Over the weekend I built a playhouse for my kids in the back yard using pressure treated lumber. As I was cleaning up I realized that my lawn was covered in chemical laden sawdust. Has anyone here had experience with this? Is it a problem and if so is there a solution?
Wood – Sawdust from treated wood on the lawn
chemicalslandscapingwood
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It's pressure-treated just under a different process that is "greener". See the PDF here. If it's treated, then there are preservatives in the wood to prevent rot and as an insect-repellant.
Per the question, I used Minwax until it faded, but it was still quite obvious and visible (close to the last pic in the question post).
Then, taking a page from the "mayo and ashes" tip, I mixed 1-part mayonnaise (Hellman's) to 1-part baking soda (not baking powder; I used Arm & Hammer brand) as a cigarette ashes replacement. I rubbed the mixture along the grain directions using a paper towel and some pressure.
The stain faded, then vanished. The resulting wood is smooth, and considering the baking soda is abrasive, appears unscratched. After wiping off the mayo mix, my table may smell like a turkey sandwich, but it's beautiful again.
Now all I have to do is polish off all the Minwax buildup from my earlier cleaning attempts.
I would never have thought of going with the grain had I not spoken to the lady from Restore and Adore, and had the baking soda idea fell through, I would have gone with the "last resort" 4 0 steel wool with a lot of Minwax applied.
Pic of the repair:
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Best Answer
Unless you have a big enough pile to make snowballs...or sawdust balls rather. I wouldn't worry about it. It shouldn't hurt the grass and again unless the kids are rolling around it it, or licking it you should be just fine.
In the First Aid section of the MSDS, for skin contact it says...
The by the book answer is yes follow the MSDS to the letter. But MSDS sheets are written with lawsuits in mind and are generally overzealous in how things should be handled. This is the same reason a piece of stained oak threshold at Lowe's has a "This product has been known to cause cancer in the state of California" sticker on it. I have had ptw dust in my eyes and on my body and had no ill effects. Sure if you have a pile, pick/clean it up, if its scattered...mine is realistic advice, I would not worry about it.