Hey Zoo ,
Before I even start washing the stuff I pour it all out on a 3ft square sifting tray I made out of 2x4's and 1/4 inch sq. holed chicken wire and roll it around a bunch = Helps get rid of alot of the inital powder, w/o doing so here it makes literal mud the 1st rinsing .

Then into a laundry tub full of ph adjusted water and "GENTLY" swish the stuff around . The texture of hydroton itself is abbrasive , the more you move it around , handle it , and let em rub up against each other = the more dust your gonna get again = counterproductive .

Make sure to use ph adjusted water to wash / rinse too. Not just soaking in it .

I'd like to try hygromite myself but have limited use of my hands . The stuff weighs twice as much as hydroton and I prob. wouldn't be able to pick up or move buckets around much / run the grow myself anymore .

Stinky - cycling the system empty is damn good info and plays a big part of my success w/ hydroton too .

Peace bro.
Crispi