How To Clean Up A Broken Halogen Light Bulb

These guidelines for cleaning up the new mercury-filled 'ecology' lightbulbs direct from the EPA:

Before Cleanup: Air Out the Room

Take people and pets leave the room, and don't let anyone walk through the breakage area on their way out.
Open a window and exit the room for 15 minutes or more.
Shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system, if you accept 1.

Cleanup Steps for Hard Surfaces

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

Cleanup 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 every bit duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.
If vacuuming is needed subsequently all visible materials are removed, vacuum the area where the seedling was broken.
Remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister), and put the handbag or vacuum debris in a sealed plastic pocketbook.

Cleanup Steps for Habiliment, Bedding and Other Soft Materials

If clothing or bedding materials come in direct contact with broken glass or mercury-containing powder from within the bulb that may stick to the fabric, the article of clothing or bedding should be thrown abroad. Do not wash such vesture or bedding because mercury fragments in the clothing may contaminate the machine and/or pollute sewage.
Yous tin can, however, wash clothing or other materials that accept been exposed to the mercury vapor from a cleaved CFL, such equally the clothing you are wearing when you cleaned upwards the broken CFL, as long as that vesture has not come into direct con tact with the materials from the broken bulb.
If shoes come into straight contact with broken glass or mercury-containing powder from the bulb, wipe them off with damp newspaper towels or dispensable wet wipes. Identify the towels or wipes in a glass jar or plastic purse for disposal.

Disposal of Cleanup Materials

Immediately place all clean-upwards materials outdoors in a trash container or protected area for the next normal trash pickup.
Wash your hands after disposing of the jars or plastic bags containing clean-upward materials.
Cheque with your local or country government virtually disposal requirements in your specific area. Some states do not allow such trash disposal. Instead, they require that cleaved and unbroken mercury-containing bulbs be taken to a local recycling center.

Future Cleaning of Carpet or Rug: Air Out the Room During and Subsequently Vacuuming

The next several times you vacuum, shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning organisation and open a window before vacuuming.
Keep the key heating/air conditioning system shut off and the window open for at least 15 minutes later vacuuming is completed.