How to Fix Lead-Painted Walls

Cover the entire floor with disposable plastic and tape it at the edges so it doesn't move. You will throw this away when you are done because it will catch the lead paint as you scrape it off.

Wash the walls with trisodium phosphate to clean them and remove any residue from previous cleaners. Rinse with water and dry thoroughly.

Coat the walls with a thick layer of a gel paint stripper using a paintbrush. These paint strippers are not as toxic as chemical strippers, adhere to the walls better and do not cause the lead paint to chip off. Leave the stripper on the walls overnight. In the morning, test an area with a paint scraper to see if the paint peels off. If it doesn't come off easily, leave it on for up to 24 hours, testing periodically for readiness.

Scrape all the paint off using a metal paint scraper until the paint is all gone. If paint remains after it is all scraped off, you may need to give it a second treatment with the stripper.

Rinse the walls with plain water to remove any stripper residue. Check the manufacturer's label to see if it recommends a neutralizer for your particular stripper. Most gel removers are biodegradable and only need water to remove them.

Sand the walls lightly to get rid of any uneven surfaces and prepare the walls for fresh paint. At this point you should be smoothing only the areas that were roughened from the scraping. However, it is safer to wear a respirator to protect yourself from any remaining lead paint dust.

Remove the plastic with the lead paint and discard. Consult with your local municipality about the proper way to discard lead paint.