Similarly, the dustbrush is fitted for attachment to an extension handle but, as far as I know, that feature was never used.
The need for a large dustbrush became obvious when, despite trying to clean each other with their hands, the Apollo 12 crew brought so much loose dust into the cabin that, when they returned to orbit, the LM cabin filled with floating dust. The dust was so bad that Conrad and Bean had to leave their helmets on long enough for the Environmental Control System (ECS) filters to clean much of it out of the cabin air. After rendezvous with the Command Module, CMP Dick Gordon took one look at them and announced that they were too dirty to come into his spacecraft and, consequently, both Conrad and Bean stripped, left their suits in the LM, and floated over wearing only their headsets.
The following extract is taken from the Apollo 12 Lunar Surface Journal just after completion of the post-EVA-2 equipment jettison.
138:38:06 Gibson: Roger. Say, Pete, how does the inside of the cabin look about now?Then, after a discussion of the EVA antenna:138:38:10 Conrad: Except for...(Stops to listen to Gibson) It's very neat and orderly except for the fact that it's very dirty.
138:38:20 Gibson: Kind of a neat, orderly coal mine.
138:39:25 Gibson: Roger, Pete. The comm was beautiful, though. We had probably the best of any Sim we've had.138:39:35 Conrad: Yeah, I concur; the comm really has been super. (Pause)Ê These PLSSs and suits performed magnificently.Ê These suits are a shambles (that is, dirty) though.Ê (Long Pause) [Bean, from the 1969 Technical Debrief - "When weÊgot back to the LM, we tried to dust each other off.ÊUsually, it was just Pete trying to dust me off.Ê I would get up on theÊladder and he would try to dust me off with his hands, but we didn't have a lot of luck.ÊWe should have some sort of whisk broom on the MESA. Before we get back in (on subsequent missions), we'll dust each other upÊhigh (that is, dust off the upper parts of the suits); (and) then the LMPÊwill get on the ladder, andÊthe CDR will give him a dust and then will get in.ÊWe are bringing too much dust into the LM. Another possibility is that, just as soon as you get in (the cabin), youÊslip on some sort of second coveralls that fit over the feet up to theÊwaist, because that's the dirty area. Then you keep that on all the time you're in the LM and take it off justÊbefore you get out.Ê The other alternative to this is that you put on aÊsimilar something (that is, a removable leg covering) when you're gettingÊout on the lunar surface.ÊThe reason I suggest the former was that I think you want to be as free asÊyou can possibly be when on the lunar surface.ÊAdding another garment over the top of the already existing equipment isÊgoing to be restrictive and might give you a few more problems."]
[The large dustbrush that Al suggested for suit cleaning was first flown on Apollo 13 and, on Apollo 14 when it was first used, was a big help in reducing the amount of dust that ShepardÊand Mitchell brought into the cabin.ÊAl's suggestion of leg coverings wasn't utilized until Apollo 15, the firstÊmission on which the crew took off their suits for the rest period.ÊAfter doffing their suits, Scott, Irwin, and the subsequent crews put theÊlegs into jettison bags before stowing them on the engine cover for theÊnight.]