How to Remove a Splinter

I know there is no such thing as a splinterectomy, however removing one can sometimes seem like a surgical procedure. You prep for the removal by pulling out the needles and tweezers, then sanitize them, how much closer to surgery can you get than that? It’s no wonder that removing a splinter strikes fear in most kids and some adults.

While no two splinter’s are alike they do have a few things in common: they all hurt, they can all get infected and they all have to be removed. Knowing how to remove a splinter is the key, it can save a whole lot of tears and fears. So, put away the needles and tweezers and only pull them out if absolutely nothing else works.

Before you begin, gently wash your hands really well with soap and water. Don’t try squeezing the splinter to get it out, this could cause it to break and make it more difficult to remove. Inspect it with a magnifying glass to see the angle that in went in. Then, try one of these methods to remove it. *Always consult a doctor before using any home remedies.

1. Soak the area in olive oil for a few minutes to make the splinter easier to remove
2. Soak the affected area in Epsom salt to help draw out the splinter, making it easier to remove.
3. Soak the affected area in white vinegar for 20-30 minutes to help draw out the splinter, making it easier to remove.
4. Soak affected area in a small glass of water containing 1 tablespoon baking soda. Repeat twice a day until the splinter works its way out.
5. Apply some white glue to the splinter and wait for it to dry. Once it’s dry peel the glue off in the opposite direction that the splinter went in. The sticky glue grabs the splinter making it easier to remove.
6. Apply the membrane from an egg to the splinter. Allow it to dry for a few minutes and then remove. The sticky membrane will help pull the splinter out.
7. Place a piece of sticky tape to the splinter. Pull it off in the opposite direction that the splinter went in.
8. Place a thin slice of garlic over the splinter and cover with a bandage. Allow the bandage to remain on the splinter over night. The next day the splinter will have worked itself out.
9. Place a piece of bread that has been soaked in milk over the splinter. Cover with a bandage and allow it to dry. This will help to draw out the splinter.
10. Tape a piece of banana peel to the splinter and allow it to remain on the area for 24 hours. The banana peel will help to draw out the splinter.
11. Tape a raisin to the splinter and allow it remain on the area for 24 hours. Remove the bandage and raisin, gently add a little pressure to the area and the splinter will pop out.
12. Tape a  slice of raw potato to the splinter and allow it to remain on the area for a couple of hours. The potato will help to draw out the splinter.
13. Tightly tape a piece of raw onion to the splinter. Remove the onion after a couple of hours and the splinter will have worked its way out.
14. Apply a little Vick’s VapoRub to the splinter and cover with a bandage before going to bed. The next morning the splinter will be on the bandage.
15. Hold a magnifying glass over the splinter. Look for the part that is sticking out and grab it with a pair of  tweezers that have been sterilized with rubbing alcohol. Pull in the opposite direction which it entered.
16. Using a needle that has been sterilized with rubbing alcohol and a magnifying glass, find the area where the splinter went in. Gently stick the need in just under the splinter and lift it upwards, exposing enough of the splinter to grab with tweezers.

Splinter image adapted from sanba38 image under the creative commons license found on wikipedia.org