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Cleaning Up a Broken CFL

What to Do if a CFL Breaks in Your Home

Other Types of Light Bulbs
that Contain Mercury

Follow the recommendations on this page if you've broken another type of mercury-containing light bulb, such as:

Fluorescent bulbs:

  • Linear, U-tube and circline fluorescent tubes
  • Bug zappers
  • Tanning bulbs
  • Black lights
  • Germicidal bulbs
  • High output bulbs, and
  • Cold-cathode fluorescent bulbs.

High intensity discharge bulbs:

  • Metal halide
  • Ceramic metal halide
  • High pressure sodium, and mercury vapor.

Mercury short-arc bulbs; and

Neon bulbs.

Broken CFL
Related Information
Disclaimer

This document contains information designed to be useful to the general public. This document:

  • does not impose legally binding requirements, nor does it confer legal rights, impose legal obligations, or implement any statutory or regulatory provisions;
  • does not change or substitute for any statutory or regulatory provisions;
  • presents technical information based on EPA’s current understanding of the potential hazards posed by breakage of mercury-containing fluorescent lamps (light bulbs) in a typical household setting;
  • is a living document and may be revised periodically without public notice.

EPA welcomes comments on this document at any time and will consider those comments in any future revisions of this document.

On this page:


Download and print instructions (PDF) (3 pp, 91 K) | en español (3 pp, 30 K)


Before Cleanup

  • Have people and pets leave the room.
  • Air out the room for 5-10 minutes by opening a window or door to the outdoor environment. 
  • Shut off the central forced air heating/air-conditioning system, if you have one.
  • Collect materials needed to clean up broken bulb: 
    • stiff paper or cardboard;
    • sticky tape;
    • damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes (for hard surfaces); and
    • a glass jar with a metal lid or a sealable plastic bag.


During Cleanup

  • DO NOT VACUUM.  Vacuuming is not recommended unless broken glass remains after all other cleanup steps have been taken.  Vacuuming could spread mercury-containing powder or mercury vapor.
  • Be thorough in collecting broken glass and visible powder.
  • Place cleanup materials in a sealable container.


After Cleanup

  • Promptly place all bulb debris and cleanup materials outdoors in a trash container or protected area until materials can be disposed of properly. Avoid leaving any bulb fragments or cleanup materials indoors.
  • If practical, continue to air out the room where the bulb was broken and leave the heating/air conditioning system shut off for several hours.

► Actions you can take to prevent broken compact fluorescent light bulbs

► Information from other sources relating to the accidental breakage of CFLs

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Why is it important to clean up a broken CFL properly?

CFLs and other fluorescent light bulbs contain a small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing. When a fluorescent bulb breaks in your home, some of this mercury is released as mercury vapor. To minimize exposure to mercury vapor, EPA recommends that residents follow the cleanup and disposal steps described on this page.

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What if I can't follow all the recommended steps? or I cleaned up a CFL but didn't do it properly?

Don't be alarmed; these steps are only precautions that reflect best practices for cleaning up a broken CFL. Keep in mind that CFLs contain a very small amount of mercury -- less than 1/100th of the amount in a mercury thermometer. 

However, if you are concerned about the risk to your health from a potential exposure to mercury,  consult your physician.

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Actions You Can Take to Prevent Broken Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs

  • Always switch off and allow a working CFL bulb to cool before handling.
  • Always handle CFL bulbs carefully to avoid breakage.
    • If possible, screw/unscrew the CFL by holding the plastic or ceramic base, not the glass tubing.
    • Gently screw in the CFL until snug. Do not over-tighten.
    • Never forcefully twist the glass tubing.
  • Do not install CFLs in table lamps and floor lamps that can be easily knocked over, in unprotected light fixtures, or in lamps that are incompatible with the spiral or folded shape of many CFLs.
  • Do not use CFL bulbs in locations where they can easily be broken, such as play spaces.
  • Use CFL bulbs that have a glass or plastic cover over the spiral or folded glass tube, if available. These types of bulbs look more like incandescent bulbs and may be more durable if dropped.
  • Consider using a drop cloth (e.g., plastic sheet or beach towel) when changing a fluorescent light bulb in case a breakage should occur. The drop cloth will help prevent mercury contamination of nearby surfaces and can be bundled with the bulb debris for disposal.

Contact the CFL Web editor to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.

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