NEVER: use a vacuum cleaner to clean up mercury. The vacuum will put mercury into the air and increase exposure. NEVER: use a broom to clean up mercury. It will break the mercury into smaller droplets and spread them. NEVER: pour mercury down a drain. It may lodge in the plumbing and cause future problems during plumbing repairs. If discharged, it can cause pollution of the septic tank or sewage treatment plant. NEVER: wash clothing or other items that have come in direct contact with mercy in a wash machine, because mercury may contaminate the machine and or pollute sewage. Clothing that has come into direct contact with mercury should be discarded. By "direct contact" we mean that mercury was (or has been) spilled directly on the clothing. Example if you break a mercury thermometer and some of elemental mercury beads came in contact with you clothing. NEVER: walk around if your shoes might be contaminated with mercury. Contaminated clothing can also spread mercury around.