How To: Clean Up a Broken Flourescent Bulb

Even if you're not the greenest person in the world, most of us have at least one Compact Fluorescent Light, or CFL, in our house.  Because they last longer than standard bulbs and consume less energy, CFL bulbs are appealing to budget and environmentally conscious consumers.  But what do you do if one breaks?

Within the plastic tubing of CFL bulbs resides a small amount of mercury.  This highly toxic substance  cannot be disposed of haphazardly; specific steps must be taken to prevent exposing this toxic substance to the environment.  Follow the jump below to find out what the Environmental Protection Agency recommends you do if you break a CFL bulb: 



Before Cleanup: Air Out the Room

• Have people and pets leave the room; don't let anyone walk through the breakage area on their way out
• Open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more
• Shut off the central forced‐air heating/air conditioning system, if you have one.

Cleanup Steps for Hard Surfaces

• Carefully scoop up glass pieces and powder using stiff paper or cardboard; place them in a glass jar with metal lid or a sealed plastic bag
• Use sticky tape (double sided tape, duct tape) to pick up any remaining glass fragments and powder
• Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes
• Place towels in the glass jar or sealed plastic bag
• DO NOT USE A VACUUM OR BROOM TO CLEAN UP GLASS FRAGMENTS!

Cleanup Steps for Carpeting or Rug

• Carefully pick up glass fragments and place them in a glass jar with metal lid or a sealed plastic bag
• Use sticky tape (double sided tape, duct tape) to pick up any remaining glass fragments and powder
• If vacuuming is needed after all visible materials are removed, vacuum the area where the bulb was broken
• Remove the vacuum bag or empty and wipe the canister
• Place the bag or vacuum debris in a sealed plastic bag

Cleanup Steps for Clothing, Bedding and Other Soft Materials

If clothing or bedding materials come in direct contact with broken glass or mercury‐containing powder from the CFL bul, throw it away.  Don't try to wash any clothing bedding because mercury fragments in the clothing may contaminate the machine and/or pollute sewage.

Clothing or bedding that have been exposed to mercury vapor from a broken CFL bulb (i.e.: the clothing you are wearing when you cleaned up the broken CFL) but did not come in contacy with the broken bulb or powder can be washed and reused.

If shoes come into direct contact with broken glass or mercury‐containing powder from the bulb, wipe them off with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes.  Place the towels or wipes in a glass jar or sealed plastic bag for disposal.

Disposal of Cleanup Materials

• Immediately place all clean‐up materials outdoors in a trash container or protected area
• Wash your hands after disposing of the jars or sealed plastic bags containing clean‐up materials
• Check with your local or state government about disposal requirements in your specific area. Some states require you to take broken and unbroken mercury‐containing CFL bulbs to a local recycling centers

Future Cleaning of Carpeting or Rug: Air Out the Room During and After Vacuuming

The next several times you vacuum, shut off the central forced‐air heating/air conditioning system and open a window before vacuuming.  Keep the central heating/air conditioning system shut off and the window open for at least 15 minutes after vacuuming is completed.