i work at home depot, and have a funny story about those huge bags of perlite.

last year, i was approaching the soil isle where we keep those big bags of perlite, and i notice a customer of rather short stature trying to get it down off the shelf (the shelf they are on is about 6' off the ground.)

before i could finish saying "sir could i help you with that?"
the bag got caught on the shelf and ripped open, dumping its contents onto the customer. needless to say, the disheveled customer looked more like frosty the snow man than a human being.

i had to duck into the shed isle so he wouldn't see me laughing at him.

[Suby]

With regard to the mess factor I am forced to mix my soil indoors so what i do is I cut a hole at the top of the bag and I pocke alot of small holes in the bottom and run water through the bag, do it for a couple of minutes and let it drain you'll be good to go.
Even if I don't use it all it dries out relatively dustless for the next time.

[bostrom155]

Nice tip Suby

home depot here doesnt even have ANY perlite, it's PATHETIC.