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Mystery Ingredients
The Material Safety Data Sheet for the various ready-mix joint compound products manufactured by National Gypsum lists mostly inert ingredients, such as calcium carbonate, quartz silica, mica, talc and perlite, and none of these constitute a respiratory hazard. However, the MSDS doesn't list the biocides included to prevent the growth of mold, found in joint compound and drywall alike. These are present in low concentrations -- which is why they aren't listed -- but they can be toxic to sensitive people. The dust from some green products doesn't contain these biocides, but to be on the safe side, you should clean all drywall dust as if it had them.
Filters for Drywall Dust
Your vacuum doesn't have to be equipped with a HEPA filter to properly contain drywall dust -- a standard filter bag will do, as long as it has no holes. It's best to empty the bag or vacuum before you begin vacuuming and, if the job is a large one, to check it often and empty it as needed. If your vacuum doesn't have a filter or filter bag, buy a water filter, or make a water filter with a 5-gallon bucket that has a lid. Feed one hose from the vacuum to the filter and another hose to your sweeper. Punch a hole in the lid for each hose, and secure the hose with duct tape.
Vacuum and Brush
Once you have a working vacuum with a proper filter, cleaning drywall dust and residue from a hardwood floor is easy. Your vacuum accessory shouldn't have a beater bar, and if it does, make sure you turn it off, or it might redistribute as much dust into the air as it picks up. Run the vacuum over the whole floor, and concentrate on picking up dust from cracks and grooves between boards, where it is likely to have collected. After a once-over with the vacuum, use a brush to clean dust out of the grooves. If you're sensitive, you should probably wear a dust mask while vacuuming.
Scrape, Vacuum and Wipe
A good time to remove the inevitable blotches of hardened joint compound left on the floor during the mudding process is while you're brushing dust out of the cracks. Use a plastic putty knife to remove dried mud -- it won't scratch the floor the way a metal one might. You'll be able to scrape up most blotches by hand, but if any are stubborn, give the putty knife a tap with a hammer to dislodge them. After you've finished brushing and scraping, vacuum once more. Then wipe the floor down with a damp mop or cloth to remove the fine layer of dust that the vacuum couldn't get. Rinse the mop or cloth frequently if you're cleaning a large area.
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