I send this checklist to every client when they book. It’s based on what I see on real jobs: where the samples come from, and what usually makes them fail under the 2026 limits.
Where we sample: one windowsill and one floor spot in each bedroom, plus one common room (living room or kitchen). Spend your effort there.
Windowsills
- Wet-wipe every interior windowsill in the bedrooms and the common room. Use a damp disposable cloth and change it often.
- Wipe the window trough too (the channel the sash sits in), and open the window to reach it.
- Remove plants, décor and anything stored on the sills.
- Fix chipped or peeling paint on sills and sashes, then clean again once the dust settles.
Floors
- HEPA-vacuum hard floors and rugs. Skip the broom: sweeping spreads fine dust.
- Wet-mop hard floors after vacuuming, paying attention to edges and the area under windows.
- Clear floor space near windows so I can reach a spot to sample.
- Don’t wax or polish right before the test.
Paint and repairs
- Walk the unit and look for peeling, chipping or cracked paint, especially on windows, doors and trim.
- Finish any repairs, sanding or painting before your final cleaning. Fresh work leaves dust behind.
- Give dust at least a day to settle after work, then clean.
- If you’re planning renovation in a pre-1978 building, hire an EPA Lead-Safe Certified (RRP) contractor and do the work before the test. You can look one up with the EPA’s Lead-Safe Certified firm search.
Access and utilities
- Make sure every bedroom and the common room are unlocked and reachable.
- Lights should work in each room I need to sample.
- If you won’t be there, set up a lockbox or code and include it in your booking notes.
- Tell me about pets, parking or anything unusual about getting in.
Tenants
- Let your tenant know the date and time window of the visit.
- Ask them to keep windowsills clear and not to sweep or dry-dust right before the visit.
- Share the tenant’s name and number with me if they’ll be letting me in.
On the day
The visit itself is quick, usually under an hour. Here’s what to expect on test day.
If something does fail, it’s not the end of the road. You’ll know exactly which spot it was, how to fix it, and the re-test is 20% off. See what to do after a failed test.