How To Remove A Splinter

Feature | How To Remove A Splinter | Wood Splinters

If you're busy with outdoor and indoor activities or you spend most of your time in the woods, knowing how to remove a splinter can be very helpful for you.

You'll never know what will happen so being equipped with this knowledge will save you from trouble. Wood splinters, glass splinters, name it — these can be hard and painful to remove. Some people opt to use a tweezer, but it can be painful which will only make the situation worse.

Here are 11 painless ways to get rid of a splinter you should try before grabbing a tweezer!

How to Remove a Splinter in 11 Natural and Painless Ways

Bacon Fat

Cut a pea-sized piece of white fat from a raw strip of bacon and place it directly onto the splinter. Secure the bacon fat with a bandage and leave it overnight. The bacon fat should draw out the splinter from your skin.

Hydrogen Peroxide

A hydrogen peroxide can help remove the splinter effortlessly. Just soak a clean cotton pad in a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution then apply it to the affected area. The splinter should come out easily after a few minutes.

Onion

Tape a fresh onion slice onto the splinter and leave overnight. The splinter will be drawn closer to the surface of your skin and will be easier to remove.

Epsom Salt

Epsom salt can help get rid of a splinter by increasing the osmotic pressure on the skin. All you need to do is dissolve 1 cup of Epsom salt in a tub of water then soak the affected area until the splinter gets drawn out.

Wide Mouth Bottle and Hot Water

Fill the bottle with hot water close to full. Place your hand with a splinter over the mouth of the bottle until completely covered. Steam and suction caused by your hand should draw out the splinter from your skin.

Clear Nail Polish

Did you know that nail polish can also be your companion in removing a splinter? To do this, apply a clear nail polish over the affected area and let it dry.

Clear Nail Polish

Peel off the nail polish in the opposite direction of the splinter. The splinter should come out after one try.

Essential Oils

Add a few drops of lavender or clove essential oil to the affected area. This allows the splintered skin to naturally swell. The splinter should come out right after a mild swell.

Castor Oil

The use of castor oil in removing a splinter is a widely practiced home remedy. If you accidentally get a splinter, apply an ample amount of pure castor oil to the affected area. Cover it with a bandage and leave it overnight. The castor oil will soften the skin making it easier to get rid of the splinter.

Tomato

Fresh tomatoes aren't just used for cooking a delicious meal but also for removing a stubborn splinter. Apply a small piece of tomato directly onto the splinter. Put a band-aid to cover the tomato and leave it overnight. The tomato will move the splinter to the surface and it will be easier to pull out.

White Vinegar

Simply immerse the affected area in a bowl filled with white vinegar for about half an hour, then wait for the splinter to rise on the surface of your skin. Remove the splinter gently with your hand or with a tweezer.

Tape

For this way of splinter removal, you'll need either packaging tape or duct tape. Gently cut a small piece of tape and tap it on the affected area while gently catching the splinter. Be sure to stick the splinter on the tape so you can easily pull it out.

You can repeat the process if necessary. This is applicable only if the splinter is not too deep and close enough to the skin surface so the tape can be attached to it.

Watch this helpful video from Tech Insider's channel for more ways on how to remove a splinter:

Now you know several ways to remove a splinter. Try these in case you or someone you know gets stuck in an unexpected situation. You'll find these ways very handy and convenient since you can easily find the things you need in your household.

If you love making yourself busy and active, the last thing you want to do is remove a splinter in your foot or finger, so being cautious is still the best thing to do!

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Do you have anything else to add to our list of ways on to remove a splinter? Tell us about it in the comments section below!

How To Remove A Splinter
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Disclaimer: All content on this site is for informational purposes only. Please read our full disclaimer here.

Editor’s Note – This article has been updated for accuracy and relevancy. Original publish date: February 8, 2016.

4 Responses to :
How To Remove A Splinter

  1. Anonymous says:

    Useful info!

  2. phil Meyers says:

    The very best way to remove a splinter is a pair of fingernail clippers , It will take some of the skin with it but no more splinter!

  3. John J. Kaye says:

    When I know that I’ll be working with wood/lumber I always wear a pair of thick leather gloves. Same with working in the garden clearing brush and weeds. An ounce of prevention is better than a lot of pain.

  4. G.K. Tropical says:

    I remove the splinters with the ff., a sharp pocket-knife or surgical scalpel, a pair of good ole surgical tweezers, isopropyl alcohol & band-aids; I will 1st) sanitize the area with a generous amount of alcohol 2nd) make an incision on the part with the splinter 3rd) carefully remove with the splinter with the tweezers 4th) carefully dab alcohol on the part where the splinter was excised, lastly, cover that part with a good ole’ strip of band-aid – Has worked for me alot of times especially in my work & excursions in the Tropical Jungles.

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