Paint Remover: Lead safe

Reviewed by:
The Old House Web

Lead paint can be a serious health hazard for for children growing up in old houses. Experts recommend removing or encapsulating paint that may contain lead from windows and woodwork. Child Guard is a water-based, paint-like coating blended specifically to form a barrier between lead-based paint and the environment. ChildGuard is approved for use in all 50 states, and meets or exceeds all projected federal, state, and local standards for covering lead-based paint on interior or exterior surfaces.

Toddlers often are exposed to lead when they chew on woodwork, so if you have a little nipper in your family, you'll be comforted to know that Childguard contains Bitrex, a bitter-tasting, nontoxic ingredient to discourage oral contact. Child Guard is available in a variety of colors, and can be applied with brush or roller. Tools and spills clean up easily with water. In February 2005 a gallon from the manufacturer was about $40.