Oh boy! Soy!

Many people are fortunate enough to  have a family heirloom that they should like to have in their nursery, but that they are concerned is covered in generations of  lead paint. Right they are.  As many of us have read, removing lead paint releases toxic particles into the air, and just creates lead snow.  Not a brilliant thing to do. 

Though I recommend getting someone else to do this – there is a very affordable and safe (well, as safe as safe gets), way to strip Great Grandma Berthas rocking horse, painted Mexican avocado green in 1964: Soy Gel.

It seems that this goo, made of 100% American soy beans, is ideal for lead-based paint removal as the lead becomes encapsulated in the gel, preventing airborne particles and allowing for safe disposal. Further, it doesn’t contain methylene chloride.  (Rule of thumb: If you don’t know what it is, it’s bad for you.)

Again, if you are preggos, do NOT go anywhere NEAR lead anything.  Have a handy in-law do it for you.

And after the offending paint is removed, don’t forget to uses non-toxic finishes to prepare it for your little ones. Just please don’t use Avocado Green.