I've been lax in doing maintenance on my layout and have a significant amount of dust everywhere. Any recommendations for a good handheld vacuum?
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I just bought a Shopvac Micro 1 gallon and it works great.
This is a problem that's occurred to my mind before. I've never had a permanent layout (and have never lived in the suburbs, so I can't imagine doing a layout in a basement or an attic). How do people keep their permanent layouts clean and free of dust? I can't imagine how difficult that must be, particularly given the highly fine nature of most of the permanent layouts I see on here. It's not like you could just run a Hoover over them or whack around a feather duster. I would imagine it would need a tremendous amount of fine-toothed care. I have pretty bad dust-related allergies, so this would quickly turn me into a sniveling mess, not to mention the aesthetic problems of a dust-layered layout.
I have fantasized about building a longitudinal layout through a bookcase, so that the train gets a dedicated set of horizontal shelves, protected by a dropdown glass front to prevent dust accumulation. Although sometimes I imagine lining this up with closets on the other side of the bookcase-wall at the ends to let the trains drive through the back of the bookcases and the through the walls to complete a loop at each end in the closets on the other side.
How does everybody keep the dust off their layouts?
I have covered mine with painters plastic sheets in the past. However I have very little scenery. In my new layout, Lord willing, I will do the same since I don't plan any delicate scenery. My plan is for 2x6 walls with spray foam insulation in the walls and roof. Two criss cross layers of 6in fiberglas in the ceiling. Two doors to get access to minimize the outside air intrusion. Hopefully that will minimize the dust that settles. Still plan to use plastic during dormant periods.
But who knows what reality will be.
MY layout is in my basement i have the ceiling closed in with sheet rock & i just clean mine ONCE A YEAR ,i am not worried about dust getting on anything ,i just want to enjoy my layout as much as i can & besides if somebody doesn't like dust ,they don't have to come back to see it,i built this layout for my own pleasure ,not somebody else's ,so just enjoy yours & don't worry about some dust.
I currently use a compact Oreck vacuum slung over my shoulder. In my experience the attachments are probably more important than the type of vacuum. I used some nylon window screen stretched over a standard wand and held in place with a hose clamp to keep from vacuuming up my citizens and any loose scenery. I sometimes use a turkey feather duster to chase the dust into the nozzle. The type of room lighting can either minimize or enhance the dust with fluorescent lights being the worst for showing dust. If you can find a vacuum with a HEPA filter that fits your size and budget, go for it. Your allergies will thank you. I've owned many cheaper shop vacuums that seem to just redistribute the dust when you look at what their exhaust is spewing. Lastly I feel the key to a happy train room experience is dusting as little as possible by lowering your standards! 
TJ
HEPA is probably a good idea. I've currently got a room air filter with HEPA that runs continuously and I'm always amazed (when I remember to check it) at the amount of stuff it collects.
I don't know about the website but this Moosoo Handheld vac is a beast.It's part of the vacuum cleaner car 2.0 but I also think it would be good for general vacuuming because of the fold out brush on the end. I know that I use one of these vacuums around the house and I love it.
I use this BLACK+DECKER 20V Max Flex Handheld Vacuum with Pet Hair Brush, Cordless, Grey (BDH2020FL). The flexible hose really helps in getting into hard to reach places. Multiple tools. Does have a lot of suction, so just be careful.
Can the dust accumulation of our layouts serve as “passive weathering” ?
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I used to use a Dustbuster, but now I just use a 2" paint brush and the hose of a cheap Home Depot Shop Vac with about 2/3 of the diameter carefully taped over.
I picked up this online and it has been a great tool to use to vacuum the layout or after doing small projects. It is a vacuum and a compressed air blower so I use both depending on the situation, i.e. cleaning the layout vs blowing dust out of the inside of an engine I'm working on.
Cordless Air Duster & Vacuum 2-in-1, Electric Compressed Air Blower for Computer Keyboard Cleaning Replaces Canned Air Spray, Portable Handheld Electronics Car Computer Duster, Powerful 77000RPM Motor
They sell mini attachments for your regular vacuum.
