Hey everyone! I had a bit of a mishap while working on some MDF baseboards for our kitchen island. I cut them outside but totally spaced on wearing a mask, and now I'm worried about the dust that might have accumulated on the back before I installed them. With two young kids running around, I rushed the job, and while I only made about 20 cuts (with a few mistakes here and there), I'm concerned about the long-term effects of any leftover MDF dust in our home. I know it's microscopic, but I have a bit of an OCD streak, and I'm not sure if I should be worried about the kids breathing it in. Normally, I'm good about safety gear, but I really dropped the ball this time. What do you all think?
3 Answers
Honestly, you shouldn't stress too much about it. Just vacuum the floors frequently, and if you're particularly concerned, you might want to wipe down the baseboards with a damp cloth. The dust on the back isn’t going to come out, but even if it did, it’s a negligible amount. Just try not to make a habit of cutting MDF without a mask, and you’ll be fine!
I mean, if we’re being honest, a lot of dust isn’t good, but you’re unlikely to face serious issues from just one day of cutting. Your lungs have defenses against small particles. Plus, did you caulk the tops of the baseboards? That would help seal things up and improve the look when you paint!
I haven’t yet, but I was planning on it tomorrow. Thanks for the tip!
Hey, I get the concern, but really, it’s not as bad as it seems. If it were super toxic, they wouldn’t sell MDF. These warnings usually apply to people exposed constantly, like in a workshop setting. Sure, learn from it, but try not to let it stress you out!
Thanks! I’ll definitely follow that plan.