Lead in paint.

Lead-based paint was banned for residential use in the United States in 1978, but it didn't disappear. It's still on the walls, the trim, and the window sashes of tens of millions of homes. Here's what that means and how to test for it.

Why it matters.

Roughly 33 million U.S. homes still contain lead-based paint somewhere on their interior or exterior surfaces. Of those, an estimated 18 million have an active lead hazard — meaning the paint is deteriorating, generating dust, or contaminating soil where children play.

Intact, well-maintained lead paint isn't an immediate threat. The danger appears when paint deteriorates: peeling, chipping, chalking, or rubbing against itself on friction surfaces like window sashes and door jambs. That's when invisible lead dust spreads through a home. The HUD floor dust hazard standard is just 10 µg per square foot — about the weight of a single grain of sand spread across a floor tile.

Where lead paint hides.

If your home was built before 1978, focus on the surfaces most likely to wear, rub, or weather:

• Window sills and sashes — the highest-risk surface in most pre-1978 homes
• Door frames and jambs — friction every time the door opens
• Stair treads and banisters — constant wear from foot traffic and hands
• Exterior trim and siding — weathers and chalks into surrounding soil
• Porch floors and railings — sun, rain, and footsteps break paint down fast
• Baseboards and built-in cabinetry — often the original paint, often hit by vacuums and feet

How to test painted surfaces.

FluoroSpec gives you two complementary tools. Use them together to cover both the paint itself and the dust it sheds.

1. Identify suspect surfaces. Walk through the home and flag any pre-1978 paint — especially window sashes, door frames, stair treads, and baseboards.
2. Test intact paint with FluoroSpec drip. Apply a drop directly to the painted surface. The drip reagent reacts with lead in the paint film itself, so you learn whether the layer beneath the topcoat contains lead.
3. Test surrounding dust with FluoroSpec spray. Mist the spray onto window sills, floors near door frames, or any surface where dust collects. The spray detects lead dust kicked off by deteriorating paint — the actual exposure pathway for kids and pets.
4. Read your results. A clear color change indicates the presence of lead. Photograph each result and note the location.
5. Plan remediation. Options range from encapsulation (sealing intact lead paint under a certified coating), to removal by a lead-certified contractor, to replacement of high-friction components like windows and doors.

Test your paint.

The Full Kit includes both FluoroSpec drip and FluoroSpec spray, so you can check intact paint and the dust it leaves behind in the same walkthrough. Results in minutes, no lab required.