Lead-Safe Cleaning Practices

Congratulations, you have gone to heroic lengths to minimize creation of dust and paint chips during demolition and construction. But, you're not done yet! A thorough final cleaning is one of the most important steps when working in a home with lead-based paint. Here are the steps to follow for the final clean (source: Lead Paint Safety: A Field Guide for Painting, Home Maintenance and Renovation work – US Department of Housing and Urban Development).

1. Pick Up Work Area
   • Pick up large chips with a damp paper towel.

   • Mist and then push dust into a dust pan (window wells and floor in particular).
2. Pick Up Protective Sheeting
   • Fold dirty side inwards.

   • Dispose of protective sheeting at the end of each job – DO NOT REUSE. For residential work in Des Moines, IA, this sheeting may be disposed of with household waste. If you take it to a dump, you may need to let them know it contains lead-based paint from a residential job. Check with your local officials for any additional requirements.
3. Vacuum
   • HEPA vacuum all horizontal surfaces. Work from the top down.

   • Vacuum all trim, ledges, sills, stools, molding tops, and other dusty surfaces.
   • Vacuum the floor under the work area. Use a corner tool in corners, cracks in trim, and spaces between floor boards.
   • Vacuum floor with a floor brush and carpet with a carpet tool – vacuum carpet very slowly.
4. Mist/Scrub Wall and Trim
   • Use a two-bucket system. One bucket with a detergent water for rinsing (a household detergent soap may be used) and a separate bucket for waste water. Change the rinse water often.

   • Wet rag, scrub surface (use a mister to wet surface and rag as you clean), and ring into waste water bucket.
   • Change rinse water often and use paper towels first if surfaces are very dirty. Replace the rag when it looks dirty.
   • Clean until dust and debris are removed.
5. Mop Floor
   • Use a two-bucket system. One bucket with a detergent water for rinsing (a household detergent soap may be used) and a separate squeeze bucket for waste water. Change the rinse water often.

   • Soak the mop in detergent water and mist a small area with detergent water. Scrub with mop.
   • Squeeze mop into empty bucket before rinsing in rinse water. Squeeze out and rinse again. Mop small areas at a time, and rinse often.
   • Rinse floor area. Repeat the above process using clean water in place of detergent. Use a new mop head for the rinse stage.
6. Re-Vacuum
   • Make a final, thorough pass with a HEPA vacuum.