How to Clean Lead Dust in Your Home
Testing followed by cleaning is the recommended process
Before 1978, lead was a common ingredient in household paint, thanks to its moisture resistance, durability, and speedy drying time. The trouble is, exposure to lead, such as through lead dust, can cause various health issues. If your home was built prior to 1978, lead dust can be a concern, particularly during any painting or remodeling projects. Here is how to clean lead dust and protect your health.
Why Is Lead Dangerous?
Exposure to lead can lead to health complications over time, especially for young children, so be proactive if you suspect lead dust is circulating in your home.
The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) states that 50 µg/m3 per eight hours for adults is safe. This measurement is tough to figure out on your own, but a certified dust sampling technician (see below) or local lead removal specialist can take it for you.
No safe blood lead levels have been identified for children, however, so treat even minor exposure seriously if you have small kids in your home. It may be best to keep your children or family out of the home while contractors remedy the situation.
What to Do if You Suspect There’s Lead in Your Home
The best way to set your mind at ease is to bring in a certified dust sampling technician to determine the level of lead in your home. They will perform a series of visual and dust wipe tests, as well as look for unusual sources of lead in your home, to determine if your home is safe. It is likely best to do this first, even if you only suspect lead dust, as it can help you come up with an appropriate game plan going forward.
Homes built before 1978 are subject to different lead laws when it comes to buying a home. Educate yourself on these and ask the right questions when a professional visits your house.
Where Does Lead Dust Come From?
When lead-containing paint starts to chip, peel, or crack, it produces lead dust, which people can then swallow or inhale. Friction on surfaces that contain lead-based paint can also create lead dust. For example, repeatedly opening and closing a window or door can produce dust around the windowsill or frame.
Kids who put anything and everything into their mouths can ingest lead dust if they eat paint chips that have flaked off a wall or chew on a surface that is coated with lead-based paint.
While lead dust is produced by aging materials, it can also be generated during remodeling or renovation projects. Sanding a wall with lead-based paint will release lead dust into the air, as will using a hammer to knock down a lead paint-coated wall.
How to Clean Up Lead Dust
If an inspection uncovers lead dust, you can either hire a professional to handle the lead dust issue (if warranted) or tackle minor cleanups yourself.
The source of lead dust in your home will most likely be at or around the area you have recently renovated. Remove lead paint chips and obvious pieces of lead that may have been left behind. To limit your exposure during cleanup, consider using:
Gloves
Long pants and long sleeve clothing
A trash bag
Goggles
Lead paint cleanup safety guidelines issued by the Environmental Protection Agency change often, so read up on those first.
Use a HEPA Filter Vacuum
HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) vacuums use a pleated filter to remove allergens, toxins, and chemicals from the air in a variety of settings. Buy or rent a HEPA filter vacuum to help suck up any excess lead dust in your home.
HEPA filters are guaranteed to trap 99.7% of all airborne particles. Run it slowly across carpets and surfaces to ensure as much lead dust as possible is removed from fabrics.
Keep in mind, no vacuum can remove all lead dust in your home. A clearance evaluation is the most reliable way to test for lead after you have cleaned your home.
Wet Wash Surfaces
Wet washing, or wet cleaning, is an effective way to remove lead dust, as soap and water help to grab onto the dust particles. To wet wash, combine one part of an all-purpose cleaner and one part water in a bucket. Use a disposable rag to wipe any surfaces that contain lead-based paint with the cleaning solution.
Fill another bucket with clean water, then dip a second disposable rag into the water and use it to rinse the surface. When you have finished cleaning, place the disposable rags in a garbage bag and tightly seal it.
Sanitize Household Items
Cleaning household items that may have come in contact with lead is also important. A mixture of household detergent and water (one teaspoon of detergent per cup of water in a spray bottle) is a good ratio for counters, doors, handles, etc. When cleaning, keep two piles to ensure that any items that touch lead dust end up on the contaminated side.
How to Dispose of Items Contaminated With Lead
To ensure you get all the excess lead dust out of your home, seal used cleaning supplies in a trash bag. Remodeling debris, as well as items that touched lead-based paint, can be disposed of as general waste and go safely into a landfill.
When in doubt about lead dust, call a pro. Lead exposure in low quantities may not be harmful to you as an adult, but it is always better to be safe than sorry when kids are in the mix.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unfortunately, lead dust does not look different from any other type of dust. You cannot detect it with the naked eye. To determine if you have lead dust in your home, you will need to hire a local company to take a sample from the paint and test it for you in a lab.
When a surface that contains lead dust is disturbed, the dust can float about in the air for roughly an hour before settling again. Since you cannot see the dust, it is important always to wear protective gear when working with any materials that may contain lead paint and to keep children, pets, and others away from the area for as long as possible
You may see specialty products for sale to remove lead dust, such as D-Lead surface wipes. But you do not need to buy a special cleaner just for lead dust. A regular all-purpose cleaner, like 409 or something similar, is sufficient for cleanup. Just make sure to follow the manufacturer's directions when using it and to dilute with water.