I've got a thriving garden this year with tomatoes, rhubarb, basil, jalapeños, and rosemary all doing great. But I recently discovered that my neighbor had his house pressure washed, and a bunch of paint chips from his home ended up on my plants. To make matters worse, they accidentally damaged one of my rhubarb plants during the cleaning. I've tried to remove what I could and washed off the leaves, but I'm really worried about potential contamination. Is there a chance I can salvage my plants, or do I need to throw everything out?
3 Answers
It’s definitely a bit concerning! Paint chips can potentially contain lead, which is a major health hazard. You might want to get the paint tested to be safe, especially if your neighbor's house is older. In the U.S., homes built before the 1980s are likely to have lead paint, and if that’s the case, your neighbor could be in trouble for environmental contamination. Just washing the leaves might not be enough, so it’s worth looking into testing options.
Also, keep in mind that lead paint chips are usually heavier. Hopefully, that gives you some peace of mind.
Since most paints are just liquid plastic, washing off the chips might do the trick. You should be good as long as you don’t eat any of those leaves. But still, I’d recommend being cautious and doing some more cleaning.
It’s always smart to have it tested, just in case! If the chips contain lead and your neighbor didn’t clean properly, they might be liable for the whole mess. Just keep an eye on your plants, and if you’re able to, try to pick out as many chips as you can. As for the rhubarb, if the crown is still intact, it should bounce back next year!
Good point about the cleanup being their responsibility—just be prepared for whatever comes next!
Totally agree! Just give it a gentle care next year and it should recover.
Yeah, definitely check the age of the house! If it was built after the 80s, you’re probably in the clear.