Cleaning fiberglass batt insulation

[crazybrit]

Attic above my garage. So insulation is paper side down.

There was only about 60% of the surface covered by plywood and I guess sometime in the past they must have replaced the roof.

As a result the insulation (R19) is pretty dirty.

Shaking will remove some of the larger pieces of **** but not much else. A vaccum or a brush quickly starts removing insulation.

Pondering blowing it with compressed air but I figured I'd ask in case there is another effective way of cleaning I'm not thinking of?

 

[Mike70]

I don't understand why it needs to be cleaned. It is in the attic, should only be visible when you are up there. I don't think the dirt will affect the R value any. I would leave it alone and do a more fun project.

 

[crazybrit]

I don't understand why it needs to be cleaned.

I asked if anyone knew a good way to clean it. Not whether you'd clean it.

 

[sixty4]

I had a roof redone at a rental house I own. That one looks the same way, I may just add to whats there. If you find a good way I would be curious myself.

 

[dogdog]

Don't shake it, those will itches, don't wash it with water, it will grow mold as well. don't clean it with acetone, making it a lot more flameable... and yes fiberglass bats are flammable...

I would just replace it, if it is moldy, if it is just dusty, I have just vacuum with a shop vac with that attachment.... ... yes hand and neck will itch for a bit.

this attachment... add a course mesh to it if

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some scrap mesh like these.. to prevent the glass strands from spearating and vacuumed into the shopvac

 

[jack stand]

I don't understand either, why someone would "clean" f/g insulation. BUT if it's some kind of health or allergy situation. Replace it with (2" minimum) rigid foam, cut to fit inside the framing.
F/G insulation is a big air filter that will look the same in a few years. The attic/roof placement is particularly prone (and designed) for air movement up and out, usually at the ridge or gable vents. Air moving through f/g also dramatically reduces its "r-value".

 

[mike93lx]

No you cannot clean it. Any suction or compressed air will rip it apart and any water will promote mold growth.

Some dirt/dust in it isn't harming anything.

Replace it if it bothers you

 

[Viper98912]

I asked if anyone knew a good way to clean it. Not whether you'd clean it.

I guess I'll keep my method on how to clean it to myself then.

 

[crazybrit]

some scrap mesh like these.. to prevent the glass strands from spearating and vacuumed into the shopvac

Good suggestion that I'd not considered. Thanks very much!

 

[My Old Tools]

Blow another layer on top of it and you won't see it....win-win

 

[crazybrit]

I guess I'll keep my method on how to clean it to myself then.

Yes, I guess I will have to cope with the knowledge I'll go to my grave without knowing.

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@dogdog thank you very much for taking the time to answer my question.

Your suggestion worked well.

I only had some finer mesh but it worked out. I found with the finer mesh I could use the brush attachment to agitate a lot of the dirt off without removing (based on inspection of the inside of the shop vac) any insulation.

Thank you again!