Owning an older home often comes with its share of charm—and hidden hazards. As one parent on r/Oldhouses shared, "I feel like I’ve failed my young family (especially my toddler) for buying an old home with lead paint."
The continuous worry about their toddler’s health underscores how easily lead—a silent, invisible threat—can disrupt family life and peace of mind.
Cities such as Cleveland are grappling with a large lead crisis. Nearly one in five children are affected, with the rate of lead poisoning for Cleveland families hovering around four times the national average. Even with sweeping public-private efforts—Lead Safe Cleveland, grants from HUD, and lead-safe ordinances—progress is stalled by bureaucratic delays, slow spending, and logistical hurdles.
Protecting your family starts at home—and quick, affordable testing is a powerful first step. The first step is an easy, at-home test to understand what exposure levels are in your home, such as this multi-detection lead test. It checks for lead dust and paint residues, bacterial and mold contamination, and evaluates tap water quality at an ultra-sensitive level, tighter than EPA regulations because any lead is bad for you and your kids.
