Alternative to Leaf Blowing for Body Corporate/Multiple Dwellings

Alley Cat on 26/09/2024 - 14:55

Hi OzBodyCorporated,

Does anyone have an alternative to leaf blowing? Our issue is the blowing gets the dust and debris into our house through the tiny gap under the door. I have also seen the blower keeps going even when my neighbour’s door is open, with the security screen being the only barrier to whatever is floating in the air. Good thing they have diabetes, not asthma 🫣

Should I get a new door? Is it infeasible for people to use an outdoor broom or vacuum cleaner to clean big areas? Does it really cost that much more than blowing?

Watching the man blowing the dust up without a mask also makes me a bit mental.

Home & Garden

Comments

  • sumyungguy on 26/09/2024 - 15:02
    +19

    The gap under your door is costing you energy efficiency anyway. Search for draught stopper door seal and see if any of the many options appeal. Blowing is a highly effective and economical use of labour.

    • Alley Cat on 26/09/2024 - 17:39
      +5

      Thanks, will go treasure hunting at Bunnings.

    • GnarlyKnuckles on 27/09/2024 - 01:11
      +3

      Alternatively, think back … waaaay back … to before 'leaf blowers' were a thing. The answer you seek, grasshopper, is a RAKE.

      • iminabrons on 27/09/2024 - 09:16
        +1

        And copious amounts of water hosing away, that which you can't rake.

        • GnarlyKnuckles on 27/09/2024 - 14:07
          +1

          This is where another recent invention comes in handy. A broom.

  • brendanm on 26/09/2024 - 15:22
    +8

    Fix the gap under your door.

  • blitz on 26/09/2024 - 15:23
    -2

    Draft seal is cheap and easy to apply. I fitted it to all our external doors and it's night and day difference. I'm not convinced that leaf blowing isn't a complete waste of time and energy, but you're definitely losing energy under that gap and this is an easy way to fix that too.

  • plmko on 26/09/2024 - 15:25

    Just buy a $7 piece of rubber and screw it on the door gap.

    /End thread

    • yellowfever on 27/09/2024 - 10:52

      Love a good end to thread

  • Porker on 26/09/2024 - 15:25
    +2

    Watching the man blowing the dust up without a mask also makes me a bit mental.

    Turn and face the other way, you won't see him at that point! :p

    • Alley Cat on 26/09/2024 - 17:43

      lol the funny part is he does stop when I walk past, which means he understands on some levels, It’s unpleasant to others. It’s just hard for him to stop and think about the reason.

      • Never Pay RRP on 27/09/2024 - 10:59

        Not sure what your point is here. You walking past is a temporary measure that he can wait for. Doubt he has the patience to wait for your door to move out of the way.
        Go easy on the guy, he’s just doing his job

        • Alley Cat on 27/09/2024 - 13:55

          The point is he should wear a mask. The dust is not great to inhale for most people. The guy is not the problem, it’s his boss.

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 26/09/2024 - 15:27
    +2

    outdoor broom or vacuum cleaner

    Broom - would take longer and cost more, and end finish most likely would not be as neat. There’s something quite satisfying about seeing a freshly mowed and blown front lawn/ driveway (no that is not a euphemism)

    Vaccum - some blowers can also work as mulchers/vaccum function but generally they are loud, inefficient, and create a lot of dust (based on my experience with a Ryobi petrol unit) - for something decent power suction like a shop vac, similar issue, loud and can only suck up a small area at a time.

    • spackbace on 26/09/2024 - 15:31
      +3

      (no that is not a euphemism)

      Surrrrree

    • Alley Cat on 26/09/2024 - 17:49

      Personally, my money is on pressure-washed driveways, because that actually gets rid of the dust. Blowing is a very temporary solution, what goes around comes around.

      The blowing is quite loud as is, enough to send my cat flying every time. If it is money on the other hand, I guess I can’t suggest to the body corporate to change the way it’s done.

      • Protractor on 26/09/2024 - 18:05
        +1

        Yes, because water is an endless resource.

      • Never Pay RRP on 27/09/2024 - 10:56

        Pressure wash will generally require access to a power source and a water source, so it’s not exactly portable for a strata cleaning worker. The machine is a lot bigger and heavier than a blower, and if you’re not happy about dust being blown around and into your house I doubt you’d be happier with dirty water…

        • Alley Cat on 27/09/2024 - 13:57

          There are water hose everywhere so that is not a problem, I’m guessing there are battery-operated pressure washers somewhere. Of course, your point of dirty water is very valid, if it’s the same person doing it, we’d have to deal with water damage in the living room 😂

  • Protractor on 26/09/2024 - 15:32
    +2

    Get a broom and play a 98 decibel chainsaw noise on your stereo. That way ppl will think it's normal suburban behaviour

    Or buy a door snake and lay it across the door gap whenever you are using the LB near the door

  • Cluster on 26/09/2024 - 15:40
    +2

    Next door neighbour at my previous house had a blower vac fetish. I think she got pleasure out of it. Almost every evening in summer and autumn she would be out there, pulling the trigger every second or two. Brrrrrroooom! Brrrroooom! Brrrrooooom! For 10+ minutes at a time. The funniest thing is she wasn't actually disposing of the leaves, but blowing them away from her garden. Guess what happens overnight when the wind picks up?

    • Alley Cat on 26/09/2024 - 17:51

      lol I’m glad someone is getting their money’s worth out of their gadgets 😂 Good on her.

  • 87percent on 26/09/2024 - 15:59
    +2

    https://www.energy.vic.gov.au/victorian-energy-upgrades/prod…

    if you're in Victoria

    • Alley Cat on 26/09/2024 - 17:53

      I’m in SEQ. There are only a few weeks per year I’d need to use a/c. People here are more likely to spend money on air filters, and I think I finally understood why.

  • AustriaBargain on 26/09/2024 - 16:13
    -1

    Seal the gap. Maintain positive pressure in the house, it'll help keep the spiders out too.

  • pharkurnell on 26/09/2024 - 17:14
    +1

    Watching the man blowing the dust up without a mask also makes me a bit mental

    Why worry about what the dude does? hes happy.. just block your gap under the door

  • ihbh on 26/09/2024 - 17:21

    Gift yourself and neighbours one of these for Christmas: https://www.bunnings.com.au/88cm-x-5-3cm-x-5-3cm-assorted-co…

    (or this depending on proximity, stock levels https://www.bigw.com.au/product/kenco-corduroy-door-snake-as…)

  • PVA on 26/09/2024 - 17:55

    Can it be reversed and vac up the leaves?

    • Alley Cat on 26/09/2024 - 17:58

      No, I saw their equipment today, standard simple blower with a long neck and small body.

      • kiitos on 27/09/2024 - 08:30

        Ok, is that a euphemism then?

        • Alley Cat on 27/09/2024 - 14:07

          I’m not sure he’s over 18, lots of underage workers here. Definitely not a euphemism.

  • JimmyF on 26/09/2024 - 17:57

    Should I get a new door?

    You should, as it is more of a you issue than a them issue.

    Is it infeasible for people to use an outdoor broom or vacuum cleaner to clean big areas? Does it really cost that much more than blowing?

    You can get outdoor vacs, they cost more to buy, they will cost more to do as the area a vacuum does at once is much smaller. A blower will do a large area at once, while a outdoor vacuum is generally just the vac head. So all the paving needs to be covered.

  • Davo1111 on 26/09/2024 - 18:47

    Door snake or the special devices sold at Bunnings to solve this issue. Rubber etc

  • Sweet3st on 26/09/2024 - 18:48
    +3

    I get your beef. i hate those things with a vengeance… so damn noisy :(

  • altomic on 26/09/2024 - 19:02

    sounds like there is no easy solution to the leaves and dust being blown under your door . and you're just going to have to move.

  • Matrix Attack on 27/09/2024 - 08:03
    -1

    Leaf blowers should be time limited for blowing mode and be restricted to suction mode. Devices that are blow only should be banned. This would prevent inconsiderate neighbours from blowing leaves and garbage onto your property.

    I used to rake the leaves and clean the garbage, but then I gave up.

    Some people blow the leaves onto the road and into the drain which is apparently illegal.

    • Euphemistic on 27/09/2024 - 08:58

      I blow mine back onto the lawn. Can't tell its been done.

  • azonki on 27/09/2024 - 08:38

    Real professionals have been using these strange machines called "Vacuum Sweepers" for the last 30 or 40 years.
    They do exactly as their name states.
    They vacuum and they sweep.
    Both at the same time!
    They even have variants that the lazy folks can sit on.
    And you can even pay a contractor to do it on a regular basis. Especially good in underground car parks where you get a lot of filthy black tyre dust.
    They are also super quiet compared to a leaf blower, and kick up little to no dust.
    A quick Google search is all you need.
    And forget anything under $1k. They are toys, not tools.

    • Alley Cat on 27/09/2024 - 14:14

      That’s an interesting piece of equipment; I have seen them being used in shopping centres and presumably in the city. It’s unlikely to be something we can ask our body corporate to invest in though, and the people doing the blowing are gardeners, they are slo unlikely to get one of these.

  • wongcr on 27/09/2024 - 08:55

    We use a double door snake - it doesnt harm the door, good if you are renting. Just slides under the door. https://www.bigw.com.au/product/twin-draught-stop/p/8388573

  • mikekiwimike on 27/09/2024 - 09:31
    +1

    A leaf blower simply makes someone else's rubbish your rubbish, I would think not acceptable in a close community where the stuff has to go somewhere! And the reason the material is there in the first place is because as well as brought in by people, the wind blew it there, it will just come back (the bits that didn't go under your door that is).

    • Alley Cat on 27/09/2024 - 14:18

      I agree, that is why I’m asking what options are out there. Can’t just complain without proposing something else.

  • 2esc on 27/09/2024 - 11:59

    I use a blower on my patio area never have trouble with dust you might need to check your draught stoppers.

    If the bottom of the door gap significant take the door off and add some timber means painting and staining though then add the draught stopper.

  • AlienC on 01/10/2024 - 19:01

    Door seal/weatherproofer

    Door snake

    Lobby dust pan

    Might not work for your situation but if you do desire you can also get a leaf vacuum/sucker

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