Compact Fluorescent Bulb Clean Up Procedure

http://therealtimjones.com
We poke a little fun in the video, but we also conform to the EPAs instructions for cleaning up a compact fluorescent light bulb break on a hard floor surface. Each compact fluorescent light bulb contains between 4 and 5 milligrams of Mercury, a lethal neurotoxin.

DISCLAIMER!!!: I used an incandescent bulb for the video, because I did not want to release mercury into a home. The procedure is still the same as if it were a CFL bulb.

For a carpeted area:
- 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.

For bedding and clothing:
- 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.

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Category:

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Tags:

• compact fluorescent lightbulbs
• cfl
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• energy efficient light bulbs
• cfl bulbs
• cfl clean up
• diy
• home improvement
• green lighting
• energy efficiency
• global warming
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[martinidick]

Of course the irony of this video is that they are cleaning up a standard incandescent bulb - not a CFL. (I can tell by the shape of the glass fragments). Too film the cleanup of a broken CFL would be too dangerous.- and they know it.

[TheRealTimJones]

@martinidick Yeah, that's exactly why I used an incandescent! The CFLs have all been removed from my own home and I intended to make a mockery of the whole CFL push with this video.

[paulymac]

haha... Seems like overkill, I would probably just use a broom and dust pan. Good work.

[TheRealTimJones]

@paulymac Not supposed to use a broom. Makes the mercury in the bulb go airborne. Not good! Nothing like a good airborne chemical spill in your home! :)

[altgeldrarities]

Should we send the broken bulb and the vacuum cleaner bag to Congress?

[gotham61]

@TheRealTimJones Meanwhile, the power plant making electricity for your 130 year old tech bulbs is spewing four times as much poisonous crap into the air that we all have to breathe.

On the other hand, seeing as you're so concerned about environmental hazards, I expect you drive an electric car and power your home with wind generators, right?

[atlastpeace]

Thank you.

[STFOX543]

@thedarkone2134 no i'm ok and nothing happened

[thedarkone2134]

@STFOX543 It's now three months since you made your comment. Did you die from exposure to the broken bulb?

[STFOX543]

Today I broke one in my room, and I didn't know this, i immediately vacuumed the area and didn't wear mouth protection or anything. some glasses went in a trashcan others are still in the vacuum which is outside my house. I opened windows and after seing this i put most of the bulb in a glass jar. Am I going to die?

[getnick77]

he he funny

[paulymac]

@TheRealTimJones Thanks man. Now I know.... and knowing is half the battle. :)