How to Clean Up a Broken CFL

Because CFLs contain a small amount of mercury, the EPA recommends the following clean-up and disposal guidelines:

1. Before you clean-up: air out

• Make sure all people and pets leave the room.
• Don’t allow anyone to walk through the area where the break occurred.
• Open a window.
• Exit the room and stay out for a minimum of 5 minutes.
• Shut off any centralized heating or cooling systems in the building.

2. Clean-up steps: hard surfaces

• Do not use a vacuum or broom to clean up.
• Carefully scoop up the broken glass and powder using stiff paper such as cardstock, cardboard or paperboard.
• Place the broken pieces and powder into a glass jar with metal lid or in a plastic bag that can be sealed.
• Use duct tape to pick up any leftover glass fragments and/or powder.
• Wipe the area clean with disposable wet wipes. Place the used wipes into the glass jar or plastic bag.
• Remove jar or plastic bag from your house immediately and put it in a trash container. Some states might require you to take the bulb to a recycling center, so check with your local government.
• Wash your hands with soap and water.
• Continue to air out the room and keep central air turned off for at least an hour.

3. Clean-up steps: carpeting or rug

• Carefully scoop up the broken glass and place the pieces into a glass jar with metal lid or in a plastic bag that can be sealed.
• Use duct tape to pick up any leftover glass fragments and/or powder.
• Once you have picked up as much material as possible, a vacuum may be used only to collect any remaining glass. It’s not recommended because the vacuum could spread mercury powder further.
• If you have to use a vacuum, keep a window open, use the vacuum hose and remove the vacuum bag or empty and clean the canister when you’re done.
• Place the bag or vacuum debris in a plastic bag that can be sealed.
• Take the debris outside to a trash container or deliver them to a recycling center, depending on the rules of your state.
• Wash your hands with soap and water.
• Continue to air out the room and keep central air turned off for at least an hour.

4. Clean-up steps: clothing, bedding and other material

• If the debris from the broken bulb is unable to be cleaned from the fabric, discard the clothing bedding or other material.
• Do not wash the material. Mercury from the broken bulb can contaminate the washing machine and the water.
• You can, however, wash clothing or other materials that did not come into direct contact with the broken bulb. This includes any clothing being worn at the time the bulb broke, as long as direct contact wasn’t made.
• If shoes come into direct contact with powder from the bulb or broken glass, wipe them off with disposable wet wipes. Place the used wipes in a glass jar or plastic bag for disposal.
• Take the debris outside to a trash container or recycling center, depending on the rules of your state.
• Wash your hands with soap and water.
• Continue to air out the room and keep central air turned off for at least an hour.

5. Future cleaning of carpeting or rug:

• The next several times you vacuum the carpeting, air out the room during and after vacuuming.
• The next few times you vacuum, shut off any centralized heating or cooling systems and open a window before begining.
• Keep the air system off and the window open for at least 15 minutes after vacuuming.
• Change the bag or clean out the canister after vacuuming.