How to Clean a Broken Fluorescent Tube

Fluorescent bulbs are energy-efficient light sources that use mercury vapor to produce light. Mercury is a naturally occurring element that can harm humans when inhaled as a vapor. The use of mercury contributes to the long life and efficiency of the bulb, and with normal use, fluorescent bulbs pose no risk to humans. However, because of the possible health risks associated with mercury, broken tubes must be cleaned up properly. (Reference 2,3)

Things You'll Need

• Stiff paper
• Glass jar with metal lid or plastic bag
• Tape
• Paper towels or disposable wipes

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Instructions

• 1

  Air out the area. Get people and animals out of the room for at least 15 minutes, as recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and be careful to avoid walking through the mess as you leave. Open a window in the room and turn off central air conditioning or heating.

• 2

  Pick up the broken pieces as best you can. If the tube broke on a hard floor, you can use stiff paper to scoop up the mess. If you are cleaning carpet, just pick up the broken glass. Place the glass and any powder you remove from the floor into a glass jar with a metal lid or a plastic bag that you can seal, as recommended by the EPA.

• 3

  Use sticky tape to grab the small pieces you couldn't clean up, and place it in the jar or bag as well.

• 4

  Clean the floor. Use wet paper towels or disposable wipes for a hard floor. If the fluorescent tube was broken on carpet, you can vacuum. After you vacuum, remove the bag or clean the canister, and place the materials into a sealed plastic bag.

• 5

  Throw away any clothing or other soft materials that had direct contact with the broken materials. These items cannot be washed because they can contaminate your washing machine and pollute sewage, according to the EPA. Wipe contaminated shoes with wet paper towels or disposable wipes, and seal the wipes in a bag or jar.

• 6

  Contact your city government or local waste disposal service to find out if you are allowed to dispose of the cleaned-up items in the trash. Some areas require that broken mercury-containing bulbs be taken to a recycling center, according to the EPA. If you are allowed to place the sealed containers in the trash, take them to an outdoor trash container right away.

• 7

  Wash your hands well.