When a spill happens, whether at work or at home, you need something that can stop the spread … fast. Do you have the right product nearby to absorb that spill?

The right products for your liquids

Not all spills are created equal — that’s why not all absorbents are the same. It’s imperative you have the correct materials on hand to deal with the specific spills (and potential risks) your home or facility may encounter.

For example, if you’re working with oil and petroleum products, you need absorbents that repel water so the absorbents can do their job of absorbing the oils that float on top. Oil absorbent booms make it easy to surround a large area and will float on water — even when fully saturated. For quick cleanup of small-scale spills, oil absorbent pads and rolls are flexible solutions.

For those who work with hazardous chemicals, it’s important to use absorbents that can safely contain spilled liquids without breaking down. Using regular absorbents with hazardous materials can be dangerous. That’s why absorbent pads and rolls, absorbent socks, and absorbent pillows are all available in hazmat yellow. This type of absorbent is generally colored yellow to indicate that those nearby must use caution when dealing with the spill area.

When it comes to liquids that don’t fit into the categories of oil and petroleum products or aggressive fluids, universal absorbents are the answer. From socks to pillows and everything in between, most absorbent materials are available as universal absorbents. It’s smart to have some of these general-purpose items around for day-to-day spills and leaks.

Link to purchase hazmat socks.

The risks of the wrong absorbents

Using the right absorbent can ensure your cleanup goes quickly and effectively. But using the wrong absorbent can be more than just inefficient — it can even be dangerous.

Some absorbents, like Gran-sorb, are made from cellulose, an affordable absorbent for non-corrosive spills. But using a cellulose absorbent on a corrosive liquid spill could cause a dangerous heat reaction to occur. Instead, polypropylene or natural absorbents offer a safer corrosive cleanup option.

The easy way to be prepared

Choosing the right absorbents and safety gear for the job can be challenging, and making mistakes can cost you. That’s why AbsorbentsOnline offers spill kits specifically designed to meet your needs.

Pick up a general-purpose spill kit if your facility handles water-based fluids or hydrocarbons or an oil-only kit if you handle oil and petroleum. Dealing with hazardous materials? A hazmat spill kit can ensure you’re prepared for any eventuality. Our spill kits vary in size to suit your facility, and we even offer mobile and specialty spill kits.

Looking for something specific? We can even build you a custom spill kit. Every facility is different, so you need a spill kit that matches the liquids and quantities you’re handling.

[cta]To learn which spill control products are best suited to your work and design your own custom spill kit, contact Angie Meza at angie@absorbentsonline.com or (800) 869-9633.[/cta]

Whether you’re buying absorbent products for use in your home, garage, or workplace, you have plenty of options to choose from. And while it may be tempting to choose your purchases based solely on price or convenience, there are other factors to consider, too: quality, eco-friendliness, and even where products are manufactured.

American-made goods and the American economy

Made in USA on flag logo.

You may have heard that buying American-made products is good for the country’s economy. But while many often toss this concept around, they tend not to explain in depth.

There are a few reasons why purchasing from American businesses benefits our national economy. First, American businesses employ American workers. This means your purchases help create and maintain American jobs. In fact, if each American citizen spent an extra $3.33 on American-made goods, it would create almost 10,000 new jobs.

Also, when you spend your money at American businesses, that money is then passed on to the American workers employed there, keeping that money in the American economy.

Buying American is eco-friendly

Of course, buying American-made goods doesn’t just mean supporting our economy — it also means supporting our planet.

No imported products logo.

Shipping isn’t just expensive — it’s also a major cause of pollution. By purchasing products made in the US, products don’t have to travel as far, conserving fuel and reducing the environmental footprint of that product. Additionally, not every country has the same environmental regulations surrounding manufacturing. That means products created in other countries may not be as “green” as products made here in the United States. In fact, Chinese production of goods for American consumption has had a significant effect on air pollution.

And of course, the absorbents themselves can help protect the environment by preventing hazardous waste from entering bodies of water and soil as well as protecting against oil spills and stormwater pollution.

Stock up on American-made absorbents for summer

If you’re looking for absorbents from an American company that stocks many American-made products, look no further! Here are five AbsorbentsOnline.com top sellers for you to pick up for summer use, be it at home or work.

1. Absorbent pads: These easy-to-use absorbent pads and rolls soak up liquids quickly — and you can ring them out and reuse! They’re available in a number of materials for use on different kinds of spills.
2. Oil absorbent booms: These oil absorbent booms float on water to make marine spills easy to handle. They’re made from recycled materials right here in the USA!
3. Spill containment pallets: Store your drums on these spill containment pallets, capable of accommodating up to six drums. These modular units are low profile, easy to connect, and made in USA from recycled materials.
4. Rag rug absorbent floor mat: These absorbent mats are made from recycled materials and designed to absorb all types of grunge without appearing dirty. They’re even strong enough for high traffic areas.
5. Spill kits: No matter what kind of liquids you work with, there’s a spill kit for your needs. We can even create custom spill kits just for your facility.

When you make a purchase, you vote with your dollar — by using your money to support a business. When it comes to absorbents, why not make sure that business is American?

Oil spill cleanup

No one would argue that paper towels have their uses. However, they also have limitations. Some of the best products for managing life at home can’t be found at the grocery store.

For example, the common household solution for protecting floors from spills when you’re working is a tarp. But a tarp doesn’t absorb spills; it simply collects them. The most efficient way to protect your floors from paint and oil is an absorbent mat.

The bad news: These aren’t usually marketed outside industrial applications. The good news: You can buy them for your home anyway!

What is an Abzorb Mat?

Oil mat under pickup truck.

Abzorb Mats feature a top layer made of a universal absorbent capable of containing all kinds of liquids. This layer is dark gray to disguise stains and prolong use. The bottom layer is a non-penetrable vinyl backing that’s skid-resistant and will stop absorbed liquids from leaking through the mat to the floor below.

The Abzorb Mat is specially designed to lay flat without curling or buckling, which helps prevent trips and falls. Our “stain stopper” backing is so tough that we guarantee it against leaks, cracks, and tears for three years.

It’s available in 3-foot and 6-foot widths, and you can even get custom lengths if you need a specific mat size.

What is it for?
There are countless uses for this flexible mat in your home or garage!

Try placing it underneath where you park or work on your car to catch oil or antifreeze drips and prevent concrete strains. If you live in an area that gets a lot of snow in winter, the Abzorb Mat is perfect for catching melting snow runoff from vehicles, snow removal equipment, and even boots in the entryway or mudroom.

The Abzorb mat’s anti-slip properties make it great for back doors and garage doors. You can use it as a work bench cover, shelf liner, paint mat, craft mat, as well as underneath pet food and water bowls.

These mats may be designed for industrial use, but you can find plenty of useful implementations in your own home.

[cta]Ready to make your life simpler but have questions about which absorbents are right for your needs? Contact Travis Zdrazil at travis@absorbentsonline.com or (800) 869-9633.[/cta]