What Could You Do,If CFL Lighting Broke On A Soft Surface?

If the CFL lighting breaks on a SOFT SURFACE, such as carpet or rug follow these steps:

1. Do not use your bare hands. Put something between your skin and the broken shards. Use disposable gloves to protect you skin from contact with the shards. * If you don't have gloves, you can try using plastic bags, such as the ones you pack fruits and vegetables in at the store, or the newspaper plastic sleeves. **Be extra careful using this substitute "glove" idea, as they aren't as easy to control as a glove.

2. If you own a disposable dust mask, put it on. Or you can tie a rag over your nose. *This isn't an absolute step, but I highly recommend it to avoid breathing the mercury dust.

3. Find 2 plastic bags that you can fit one inside the other. Do not just add the pieces to your regular trash! That could allow the dust may escape into your air space and get into your lungs.

4. Pick up as many of the big pieces, as many as you can and put them in the bag.

5. Use sticky tape to pick up smaller pieces and the dust. Duct tape works great and is heavy so doesn't rip easily. Packing tape works also. Scotch tape would be a last choices. Be more cautious using it, as is small and thin. *Be careful to not press to hard to avoid the glass shards ripping through the tape.

6. Before you vacuum, make sure all the visible materials are removed. Use a flashlight to scan the area with better light that will reflect smaller pieces.

7. Thoroughly vacuum the whole area where the CFL lighting broke. *If you decide to do more vacuuming than just the area the bulb broke start away from the broken bulb area - You don't want to take the chance of the dust being dispersed into the air.

8. Remove the vacuum bag or empty canister into the first plastic bag.

9. Seal this plastic bag, then put it inside another plastic bag. Take off your disposable gloves and mask. Put them all in the second bag.

10. Seal the second plastic bag.

11. Immediately place these sealed bags in your outside trash container. *Don't leave these bags in your home for long, to avoid someone trying to open them to add trash or drop it and have the glass cut through and you need to start the process all over again.

12. Wash your hands really well.