- 1). Put on rubber gloves, safety glasses and a dust mask -- these are especially important if the spill is a substance that could cause irritation, such as a dry fertilizer. Sweep up as much of a dry spill as you can with a broom. Push the material into a dust pan and empty it in a trash container.
- 2). Vacuum the area with a standard vacuum cleaner, if the spill was on the floor. If the spill was on a counter, table or other elevated surface, use a hand vacuum or the attachments on your standard vacuum.
- 3). Wipe the area with a damp sponge or damp sponge mop. This removes remaining dust left over by the material. Use a towel to dry the area afterward.
- 1). Contain the spill by using absorbent materials. For small spills, use paper towels. For larger spills, dump clay cat litter on the area or, if you do not have cat litter on hand, place large bath towels over the spill. Clemson Cooperative Extension lists cat litter as the best product for containing liquid pesticide spills. Cat litter is made to absorb liquids.
- 2). Let the cat litter or towels sit for a few minutes to absorb the spill. If the spill is an oil spill on the floor, leave the cat litter on it overnight.
- 3). Scoop up the cat litter using a shovel or dust pan, and discard in a trash container. If the spill involves hazardous materials such as pesticides, chemical fertilizers, gasoline, oil or any household chemical, please contact your local waste facility for disposal instructions, which vary by location.
- 4). Remove all soiled towels, if applicable. Mix a solution of 1 teaspoon of dish soap per 1 gallon of warm water in a bucket. Dish soap is mild enough to be safe for most surfaces and yet strong enough to clean even oily spills.
- 5). Scrub the area using a sponge mop or a sponge. Rinse it with warm water, applied with a sponge or sponge mop, after you have removed traces of the spill. Dry the area with towels.
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