Did you make the switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs because of their long lasting and energy saving abilities, but have began to worry yourself about cleaning them up if they break? You are probably not the only one who is wondering how exactly do you handle the clean up of a CFL. Because CFLs have a small amount of mercury sealed inside the glass tubing it is necessary to take precautions when cleaning broken bulbs. We would like to share how to clean up your broken CFL with care:

Before cleanup

• Have people and pets leave the room.
• Air out the room for 5-10 minutes by opening a window or door to the outdoor environment.
• Shut off the central forced air heating/air-conditioning (H&AC) system, if you have one.
• Collect materials needed to clean up broken bulb.
• During cleanup
• Be thorough in collecting broken glass and visible powder.
• Place cleanup materials in a sealable container.

After cleanup

• Promptly place all bulb debris and cleanup materials outdoors in a trash container or protected area until materials can be disposed of properly. Avoid leaving any bulb fragments or cleanup materials indoors.

For several hours, continue to air out the room where the bulb was broken and leave the H&AC system shut off.

For more information on using CFLs call Light – Innovations today!

Tips and image from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency