Walls and Ceilings - Removing drywall dust prior to priming

I am refinishing my basement and I recently had the drywall completed. I now need to prime the drywall, but I am driving myself crazy trying to remove all of the dust. I have swept and mopped the floors numerous times. I have taken a soft bristle broom and "swept" the walls. I used my shop vac over all of the walls, and have wiped the walls down with damp microfiber towels.

But I still have a lot of dust on the walls. What amount of dust is considered acceptable? Also, do you have any suggestions for a primer/sealer for the walls? Should I use a latex or oil based product? Thanks for the help!

You did these 3 dust removing procedures and still have dust? Amazing. Amazingly odd, actually. Are you looking for it with a magnifying glass and powerful light held at an angle, or something? A little dust is not going to hurt anything. It will mix in with the paint. I doubt that in new construction that everyone is as conscientious as you in trying to get rid of every spec of dust. I have never seen paint fall off interior walls yet, because it did not stick to the dust. At least I haven't anyway.

They sell a latex primer paint for new sheetrock work.

Yeah, I can't believe there's enough dust left to be a problem. Buy your paint from a paint store, not a paint department and they'll know what would be a good primer choice.

I agree with the above! I've always swept the walls down with a broom and called it good - never had any problems.
Dust on the wall has to be basically laying on it [thick as paint] to be a problem, even then it is more a problem with a sprayed primer than when it's rolled.

You won't be 100% dust free until the drywall has a coat of primer and the floor is covered.

I used a shopvac in reverse to blow air on the walls and get the dust off. A compressor would work just as well. You'll stir it up, but with a window open, a fan going, and a clean floor it'll definitely help remove the majority of it. If you're really anal, get a tack cloth that they use in bodywork. It's a very sticky cloth that will catch anything as you wipe.

You will have a bit more grain with more dust. But your primer will stick. After primer, take 220 sand paper on a sanding pole or block by hand and sand down the grain. This step will assure a smooth finish. I use a vacuum for all this. Or use a beach towel wrapped around a pole to dust.