how do i safely clean the inside of used fluorescent tubes in order to use them for a different purpose.?
Don't do this. The glass is fragile and easily shattered. It contains mercury - not nice stuff to deal with. Get glass tubing or plastic tubing instead.
You don't. The tubes contain mercury (in a VERY minute amount) and should not be opend up for any reason other than disposal, which only recycling firms are allowed to do. There IS another alternative however, and that is the plastic safty cover for them. They are sold at the big box stores, Home Depot and Lowe's, and likely in other places as well. The link shows some *specialty* covers but there are also plain, clear covers for them, though I admit that the colored ones give you a much better idea of what to look for. Al
