How to Vacuum Foaming or Foam Styrene

Clean up styrofoam with a vacuum.

White beads of styrene foam or styrofoam help keep appliances safe during shipping. But when you unpack them, those little white beads of foaming get everywhere. The most efficient way to clean up styrene foaming is to vacuum it. Once the area is cleaned up, check out your recycling options. Keeping styrene foam out of landfills goes a long way toward reducing unnecessary waste.

Things You'll Need

• Broom
• Dust pan
• Vacuum

Instructions

1. Sweep up the majority of the styrene foam beads.

2. Vacuum the remaining styrene foam beads with the nozzle of your vacuum cleaner's hose. If your vacuum cleaner does not have a hose, turn off the beater bar before you vacuum. On many vacuum models, this can be done by putting the vacuum on the "floor" setting.

3. Empty the vacuum cleaner's bag.

4. Call your local recycling center to see whether they accept styrene foam. Styrene foam is non-biodegradable and because it is used only once, it takes up a significant portion of landfill space.

References

• Clean Up Australia: Polystyrene Fact Sheet
• The Way to Go: Polystyrene Fast Facts

Resources

• Dart: Drop-Off Locations for the Public