Safer Chemical Options

Information on Household Hazardous Waste

Household hazardous wastes that might make their way into landfills can cause groundwater pollution. If improperly handled and disposed of, these materials can pose a threat to the public’s health and safety. In many cases, you can avoid buying products that contain hazardous materials and use alternative products instead. For more information on safer handling, transportation, and the Southeastern PA Regional Household Hazardous Waste Collection program click here, or on the Home Hazardous Waste link on the left-hand toolbar.

What to Do if a Fluorescent Light Bulb Breaks

Fluorescent light bulbs contain a very small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing. EPA recommends the following clean-up and disposal guidelines:

Open a window and leave the room (restrict access) for at least 15 minutes.
Remove all materials you can without using a vacuum cleaner.
- Wear disposable rubber gloves, if available (do not use your bare hands).
- Carefully scoop up the fragments and powder with stiff paper or cardboard.
- Wipe the area clean with a damp paper towel or disposable wet wipe.
- Sticky tape (such as duct tape) can be used to pick up small pieces and powder.
Place all cleanup materials in a plastic bag and seal it.
- If your state permits you to put used or broken fluorescent light bulbs in the garbage, seal the bulb in two plastic bags and put into the outside trash (if no other disposal or recycling options are available).
- Wash your hands after disposing of the bag.
The first time you vacuum the area where the bulb was broken, remove the vacuum bag once done cleaning the area (or empty and wipe the canister) and put the bag and/or vacuum debris, as well as the cleaning materials, in two sealed plastic bags in the outdoor trash or protected outdoor location for normal disposal.

What you put in the garbage matters

Before you buy, read the label. It is often difficult to determine if a product is hazardous since manufacturers are not required to list ingredients. However, manufacturers must label the degree of acute toxicity of a product. Look for the following signal words on labels (listed in order from least to most hazardous):

Caution

Warning

Danger

Other words that indicate hazardous substances:

Poison

Flammable

Volatile

Caustic

Corrosive

Before purchasing a product labeled with any of these words, try to find a less hazardous product. Also check out . They are a Montgomery County based company and produce cleaning products made from natural ingredients. Visit www.sunandearth.com or call 1-800-298-7861.

Buy smart

The best way to avoid hazardous household materials is to use alternative products. Safer alternatives are listed on this page.

For materials that have no available alternatives, follow these tips:

Buy only what you can use in a short period of time.

Leave products in their original container.

Don’t mix a product with other materials unless the labels give directions for doing so.

Use products in a well-ventilated area.

Don’t eat, drink or smoke while using hazardous materials.

Avoid aerosols.

Avoid hazardous wastes by trying these alternatives

Air freshener—Place saucers of vinegar around the house to absorb odors.

All purpose cleaner—1) 1 teaspoon borax in 1 quart warm water to clean most surfaces. 2) 1 tablespoon ammonia, 1 tablespoon liquid detergent and 2 cups water. Mix ingredients and put in spray bottle.

Aluminum pan cleaner—2 tablespoons cream of tartar, 1 quart water. To clean aluminum cookware, combine ingredients in cookware. Bring solution to boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Wash and dry as usual.

Ants—Wash counters, floors, etc., with mixture of equal parts vinegar and water.

Brass polish—Make a paste out of lemon juice and baking soda. The paste should be the consistency of tooth paste. Rub onto brass with a soft cloth. Rinse with water.

Drain cleaner—1) Use a plunger. 2) Use a flexible metal snake that can be purchased or rented. 3) Pour ½ cup baking soda down drain. Next pour down ½ cup vinegar. This mixture will foam. After 15 minutes flush with boiling or hot water. This mixture will not open a clogged drain but if used regularly, it will keep drains flowing freely. Do not use these methods if you have used a commercial drain opener that may still be present in the drain.

Oven cleaner—1) sprinkle water on oven surface. Apply baking soda. Rub using very fine steel wool. Wipe off scum with a damp sponge. Rinse well and dry. 2) While oven is still warm, sprinkle water on the spill, then sprinkle salt on it. When the oven cools down, scrape the spill away and wash the area clean. 3) Heat oven to 150°. Turn off the oven, place a bowl of ammonia in the oven. Let this set over night.

Rust—Scrub with lemon juice mixed with salt.

Toilet bowl—1) Use a pumice bar to scour the toilet bowl ring. 2) Mix lemon juice and borax into a paste about the consistency of toothpaste. Flush toilet to wet sides. Rub paste on the toilet bowl ring. Let sit for two hours and then scrub thoroughly. 3) Sprinkle baking soda into the toilet bowl. Add vinegar. Scour with toilet brush. 4) Pour ½ cup liquid chlorine bleach into toilet bowl. Let stand for one–half hour. Scrub with brush. Flush.

Toilet, Tub, Tile and Chrome cleaner—Baking soda can be used as a mild abrasive for most household needs. Add ¼ cup vinegar to each quart of water for cleaning and disinfecting. Add salt or baking soda to intensify the solution effects.

Window cleaner—1) Water. 2) ½ cup white vinegar, 1 gallon of water. 3) ½ cup white vinegar, 1 pint rubbing alcohol, 1 teaspoon dishwashing liquid, 1 gallon of water. 4) Same as #2 but substitute ½ cup ammonia for vinegar.