How to Clean Up a Broken Mercury Thermometer
- 1). Ask everyone to step away from the area around the broken thermometer immediately. Remove children and pets from the room. Don't allow anybody to step on the mercury or the shards of glass.
- 2). Open any doors or windows to provide fresh air. Put on a pair of rubber or latex gloves before you clean up the broken thermometer.
- 3). Pick up large pieces of glass. Place the broken glass on a layer of paper towels, then fold the paper towels carefully around the glass. Place the glass in a labeled zip-seal bag.
- 4). Use two pieces of cardboard to sweep up large beads of mercury. Work slowly to prevent the large mercury beads from breaking up into smaller beads.
- 5). Use a piece of duct tape or packing tape to pick up small mercury beads. If the room isn't brightly lit, use a bright flashlight to help you locate all of the small mercury beads. Place the tape and the small beads in a labeled zip-seal bag. Seal the bag. Place the zip-seal bags, and your gloves, into a larger plastic bag.
- 6). Use a carpet knife to cut away the carpet if the thermometer broke over carpet. Treat upholstery the same way. Cut away only the area of the spill, then place the carpet or upholstery material in a tightly sealed plastic bag. If the thermometer broke over fabric, seal the fabric in a bag and discard it.
- 7). Keep the windows open for at least 24 hours after the completing the cleanup. Don't allow children or pets to enter the area for at least 24 hours.
- 8). Call your local hazardous waste center or your area health department and ask how to dispose of the bag of contaminated materials.
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