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For more Information, contact Lauren Jenks
1-800-909-9898 (toll free in WA State) or contact your local health department.

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Lead-based Paint in Old Homes

The information below provides information on how to:

• Identify lead-based paint hazards in your home.

• Reduce lead-based paint hazards in your home.

• Remove lead-based paint hazards in your home.

Identifying Lead-based Paint in Old Homes
Lead-based paint was not prohibited in the U.S. until 1978. Homes built before 1960 frequently contain layers of lead-based paint, which can chip, peel or flake.  However, just knowing that a home has lead-based paint may not tell you if there is a hazard.

You can get your home checked for lead hazards by having a lead-based paint risk assessment done. The assessor will measure the lead content of each painted surface in your home, and take dust and soil samples to be tested for lead content. The assessor will also examine your home for sources of lead exposure, such as peeling lead-based paint, and will provide advice on how to deal with lead hazards that are found in the home.

Reducing Lead-based Paint Hazards

Special cleaning techniques can reduce the amount of lead dust in your home. If you suspect that your house has lead hazards, you can take immediate steps to reduce your family's risk.

Clean Hard Surfaces

• Use wet cleaning methods to clean hard surfaces.

• Always use rubber gloves to protect your hands

• Put hot water in TWO buckets. Add general all-purpose detergent to one bucket. Use the other bucket as your “rinse” bucket.

• Thoroughly wipe down all window wells, sills and trim using a sponge and the hot detergent. Start at the top of the window and work your way towards the bottom.

• Use a mop and your hot water detergent solution to clean all wood, tile or linoleum floors.

• Rinse your sponge and/or mop frequently in the rinse bucket and change this water often (once for each new room or window).

• Dispose of contaminated water in the toilet. NEVER pour contaminated water down the sink where you prepare food or into the bathtub!

• Throw away the sponge/mop head when done. DO NOT use the sponge for dishes or other cleaning!

Vacuum Carpeted Surfaces

• A regular vacuum may scatter lead dust into the air and around your home.

• Use a HEPA vacuum for cleaning, if possible.

• If a HEPA vacuum is not available, use "HEPA-type" or "allergy" filter bags.

• If these bags are not available, lightly coat new vacuum bags by sprinkling flour or cornstarch on the floor.

• When steam cleaning carpets, consider adding sodium hexamethaphosphate (found in Calgon®, for example) to the cleaning solution.

Limit Paint Exposure

• Keep children away from peeling or chipping paint and chewable surfaces with lead-based paint, especially windows.

• Clean up loose paint chips immediately. Put them in a plastic bag, seal and place in garbage.

• Place a blanket or rug on the floor where a child plays.

• Limit soil exposure.

• Cover bare soil with grass, plants, gravel or wood chips.

• Do not let children play near the walls of the house or garage or on bare soil.

• Have children play in grassy areas or a sandbox that can be covered.

• Use a doormat and wipe or remove shoes before entering your house.

Removing Lead-based Paint Hazards

To permanently remove lead hazards, you must hire a certified lead "abatement" contractor. Abatement (or permanent hazard elimination) methods include removing, sealing, or enclosing lead-based paint with special materials. Just painting over the hazard with regular paint may control the hazard temporarily, but will not permanently remove it.
Always hire a person with special training for correcting lead problems--someone who knows how to do this work safely and has the proper equipment to clean up thoroughly. Certified contractors will employ qualified workers and follow strict safety rules set by their state or the federal government. There are standards in place for certifying lead-based paint professionals to ensure the work is done safely, reliably, and effectively.

Take note:

Workers who do not know how to deal with lead-based paint may make the problem worse if they try to remove old paint. Unsafe remodeling and unsafe removal of old paint, such as pressure washing or sanding, may contaminate the home with lead dust. This is one of the major causes of lead poisoning in Washington State.

The Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development’s (CTED) Lead-Based Paint Program trains and certifies these professionals:

• Lead-based paint inspectors, who perform inspections for lead in paint

• Risk assessors, who find lead-based paint hazards

• Lead-based paint abatement workers, who can safely and permanently remove lead-based paint hazards.

Washington State Certified Lead-Based Paint Firms

The CTED Lead-Based Paint Program publishes a list of firms certified to perform lead-based paint activities in the state of Washington. Only currently certified firms who have requested placement on the list are included. If you need to verify certification status of a firm not included on the list, please e-mail or phone CTED at the numbers below.

• List of Washington State Certified Lead-Based Paint Firms

• CTED Lead Based Paint Program
  PO Box 42525
  Olympia, WA 98504-2525
  Phone: (360) 586-LEAD (5323) Fax: (360) 586-5880
  E-mail:  lbpinfo@cted.wa.gov

More Ways to Protect Your Family

• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Lead Awareness Program
  Information about how to protect your family from lead in your home.

• The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Homes & Communities
  "Help Yourself to a Healthy Home" Booklet.