According to the survey, approximately 76 percent of houses are built before 1978. Most of them are painted with lead-based solutions. Earlier, it was not known that lead-based paints are highly toxic, and they can lead to permanent health problems. If you are residing in an old house and worried about its wall paint, then you should test it.
It becomes a major concern when your wall paint is crumbling and falling down. If your wall paint is detected with lead, then there are various ways to get rid of it. While cleaning led paint, you should use a backpack HEPA vacuum cleaner to wipe it off.
Read the following points to know about the lead-based paint removal process:
Create a Safe Environment
You should turn off all ventilation systems such as fan, heating unit, air-conditioning system, etc. If you leave these systems ON, then they will spread dust throughout your house and create a problem. Also, keep your windows closed so that outside air does not blow away dust.
You should block all vents with a plastic cover. Also, cover your furniture and flooring with plastic sheets because lead can be extremely hazardous. While removing the paint, restrict the entry of children and pregnant women in that area and wear safety gear before starting the process.
Wet down Painted Surface
If you apply water on your painted walls, then it will help you to blow off dust inside your house. Also, it helps in removing a massive amount of loose paint without spreading dust. To wet the area, you should use spray bottles.
Start Removing Paint
You should use carbide scraper for the paint removing process. Make sure you start from the top-level and gradually move to the downward direction. While scraping off wall paint, you should keep clean cloths and empty buckets in your surroundings. It is so because you should continually wipe up dirt, paint flakes falling down, and collect the mess inside the bucket. Also, you can use the backpack HEPA vacuum for lead paint to remove the dust and debris.
Start Sanding Off Remaining Paint
You should make sure that your wall is wet and continually use a spray bottle while sanding off the remaining paint on the wall. Never try to remove lead paint from walls if the surface is dry. There are different types of sanding tools, but you should use electric sander attached with HEPA vacuum attachment
Vacuum Clean the Area
You should get one vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter from the nearby hardware store. It is essential that the vacuum cleaner is equipped with a HEPA filter because it can trap the small particles easily. You should use the atrix HEPA backpack vacuum cleaner to remove the paint chips and dust over the floor.
Make sure you also clean nooks and corners with this vacuum cleaner. Do not remove the mask from your face while removing and cleaning the lead paint. After that, wipeout everything with a wet paper towel. Finally, take a clean cloth and wipe down the surface with clean water.
Spray Water over Plastic Covering
You should take a spray bottle filled with water and use it to wet down the dust particles settles over the plastic surface. This will help you to keep the lead dust particle stick over the plastic covering.
After that, slowly folding the plastic sheet, and you should start it from one corner. You should continue the folding process until the complete plastic sheet is rolled up. You should dump it in 6-mil garbage bags.
Vacuum Clean Once Again
You should again use your cordless HEPA backpack vacuum cleaner to remove the accumulated dust and debris. Make sure to move your vacuum cleaner in corner and edges as well where lead dust can be settled. If you have wooden flooring in your house, then you have to be more careful. It is so because the cracks in the floor can accumulate dust. Therefore, you should clean the cracks properly.
Again Wash and Rinse Floor
Once more, you have to clean your floor thoroughly. Double cleaning is required so that there should be no lead dust particle left behind inside your house. Take a cleaning solution and paper towel to wash your floor. After that, take clean water and rinse it thoroughly.
Repeat the process unless you get a properly cleaner surface. While washing your floor, you should change the water several times. Do not use the same water to clean the entire surface. After completion of the task, you should throw away the respirator filter and cleaning sponges as well.
