Clean-Up Any Spills Immediately

Even the most careful, conscientious DIYer can sometimes spill some antifreeze. Left on its own, antifreeze will appear to evaporate. But the toxic chemicals remain, smeared across your garage floor or lawn. Over several days or weeks it will break down, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But it’s much better to take immediate action.

Put an absorbent material like kitty litter, sand or sweeping compound on the spill. All are better than rags or paper towels, which can become saturated quickly. Let the material soak up the antifreeze, then shovel it into a sealable container. Keep children and pets away from the spill area until it’s fully cleaned.

If antifreeze spilled on you, scrub it off. Any chemicals on your clothes will come out with a standard run through the laundry.

Deliver the Antifreeze to the Appropriate Location

Now that you have the antifreeze in a secure container, you can make the trip to the recycling center.

There’s no real trick to this step, but we do have one tip: Place the jug or container inside a plastic crate or bag in case you have a spill during transport. This is especially true if the antifreeze is inside your vehicle instead of the trunk or truck bed. You don’t want to get antifreeze on your upholstery, then have your kids or pets ride in the back seat.

Recycle if Possible

Antifreeze can be recycled and reused. If you have a choice, recycling is preferred to disposal.

Many recycling centers, service stations, auto parts stores and public landfills accept antifreeze. However, not all locations recycle it. Some take it to a secure disposal site. That’s not as environmentally friendly as recycling, but it’s far better than dumping it down the drain or onto your lawn.

Whether you’re recycling or turning it over for disposal, the drop-off is usually as simple as handing the container to the attendant.