Safe Product Guide

If your home was built before 1978, you could have lead paint. Where it’s chipping or peeling, it can build up in house dust, stick to children’s hands, and be a dangerous source of lead for your family. Use a 3M LeadCheck kit to learn if you have lead paint. Use wet paper towels to regularly clean windowsills and other problem areas. And use duct tape to cover any chipping paint that you can’t get repaired right away.

Pregnant or planning a pregnancy? Avoid all DIY remodeling projects that involve lead paint, including the nursery. See more lead-safe tips from EPA.

Vacuums with HEPA filters reduce dust emissions from the exhaust. Vacuum at least once or twice a week for best results. For hard floors, vacuuming followed by wet (damp) mopping gets most of the dirt. For carpets, a dry steam cleaner used once a year captures the deep, sticky dust that vacuums leave behind.

Dusting is about as glamorous as changing diapers. But it’s a surprisingly important way to protect your family’s health. House dust sticks to hands and toys and contains over 100 toxic chemicals, like lead and arsenic. Infants and young children swallow dust-bound pollutants when they put hands and objects in their mouths. Their dust exposures are 20 times higher than an adult's, pound for pound. Use microfiber dust cloths and a high-quality doormat to tackle the dust in your home. And leave your shoes (and their dirt) at the door.