Lead exposure is a significant health concern, especially in older homes where lead-based paint may be present. Lead poisoning can have severe consequences, particularly for young children and pregnant women.
To safeguard your family’s health, it’s crucial to take preventive measures and adopt lead-safe cleaning practices. In this blog post, we will explore various precautions and cleaning tips to help you reduce the risk of lead exposure in your home.
How to Reduce the Risk of Lead in Your Home
- Hand Washing: One of the simplest yet most effective precautions you can take is to wash your hands thoroughly before eating. Additionally, assist young children in washing their hands to ensure they remove any lead dust or contaminants they may have come into contact with.
- Nutritious Diet: Consuming a diet rich in calcium, iron, and vitamin C can help reduce the absorption of lead into the body. These nutrients can act as barriers, limiting the absorption of lead in the digestive system.
- HEPA Vacuum Cleaning: When it comes to cleaning your home, it’s essential to use a vacuum with a High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA vacuums are designed to effectively capture and contain tiny lead dust particles, reducing the risk of lead exposure during cleaning.
- Shoe Removal: Make it a habit to remove your shoes when entering your home. Lead-contaminated soil can easily be tracked indoors on the soles of your shoes. By leaving your shoes at the door, you prevent the spread of lead dust throughout your living space.
- Soapy Water Cleaning: When cleaning flat surfaces like windowsills and tables, as well as children’s toys, use soapy water. Soapy water is effective at capturing and removing lead dust, helping to maintain a lead-free environment.
Lead-Safe Cleaning Tips
Now that we’ve covered the essential precautions, let’s delve deeper into lead-safe cleaning tips to ensure a safer living environment for your family:
Lead-Safe Cleaning Tips:
- Always use lead-safe cleaning tips in areas of your home where you suspect lead contamination or have identified lead sources.
- Put on rubber gloves before starting the cleaning process to protect your hands.
- Use cleaning products specifically designed to remove lead dust, or opt for soapy cleaners that can be disposed of after use.
- Prioritize the removal of peeling paint and lead dust in areas like window sills and porches.
- Collect any paint chips you find and seal them in a plastic bag for proper disposal.
- When cleaning surfaces, such as floors or window sills, use wet paper towels or disposable cleaning products.
- Rinse surfaces thoroughly after cleaning with clean water and fresh paper towels, disposing of wash water down a toilet.
- Maintain a regular cleaning schedule, repeating these steps weekly or as needed when dirt and dust accumulate.
- Never use a broom to clean lead dust, as it can disperse it into the air.
- Dispose of the clothes worn during cleaning to prevent cross-contamination.
Remember!
While these precautions and lead-safe cleaning tips can significantly reduce the risk of lead exposure in your home, it’s important to remember that addressing lead at its source is equally vital. Regular maintenance and lead abatement efforts in older homes can go a long way in ensuring your family’s safety. By taking these steps, you can create a lead-safe environment that protects the health and well-being of your loved ones.
Take our simple, 10-minute Home Risk Self-Assessment for recommendations on what to do next based on your living situation.
Additional Resources
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Information for Lead Remediation
A comprehensive resource for homeowners who would like to start the process of making their homes lead-safe.
Hire a Lead Professional
A comprehensive listing by area code of lead professionals who can help assess, abate, and remediate lead hazards in homes.
