Do you have a spill kit in your car? What about your truck? Read on to discover why it's a good idea and how to pick just the right spill kit for your situation.
Cars, trucks, and in fact all motor vehicles require a variety of chemicals to operate, and all those chemicals can spill or leak.
First, there's gas, but there's also oil, anti-freeze, transmission fluid, brake fluid, not to mention window washing fluid.
None of these should be allowed to drain into the ground, and most of them make quite a mess when they spill.
Some of them, gas in particular, are highly flammable.
Others, especially antifreeze, are dangerous to animals.
They're dangerous to humans too, but animals are actually more in danger because many brands of antifreeze are quite tasty to many pets, and so they can cause serious illness or even death if a dog or a cat licks up a spill.
As you can see, it's crucial that you take any leaks and spills seriously and are prepared to clean them up pronto.
And fortunately, it's easy to be prepared.
Vehicle spill kits are easily available and reasonably priced, so you can keep one handy for all eventualities.
One that's perfect for most motorists' needs is the so-called trucker's emergency spill kit.
It's the ultimate in portable vehicle spill kits.
They're economical because you don't even need to pay for a special container, which may end up costing more than the absorbents they contain.
Instead, this vehicle spill kit is sold in a heavy duty poly bag that can even be resealed -- so you're not wasting the whole thing on a small spill.
And if you're shopping for a high quality vehicle spill kit, be sure to look for high quality.
Not only will you know that the absorbents do what they're supposed to do, but high quality kits also tend to come with accessories such as safety goggles and gloves, which will make the clean-up of any spill a lot safer.
What about instructions? I could tell you how to use them, but the fact is, each of the kits comes with detailed how-to instructions right on the bag, and since the instructions might differ slightly depending on which brand you get, I'd rather you check where you get the most accurate information.
But they are absorbents, and so, as any absorbent, they work by absorbing the errant fluids.
And generally, you sprinkle them on the fluid, let them do their thing, and then remove the whole mess in a safe and responsible way.
So where should you keep your vehicle spill kits? Anywhere where a spill might occur.
You should keep them in your car, your truck, in your motorcycle carrying bag, and in any other vehicle you might have, including fork lifts.
In addition, keep some in your garage, in your shop, and several in various places of your facility if you have one that deals with vehicles or machinery.
That way, you'll be covered no matter where a spill or a leak might occur, and you'll not only protect yourself and others, but the environment as well.