Painting Your Home Safely

Painting looks like a harmless weekend project, but it involves ladders, fumes, dust, chemicals and, in older homes, lead. Most problems come from three things: scraping or sanding old paint without checking for lead, painting in closed rooms, and falls from ladders. A little planning makes it safe.

• Homeowners
• DIYers
• Renters

Check for lead first

• Homes built before 1978 may have lead-based paint. Lead dust from sanding, scraping or burning old paint is toxic, especially to children and pregnant people. See Lead & Asbestos in Older Homes and Lead.
• Test before you disturb paint. Use a lead test kit that is recognized by the EPA, or hire a certified inspector or risk assessor. Don’t guess from color or age.
• If it has lead, consider hiring an EPA lead-safe certified renovator. Under the EPA’s Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) rule, contractors working in pre-1978 homes, child care facilities and schools must be certified and use lead-safe practices. See EPA Lead RRP Rule. Homeowners doing their own work are not covered by the rule, but should follow the same practices.
• Never dry-sand, dry-scrape, use a heat gun above low temperatures, use a torch, or power-wash lead paint. Don’t use open-flame burners. See Heat Guns.
• Lead-safe practices: keep children, pregnant people and pets out; cover floors and furniture with plastic; mist surfaces before scraping; use HEPA vacuums and wet cleaning; wear a P100 respirator; and dispose of waste as local rules require.
• Wash hands, change clothes and shower after work. See Take-Home Contamination.

Fumes and ventilation

• Use low-VOC or zero-VOC paints indoors where possible. Volatile organic compounds cause headaches, dizziness and irritation and add to indoor air pollution. See Indoor Air Quality.
• Ventilate well. Open windows and use fans to push fumes out, not around the house. Keep the work area closed off from other rooms, and keep ventilating during drying, which can take days.
• Read the label and SDS for the product’s hazards, ventilation and PPE. See Safety Data Sheets.
• Wear a respirator when fumes are strong, such as with oil-based paints, solvents, strippers and spraying. A dust mask doesn’t protect against vapors. Use an organic vapor cartridge respirator and a fit that seals. See Respiratory Protection and Respirator Filters.
• Keep children, pregnant people, pets and anyone with asthma away during painting and drying where possible, and consider staying elsewhere for strong odors.
• No open flames or sparks. Solvent-based paints, thinners and stains are flammable. Turn off pilot lights and avoid smoking or sparks from switches and motors in the area. See Flammable Liquids.

Surface prep and chemical strippers

• Wear eye protection and gloves, and a dust mask or respirator, when sanding or scraping.
• Be careful with paint strippers. Many contain strong solvents. Methylene chloride strippers have caused deaths, and the EPA has banned them for consumer use. Use safer products, read labels and ventilate well. See Methylene Chloride.
• Never mix products, such as bleach with ammonia or other cleaners. See Household Chemicals.
• Mold and mildew: clean and fix moisture problems before painting over them. See Home Mold.
• Old homes may also have asbestos in textured ceilings, joint compound and other materials. Don’t sand or scrape without testing. See Asbestos for Homeowners.

Ladders and heights

• Use the right ladder for the job, set on firm, level ground at the right angle (1 foot out for every 4 feet up). Keep three points of contact and don’t overreach. See Ladder Safety at Home.
• Don’t carry a paint can up a ladder. Use a bucket hook, a paint tray hung safely, or hoist supplies. Wear shoes with grip.
• Watch for power lines when working outside and use a non-conductive ladder near them. See Overhead Power Lines.
• For high exterior work, hire a professional or rent proper scaffolding and learn to use it. See Renting Scaffolds & Lifts for Home Projects.
• Keep drop cloths flat and tidy. They can be slippery and trip hazards. Use non-slip drop cloths on floors and stairs.

Spray painting

• Spray creates a fine mist that is easy to inhale and can reach far. Use only outdoors or in very well-ventilated areas, with a respirator rated for the paint and eye protection.
• Cover everything that shouldn’t be painted, and watch the wind.
• Airless sprayers use high pressure that can inject paint through the skin, a medical emergency. Never point the gun at any body part and get medical help immediately if injected. See Skin Disease & Dermatitis.
• Keep ignition sources away from solvent-based spray. Use only properly grounded equipment.

Rags, cleanup and storage

• Oil-based stain and finish rags can start fires by themselves. As oil dries, it gives off heat, and a pile of rags can ignite. Lay rags out flat to dry outdoors, away from buildings, or soak them in water in a sealed metal container before disposal. See Oily Rags & Spontaneous Combustion.
• Clean brushes and tools as the label directs. Don’t pour paint, thinner or wash water into drains, the ground or storm drains.
• Store paint in tightly closed original containers, in a cool place off the floor, away from heat and children and pets. Don’t keep large amounts of solvent-based products indoors.
• Dispose of leftovers properly. Dry out latex paint and put it in the trash as local rules allow, and take oil-based paint, thinners and stains to household hazardous waste collection. See Household Chemicals.
• Wash your skin, not with solvents, and wash work clothes separately.

Painting safety checklist

• If the home was built before 1978, I tested for lead before sanding, scraping or stripping
• The room is ventilated, I use low-VOC products, and I wear the right respirator and eye protection
• Children, pets and pregnant people are kept away during work and drying
• Ladders are set up safely; I don’t carry paint cans up; high work goes to a professional
• Oily rags are dried flat outdoors or sealed in water in a metal can
• Paint, thinner and waste are stored and disposed of properly

Last updated: October 5, 2026