Wipe off loose paint using damp cloths or rags that you throw away after using
Block access to chipping paint with furniture
Put contact paper over chipping paint
Hose off the porch or put down a blanket or rug where children play
Seal or block off areas with small amounts of chipping paint
Do NOT use unsafe ways of removing paint:
- Do NOT sand off paint without a HEPA attachment
- Do NOT burn off paint with an open flame
- Do NOT use chemicals to remove paint
When hiring contractors to remove lead paint, use only people who are "certified abatement contractors"
Make sure family and belongings (such as cushioned furniture) are protected during lead removal (called "abatement")
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Cover bare soil with grass, plants, gravel, or wood chips
Do not let children play near walls of house or garage on bare soil
Have children play in grassy area or sandbox that can be covered
Wash childrens hands after they play outside or play with pets
Use a doormat to reduce track-in of outdoor dust and soil
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Make sure that your children wash their hands and face before eating and sleeping.
Do not let your children eat anything other than food (such as dirt or paint).
Clean all the surfaces in your home with a detergent. This includes floors, counters, tables, and anything else a child might touch. Cleaning is especially important for toddlers because they crawl and lie on the floor and like to put their hands in their mouths.
If your home was built before 1978, it is very important to remove any flaking or peeling paint in the house. Before 1978, homes were often painted with lead-based paint. Hire or speak with a professional certified in lead paint abatement. Painting or putting wallpaper over lead-based paint are only temporary ways to control the problem and are not acceptable solutions. Anyone who removes lead paint must wear a special breathing mask and other protective gear while they do the work.
Give your children a multivitamin with iron every day. They should have well-balanced diets that include fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and low-fat dairy products.
Do not use herbal or folk medicines (these may contain lead).
If you have pottery with a coating that might contain lead, use it only for decoration, not to hold food or drink.
Store food in glass, plastic, or stainless steel containers, not in open cans.
Use water from the cold tap for cooking and drinking. Let it run for a few minutes before drinking from it.
Keep materials that might contain lead away from children and areas where children spend time. That includes materials used to make ceramics or stained glass, and those used for other hobbies.
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Cleaning hard surfaces
Mop floors once a week with soapy water
Clean window sills and the area around the windows once a week with soapy water
Use paper towels or set aside a sponge for lead cleaning only
Use separate buckets for wash and rinse water
Lightly spray floors with water before sweeping
Seal wood floors to provide a smooth, easy-to-clean surface
Put a blanket or rug on bare floors where children play
Keep children and their clothes and toys away from windows
Open double-hung windows from the top
Cleaning carpeted surfaces
Use a HEPA* vacuum for cleaning if possible, or
- Use a "HEPA-type" or "allergy" filter bag, or
- Lightly coat new vacuum bags by spreading and vacuuming flour or cornstarch
Use a vacuum with an agitator head
Be thorough when you vacuum
When steam cleaning carpets, consider adding Calgon ‚ ® to the cleaning solution. (It has a chemical that can improve cleaning.)
Be careful when removing older carpets that already have a lot of lead dust trapped in them
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