It’s time to have a little chat about lead paint and vintage decor my friends. You all know I love my vintage goodies. And I’d guess if you’re here reading my blog you’re probably a fan as well. (High five to that.) But as much as we all love vintage, the truth is that lead paint is something to be concerned about–especially if you have cute little people running around your home like I do. So I figured it was past time to get my booty in gear and check my favorite vintage decor for lead paint–something I’ve been meaning to do for a while now. Today I’m sharing the results of my lead tests, showing you how easy it is to do, and also sharing my tips on protecting your family if any of your items do have that nasty lead paint.
Facts
So I’ve done quite a bit of research on this topic and here’s what you need to know about lead paint:
- The federal government banned consumer use of lead-containing paint in 1978.
- The danger lies in ingesting paint chips and inhaling paint dust, not in touching, so chipping surfaces pose the greatest threat. (source here)
- DO NOT sand or scrape on items with lead paint.
- Lead paint isn’t dangerous unless it starts to deteriorate, shedding lead dust and chips into the atmosphere. (source here)
- Clean items with lead paint using a rag and soapy water to remove any loose pieces of paint.
- Make sure to wash your hands and clean up really well after handling any item with lead paint.
- If you find that an item does contain lead paint, you can either display it in a place where your children do not play, or you can varnish it to seal in the harmful paint. (source here)
- The EPA has lots of great info on lead paint, check it out here.
How to Test for Lead Paint
First you’ll need a lead test kit. I use the testing swabs like these from Amazon they’re very cheap and super simple to use. Buy a few packs if you have lots of vintage decor like I do. Follow the directions on the package, but the basic gist is this: if the swab rubs red, it has lead paint. If it’s yellow, you’re in the clear. I tested out a variety of items in our home and the first was this old door in our front room.
I’ve always worried about this door–it’s by far the most chippy piece I own.
Yep. It showed up red almost immediately. And red means lead paint. Such a bummer, but I’m not surprised. This girl is old. Next up was the old crib we converted into a couch.
This is another piece that is really old and I know it’s been painted because it’s chipping in a few places.
Thankfully this one was negative for lead, you can see the yellow patch there under the swab. Good news!
This old door in our living room is another one I’ve always wondered about.
It was a little tough to see initially, you can barely spot the faint yellow circle on the door, but after a few minutes it looked liked this:
All clear on this one!
Next up is my vintage porch railings. This one I converted into an apron rack, but I also have several old spindles scattered around our home from the same railings.
And no lead paint here. Cue happy dance!
Last up is my beloved toolbox that belonged to my Grandpa.
Boom. It’s red. I was so sad to see this one show up. And it was immediate–as soon as the swab touched the toolbox it was turning red. I actually decided to try this one on a whim. I have never, ever thought this old toolbox would have lead based paint on it. Such a bummer.
To clean the yellow and red spots off I used a wet paper towel and they rubbed right off.
How to Safeguard Items with Lead Paint
One of the tips I came across a lot in my research was the importance of sealing items with lead paint. The idea is to apply a protective coating that will prevent any further chipping or dust. For a while now I’ve been using the Bulls-Eye Clear Shellac Spray, which is super fast and simple to use. But I recently switched to the Bulls-Eye Clear Shellac Sealer because I wanted something a little more heavy duty and thick.
Simply paint the sealer on the piece to lock in the lead paint and keep it from chipping any further. After using both, I’d say I much prefer the liquid sealer over the spray version. I applied two coats and I honestly didn’t notice it change the color of the door at all. I’ll definitely be doing this on that old tool box.
I will warn you, I could not get this sticky stuff to wash out of my brush, even with mineral spirits. So take my suggestion and use a foam brush so you can just throw the darn thing away afterwards!
I know that’s a lot of info about lead paint, but I think it’s something to be educated on if you have vintage decor in your home. Some of my fears and concerns were lightened a bit after reading the real danger comes from inhaling the dust or eating the paint chips. However I still think it’s a good idea to go ahead and seal those items you know have lead paint just to be extra careful–especially if you have little ones in your home. And even better, do your best to keep those pieces out of reach or in low traffic areas.
Keep in mind my friends, I’m no expert. Not even close. But I do feel confident that the information I’ve researched and shared today is accurate. I hope this helps motivate you to check for lead on the vintage decor in your home. Let me know if you have any questions and I’d love to hear if you have any tips of your own to share!
Thanks for the great information. I don’t have any little ones running around anymore but I’m going to be a grandma in January, so I think I need to go and get a few of those test kits…
For sure Kathy! And congrats on being a grandma in January!
How can you test something already painted red? I have a tiny wooden rocking chair painted with heavy red paint. Thx!!
The testing swabs have instructions on how to test with red lead paint. Apparently the shades of red on the swab will be different.
Thanks for this post! You always think about lead paint on walls (during home inspections, disclosure, etc.), but it never really occurred to me to test any of the chippy decor, Good to know there’s a fix for it too!
Great information Sarah! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for stopping by Chastity! xoxo
Great info about the lead paint and the sealer too. So many things you hate to change the look of.
I didn’t notice a change in the color with the sealer actually, it pretty much goes on clear.
I was just testing things in my home tonight and I came across your blog. I had an umbrella stand test positive. I got it at a yard sale. It didn’t look that old but it must be. The problem with sealing something containing lead is if you bump it or it chips the lead will be exposed again. If you get on Leadsafemama’s website she says to get rid of anything with lead from dishes, Tupperware, furniture to vintage toys. We also have a two year old grandson who was lead poisoned by an old tub so I don’t want anything lead in my house. Also, when lead testing you can get about 7 tests out of one by squeezing out the liquid into 6 drops in a clean container and then using qtips to test from each drop and still use the swab itself also.
Thank you
Linda
Hi Sarah, thank you for sharing this info. I would like to know if the yellow or red mark comes off after testing?
Good question! I should have included that. Yes they do come off, I just used a wet paper towel.
: ). But you did include that information….. I read it. Great article too! Gotta get me some and start swabbing several chipped up pieces of mine. Again, I really enjoyed this article. Thanks
Thank you for the information.
I never thought about some of my things having lead paint! I will be checking my pieces now. My kids are grown, but I do have grandkids around so thanks for all the information!
Definitely a good idea to check just to be sure. Thanks for stopping by Brenda!
Thank you for this helpful post! With little nephews running around, I’ve definitely been anxious about vintage decor. Do you think chalk paint would still apply well if I used the sealer you mentioned on a piece? I have an old window I love and need to paint white, but I want to make sure that it will be safe to display once I’m done!
I’m not sure how chalk paint would go over the sealer…but you can always test a small spot and see who it works! If not, I’d probably start with the chalk paint then use the sealer over that. Thanks for stopping by Ellen! xoxo
Great piece on safety….something a lot of us don’t think about with decor. Thanks for the info!
Thanks Meredith!
Exactly the info I was looking for!! Thank you!!
I like the recommendation to test the swap all over the home, not just the piece in question. I’m wanting to buy a vintage home to restore and I think that lead paint is one of my biggest concerns. I’ll have to look into getting some of these swabs and testing it and having a company come out to remove the paint if it’s a problem. Thanks for sharing!
Denatured alcohol will take the shellac out of your brush. Or just save the brush and only use it for shellac since you can simply soak the brush in shellac and it softens up again. I’d also recommend pouring your shellac into a disposable cup then dipping the brush in so that you don’t taint the whole can with chips that could show up in other projects. Shellac is a GREAT product to use. The BIN shellac based primer is by far my favorite. These are just tips from my own experience! Great post!
Great info for chipped pieces. From what I read, I thought you needed to cut or scrape down to the wood or metal before testing. I have heirloom pieces to refinish that have a dark stain or varnish on them, not paint. When I tested them the brush turned a shade of maroon. I took that to be a “shade of red” positive lead result. It is good to hear I may be able to just seal them!
Thanks for the info! I never thought about testing the furniture pieces but i guess i need to do that. I do use Shellac on my older pieces and if you soak your brush in Ammonia it will clean it out. I have marked a brush for shellac only too. Thanks for all your post!!
Thank you, Sarah, for the post! We recently rescued some old doors from a house on one of my parents farms, and they have peeling paint on them. I knew about the dangers of lead paint and that it would be a bad idea to scrape or sand them. I had thought about power washing them to remove loose paint, but also had the thought that if we did that outside, our dogs could possibly ingest a piece of the paint. Something else I thought of is that there are probably vintage pieces out there that may have been painted multiple times, so the newest layer may be lead free, but older layers underneath may contain lead. Glad to know there are simple kits available to purchase!
Can I ask how you cleaned your doors before sealing? I want to leave as much of the old paint as possible. Your home is lovely!!
Hi Sandee. I cleaned the doors with hot soapy water. I just made a big bowl of it and wiped down the door. You have to be careful if there is any lead paint to not sand the door and create any dust, so definitely don’t do that. Just scrap off the pieces of paint that are loose and then wipe it down well with that soapy rag. Let it dry then go ahead and seal it. That’s how I do it anyway!
Did you ever test the furniture again after the seal was added?
Thank you! I have two 100+ year old doors from my childhood home that I wanted to use as barn doors in the new home we are building. I feel so much better about using them after reading this!
Sarah, THANK YOU so much for posting this information. I have shared it on the HOMETALK site and hope you don’t mind. Too many people find old doors and what not and do not give one thought to lead paint that may have been used on the item. Your research, solutions and links are greatly appreciated.
Of course! Thanks for sharing on Hometalk. xo
Thank you for this. I was doing research for restoring my vintage dollhouse. Never would have thought to check it for lead paint! I ordered the tester.
I’m curious why you used Bullseye to seal it? In my latest research I understand that you are supposed to use an encapsulated paint to seal lead paint and I have also read that it is not recommend to scrape or sand. Thoughts?
I too have several old doors and windows which I plan to use in my home and garden. My concern is that sealer will leave the pieces shiny and lose some of the rustic charm. I found dead flat spray sealer at my local Home Depot. Will that be sufficient to safely use the pieces?
Thank you!
Now that it’s been about 2 years since you used the shellac, has it has kept the door from peeling/flaking?
I have shutters I want to hang on either side of a big mirror in my entryway. They have tested positive for lead…which is quite chippy too! They are a bit too long compared to the height of the mirror so I was thinking about cutting them (there’s a perfect spot at the bottom and top that won’t change the look of the shutter), but I’m nervous about the dust and the cleannup, even outside where my two year old plays. How would you tackle this? Would you just leave them too long and not sacrifice health and safety over a perfectly decorated home? I’m so torn.
Please, please, please do not put those in your house. Properly dispose of them immediately. My daughter has elevated lead levels and I will tell you it is not worth it. Not in the least. The effects of lead poisoning are permanent and irreversible. I did a masters degree from Penn on the subject as well and would count myself as expert level of knowledge about lead hazard and prevention. Please trust me when I say do not use those doors in your house and certainly do not disturb any of the paint.
Can you please tell me the symptoms that your daughter has?
thank you so much fort information. I am presently decorating vintage windows and am fearful of lead paint. I know know how to do this without sanding and repainting with chalk paint.
again thank you
Thanks for the great tips! I feel more confident working with old windows.
Thank you. So very informative & helpful And to the point. I like that.
Hi, very interesting article! How would you go about using these swabs if the paint is black? Thanks Emma
Thanks! I was planning on using the spray (for ease of use), but the back says “dries clear with a light golden color”. Did you think it yellowed it? Was it glossy? I really didn’t want to change the appearance at all.
After you use the sealer you mentioned in this article can you paint over it?
Thanks so much for this information about lead paint and antique items. I wondered if washing the item with soap and water prior to sealing was important or just a suggestion? And I was also wondering if it was possible to paint over the sealer if we wanted to? Thanks so much!!
I have been working on a piece of furniture for weeks , stripping andxsanding through layers of paint. Only when it was almost bare fid I think to test it. Sure enough it was positive for lead. once sealed with the shellac sealer can you paint over that?
Did you test again after you coated with varnish? Did it come back negative for lead?
Thank you for the great info. I just purchased a fireplace surround that came out of a farmhouse built in 1820! Its gorgeous! This is exactly the info I needed however I do have one question; in your research, did you happen to learn if once these items are sealed can they be painted in the future. I cannot imagine I would ever want to paint over this beauty, but its good to know just in case! Thanks again!
Thanks for all the great info! I’m working on a reclaimed old door and really liking the chippy look.
With regards to the Bin sealer. Use household amonia for cleanup, it’ll clean your brushes right up. 🙂
I have an old vanity bench. What are the odds that it’s lead paint? It is really thick and hard to sand but I immediately stopped and read your blog. Thank you Sarah
You are awesome! Thank you for sharing your researched knowledge and experience with lead paint! I have a very old handmade writing table and two very old pantry cabinets that are under my suspicion of lead based paint. I am so, so glad I found your article BEFORE I attempted to remove the paint to refinish these items. Whew! You just saved me a whole lotta trouble and headaches. Thank you again! Hope you have a wonderful day! 🙂
Hi has anyone every come across furniture where some pieces have lead and some areas don’t?
Hi Sarah, I’m hoping you’ll consider updating this post to warn people not to try and seal lead-painted items that show signs of deterioration or chipping. It’s pretty dangerous and even just brushing chipping lead paint can shed microscopic lead dust. My mom came across this blog b/c she has an antique window hanging in her house with chipping lead paint. I asked her to get rid of it to protect my infant when we visit and now she wants to keep it and attempt to seal it herself. Not safe at all, there’s a reason people remove lead windows and doors from their homes in the first place.
I’m so glad I found this article. There are many misconceptions and fear-based responses to lead that it makes it hard for people to get to the facts. I used Echo bond from Home Depot and painted our 200-year-old home interior. It took 11 weeks. I’ve tested and retested and no lead is present on the painted areas. Inside a few closets I used gorilla Glue spray. Sorry I can’t remember exactly the name on the can but it tested negative inside the closet after two coats. I simply painted over that spray. I think it’s sad so many people throw away family heirlooms that could be saved and displayed safely. Thank you for your work, I appreciate it!
We have a young parrot who has been chewing the tops of our doors and window frame. I had him tested for lead poisoning because our house is hundred yeaes old but we have no exposured wood but he has been chewing through the paint .
I took him to our avian vet and the lead in his body was off the chart . I am treating him with succimer. I am concerned that we have an antique Japanese vase that he pokes at . I’ve taken it down and will test it with the 3 M lead test swab, will also test the newly exposed paint he has been chewing.
Thank you so much for your post,
Actually, the real danger is lead dust that comes off of lead paint by friction (opening and closing doors or windows) or just age. Once it settles, touching it by a baby or pet is extremely dangerous because then it most likely will get into their mouth. Also, you tested the second door incorrectly. You just rubbed the top coat which is not lead paint. You need to score it so all layers are exposed and rub it again.
I just bought an old vintage door and the paint is dry and prattle if it is lead paint and I use the sealer can I then scrap it down and repaint it for outdoor decor?