How to get rid of jigsaw puzzle dust 🧩

Puzzle dust. 🤬 You know what I'm talking about, right? You're all excited to start a new, challenging jigsaw puzzle and you dump the pieces out of the box - and in addition to the puzzle pieces you get all the fine shavings/bits from the cutting machines. 😷

If you're tired of dealing with pesky puzzle dust, better known as puzz fuzz, I've got a few tricks that might help.

1. Shake puzzle dust out of the bag

Whenever I get a puzzle in a bag, I like to shake all the pieces to one corner and then cut that corner off. That way, I can pour out all the dust before opening the bag completely. It's a quick and easy way to get rid of most of the dust, and then I just use a Swiffer duster wand to take care of any stragglers.

2. Sort the puzzles pieces individually from the box

It can be a bit tedious, instead of dumping all the pieces out of the box at once, I like to sort them onto my working boards (usually made of cardboard) directly from the box. That way, the majority of the dust stays contained in the box. Then, when I'm ready to start piecing things together, I just dump the dust in the bin and get to work. If i'm feeling savage, I blow on the puzzle dust and it flies everywhere.

3. Dump the puzzle pieces into a mesh laundry bag

I've found another technique that works like a charm. First, I dump all the pieces into a large mesh laundry bag (you can find them online or at your local supermarket). Then, I give the bag a good shake to get rid of as much dust as possible.

4. Use a kitchen colander

Whenever you get a new puzzle, try emptying it directly into a colander. This will help catch all the dust and shavings, making it easier to get rid of them once and for all. Just shake the colander over a bin with a cover to reduce the amount of dust particles in the air. Just be sure to shake gently! You don't want to accidentally bin any puzzle pieces.

5. Cover your table with paper towels and newspapers while sorting

Whenever I start a new puzzle, I like to cover my puzzle table with paper towels or newspaper. This helps catch puzzle dust and shavings, making it easier to sort through everything without making a mess.

After I've separated the pieces into puzzle sorting trays (I like to sort by colour and shape), I just bin the paper towels and newspapers along with all the dust and shavings.

6. Use the “World’s Smallest Vacuum Cleaner"

If the above doesn't do the trick, I bring out the big guns: the "World's Smallest Vacuum Cleaner" might be a handy tool to have on hand. This compact and portable device is specifically designed to help you get rid of small debris and messes, so it should work well for getting rid of puzzle dust. Use the nozzle to suck up all the bits and pieces, and you'll be left with a clean and dust-free puzzle surface.

7. Buy a jigsaw puzzle that doesn't have dust 💡

Believe it or not, there are ways to avoid puzzle dust altogether! There are responsible puzzle companies who clean the puzzles prior to boxing them, we recommend Eurographics and Rest In Pieces.

Charity shops and puzzle exchanges are great places to find used puzzles that are likely to be dust-free or have very little dust, making them a great option if you're looking to avoid a mess.

Remember these tips the next time you're faced with a pile of puzzle dust. Whatever you do, do not snort it! You will be addicted to puzzles forever. 😅 Happy puzzling!

Rugrats Jigsaw Puzzles Episode