photo by m3cfa
Step 1: Let the room air out for at least 15 minutes
Step 2: Do not allow anyone, including pets, into the room
Step 3: Shut off your central heat or AC
Step 4: After allowing the room to air out, you should use a stiff sheet of paper to scoop up any glass pieces and power and put them into a glass jar or a plastic bag
Step 5: Use duct or scotch tape to pick up any remaining fragments
Step 6: Clean the area with wet wipes and place them in the jar or bag
Step 7: Do not use a broom or vacuum if the broken bulb is on a hard surface
Step 8: Place everything you used to clean up the CFL bulb in a trash container outside for your normal pickup
**Be sure and check with your local government about their disposal regulations. Some states do not allow CFL bulbs (broken or not) in the regular trash pickup. Instead, they may ask you to deliver the bulbs to a recycling center.
Step 9: Wash your hands
If you break a CFL bulb on clothes or bedding
If your clothes or bedding get powder or fragments on them you should throw them away. You should not wash them in the washer because you can contaminate your washer or pollute the sewer system. If your shoes get power or CFL fragments on them you can wipe them with wet wipes and put the wipes in the bag or jar.
If you break a CFL bulb on a soft surface
If the bulb is broken on carpet or a rug it’s okay to vacuum if you need to, afterwards remove the vacuum bag and put it inside a plastic bag. If you have a bag-less vacuum you should empty the canister and wipe it out.
• Next time you vacuum you should turn off your central heat and AC and open a window before you start vacuuming
• Leave the central heat and AC off for 15 minutes after you finished vacuuming
• Follow these steps the next several times you vacuum
Note: The EPA is constantly reviewing CFL bulb clean-up and disposal recommendations. We’ll update you if the current clean-up and disposal recommendations change.
If you have any questions or comments about cleaning up a CFL bulb please leave a comment or call us toll-free at 866-284-8604
