward and toward filtration units or airflow pathways.
6. Perform three full passes through each room with the blower.

Key Goal for Both Methods:

Dislodge and remove fine particles from hard-to-reach places while either flushing them out (ventilation) or trapping them in filters (mechanical filtration).

This step dramatically improves air quality before your final wipe-down, helping reduce recontamination and lingering exposure.