Collection: Sweep Off Absorbents

The laws governing the disposal of absorbents may vary from state to state. In states like California, used absorbents are considered to be hazardous waste and should therefore be disposed of accordingly. Unused absorbents are typically not considered to be hazardous waste and can be disposed of in a solid waste landfill.

Various kinds of businesses and facilities store and use different types of fluids. If and when the containment for these liquids fails, a spill can occur. Spills can be hazardous and must therefore be dealt with properly. Absorbents are tools that can be used to safely contain and clean up hazardous spills.

Compared with other absorbents that you have to touch or hold over a spill and even pick up by hand for disposal, a sweep-off absorbent needs only be sprinkled on the spill area. Mix the absorbent in, wait for it to soak up the spill, scoop or sweep it up, and dispose of it properly. Sweep-offs greatly reduce the risk of coming in direct contact with hazardous liquid spills. Still, we recommend that you wear the right PPE when cleaning up hazardous spills.

This depends on the type of material used for the absorbent. Opt for sweep-offs made with non-abrasive materials so they will not damage or scratch the surface of your floor.

There is a range of materials where sweep-offs can be made from. Since they are commonly in the form of granules, they are also referred to as granular absorbents.

• Corn Cob: a biodegradable material that can absorb oil, water, and even antifreeze.
• Kitty Litter: the same granular material for absorbing cat urine. It can contain conventional clay or silica-based diatomaceous earth dust. However, kitty litter is abrasive and might leave residues that are hard to sweep off.
• Peat Moss: also known as sphagnum, this hydrophobic absorbent granule is the preferred material for cleaning up oils. Four cubic feet of peat moss can absorb up to 32 gallons of oil.
• Coir: a highly absorbent, eco-friendly material derived from coconut husk. It can clean up fuel, acid, and other hazardous liquid spills. Coir absorbents are more absorbent than absorbents made from corn cobs.
• Recycled Paper Fibers: A more economical alternative to coir and corn cob, however, paper absorbents must not be used to clean up aggressive fluids like hydrochloric acid.

If the stain is fresh and moist, there is a chance that absorbent granules can remove it and make it less noticeable, but this might not completely remove old stains. If the stain has already dried up, use a degreaser to liquefy it so that it will be easier to clean up with sweep-offs. However, you might need to repeat these steps or use an entirely different stain remover to achieve the results that you want.

As of the moment, there are no known liquid chemical reactions from using sweep-off absorbents. As such, they are safe to use on acids, oils, and other liquid spills.

Make sure to respond to a spill as soon as you see it. Apply the granules around the perimeter of the spill to prevent it from further spreading, then sprinkle it all over the remaining spill area. Wait for a few minutes until the liquid has been soaked up. You may even sweep the granules back and forth over the spill until all of the liquid has been absorbed. Then use a broom and dustpan to sweep the used granules up for disposal.

By themselves, loose absorbents do not contain any disinfectants. They are only meant for absorbing spilled fluids. Please do other cleanup procedures after completely removing the spill.

Make sure to store them in a clean, dry area away from direct sunlight or UV exposure. Always keep the packaging closed after use.