How To: Clean Up A Broken Compact Fluorescent Lightbulb

We have all become aware of the push for households to switch out their regular, incandescent light bulbs with Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs or CFL's. Organizations like Energy Star and Companies like GE drone on about how they are 75% more efficient and last 10 times as long as traditional bulbs.

But what you hear little to nothing about is that when a CFL breaks in your house you should treat it like a small toxic waste situation. After all, CFL's have Mercury in them. Before the alarm bells start ringing- rest assured, its a small amount. In one light bulb there are 4 milligrams of mercury compared to those old thermometers with 500 milligrams of mercury.

Nonetheless, its important that people know how to properly clean up after a break as well as how to dispose of broken and/or old CFL's. I decided to find out more about this since I have a boy with a penchant for knocking over lamps... First tip: Go ahead and leave the incandescents in lamps easily knocked over. I use the CFL's only in overhead lighting fixtures.

Clean Up

Here is what the EPA recommends for household clean up of broken CFL's:

Before Clean-up: Air Out the Room

• Have people and pets leave the room, and 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.

Clean-Up Steps for Hard Surfaces

• Carefully scoop up glass pieces and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
• Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.
• Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place towels in the glass jar or plastic bag.
• Do not use a vacuum or broom to clean up the broken bulb on hard surfaces.

Clean-up Steps for Carpeting or Rug

• Carefully pick up glass fragments and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
• Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small 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), and put the bag or vacuum debris in a sealed plastic bag.

Clean-up 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 inside the bulb that may stick to the fabric, the clothing or bedding should be thrown away. Do not wash such clothing or bedding because mercury fragments in the clothing may contaminate the machine and/or pollute sewage.
• You can, however, wash clothing or other materials that have been exposed to the mercury vapor from a broken CFL, such as the clothing you are wearing when you cleaned up the broken CFL, as long as that clothing has not come into direct contact with the materials from the broken bulb.
• 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 plastic bag for disposal.

In summary, its sounds like a lot of airing out and only clean the mess with things that can be thrown away, sealed in a ziploc bag. Gotta love those ziploc bags.

Disposal

Some states allow broken bulbs and clean up materials to be thrown away when sealed in two zip-lock bags. But, the best way to dispose of broken and old, unbroken bulbs is to take them to a nearby recycling center. I was surprised to find that I can conveniently take my bulbs to a nearby Home Depot. For information on where to take your broken or old bulbs go to Earth911.org After cleaning up and disposing make sure to wash your hands and then your done.

I know it sounds like a lot of work. When I first read about proper clean up of CFL's I rolled my eyes and committed to only use incandescent. However, even though I have never classified myself as a tree hugger type, I can see the value of using a more efficient light bulb to light our homes. Using CFL's in areas where they are less likely to be broken and knowing how to properly clean them up is something I can get used to, for the trees.

xoxo leafy, green, shady trees.

Don't like the way CFL's light up yor home? Read this article.