If your home was built before 1978, it may contain lead paint.   Homes built before 1950 have the most lead paint. Lead paint was most often used on windows, trim, porches and outside walls. Paint repair and remodeling projects that involve old paint can create severe lead dust hazards.  Protect your family – whether you do the work yourself or hire a contractor. 

Lead Safe County offers a one-day class to teach you how to work safely and clean up properly if you are remodeling or renovating your own home.  Please call 753-4650, 363-4650, or 661-7650 for more information.

Some basic info:

1. Seal Off the Area

• KEEP CHILDREN, PREGNANT WOMEN AND PETS OUT OF THE ROOM UNTIL ALL WORK IS COMPLETE AND A THOROUGH CLEAN-UP HAS BEEN COMPLETED.
• Remove as much furniture as you can from the room. Remove draperies, area rugs, knick-knacks, and all children’s toys from the room.
• Cover remaining furniture with heavy plastic sheets and tape them securely to prevent dust from getting on the furniture.
• Have all your tools and supplies in the work area before you begin.
• Cover the work area floor with heavy plastic, taping it around the edges to prevent dust from getting underneath it.  The floor should be covered five feet from the work area in all directions. 
• Be careful not to track dust out of the area – keep a wet towel at the edge of your work area and wipe your feet thoroughly before leaving the work area.  Throw this towel away when you are done. 
• Do not eat, drink or smoke while working – you will get lead into your own body by inhaling it or ingesting it.

2. Avoid Dust, Chips or Fumes

• WORK WET - Mist paint with a spray bottle and wet scrape or sand. Water helps keep lead dust from the air.
• Don’t use power tools or power washers on lead-based paint. This makes clouds of lead dust that will spread throughout your house and into the soil around your home.
• Do not use open flames or heat guns above 1100° F.
• Do not use paint strippers with methylene chloride.

3. Keep the Area Clean

• Pick up large debris frequently.  Place trash in heavy plastic bags and remove it from the house.
• Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to clean up dust and paint chips. 
• DO NOT use a shop vac for this job!!!  The open exhaust on a shop vac will spread the contaminated dust all over your home.
• Carefully fold up your plastic sheeting and put it in a garbage bag.
• Vacuum the entire area with a HEPA-filtered vacuum.
• Wipe down the floors and walls in the work area with soap and water.  Automatic dishwashing detergent is especially effective to clean up lead dust because it contains TriSodium Phosphate, or TSP, which is a very effective cleaning agent.  Rinse well with clean water.
• Throw away the sponges, rags and mop heads that you use to clean up lead dust.  If you re-use them, you will spread the lead to other areas.
• Never burn trash with lead in it – the fumes and smoke are toxic.

4. Keep Dust Off Yourself

• Be careful not to track lead dust around your home.
• Change work clothes and shoes right after you leave the work area.
• Wash work clothes separately from your family’s laundry.
• Shower and wash your hair as soon as possible.

5. Use the Right Supplies

• Safety glasses and special work clothes, gloves, hat and shoes
• Heavy plastic sheets and tape
• Two pails –one to wash and one to rinse
• Soap and water – automatic dish washing detergent is especially good
• Spray bottle to wet down work surfaces
• Disposable rags or paper towels
• Heavy plastic trash bags.
• HEPA vacuum to capture dust.
• N100 rated dust mask or respirator if dust is heavy