This resource explains the "Three Bucket Method" for cleaning lead dust on solid surfaces in your home. Solid surfaces include hard floors, walls and anything else you would generally wipe with a damp cloth. This does not include upholstered items and carpets (those will be covered in future blogs).
The Three Bucket Method ensures safe, efficient cleaning by using three buckets for different purposes. This method reduces the spreading of material by trapping dust into microfibre and then into water.
In summary:
- You will need three buckets, sugar soap, cleaning gloves, and disposable microfibre cloths for this method. String mops are optional to clean hard flooring, or you can simply get down on your hands and knees with a microfibre cloth.
- Before starting, prepare by filling one bucket with soapy water, another with clean water, leaving the third one empty for discards (squeezing cloths into).
- The cleaning process involves wetting a cloth in the soapy water and wiping down surfaces from the highest point in the room, then rinsing with clean water. The soapy and clean water should be changed every 30 minutes or when you move from one area to another.
- Discard dirty water into the toilet, not the sink. Throw away the microfibre cloths (and mop heads) when you are finished. You may need several sets of microfibre cloths to get through the job.