7 Ways to Get Glass out of Your Foot

This article was co-authored by Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS. Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Tennessee in 2006.

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Ouch! Stepping on a piece of glass can be both scary and painful, but there’s no need to panic. While it might sting a little bit, glass pieces and splinters are easy to remove as long as you have tweezers and a sewing needle on hand. We’re here to walk you through all your frequently asked questions, so you can patch up your foot quickly and safely.

Steps

How do I remove a chunk of glass?

1. 1Clean around the wound with soap and water. Before you get started, wash your hands for at least 20 seconds; this way, you won’t introduce any germs or dirt to the wound.[1] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source Then, dip a cloth or paper towel into warm, soapy water and clean around the injury.[2] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source
2. 2Pull out the glass with tweezers. Clean off a set of tweezers with rubbing alcohol. Then, carefully pinch the glass with the tweezers, removing it from your skin. If the piece of glass is really small, view it through a magnifying glass as you remove it with the tweezers.[3] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source

How do you remove a glass splinter under the skin?

1. 1Lightly pierce the skin with a clean sewing needle. Wipe down the needle with rubbing alcohol and figure out exactly where the splinter is. Then, gently prick the skin on top of the splinter. Use the needle to lift up 1 side of the splinter, so it’s easier to remove.[4] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source
   • If one end of the splinter is already sticking out, you may not need to pierce your skin. Just grab the end with your tweezers and carefully pull it out.
2. 2Remove the splinter with a clean pair of tweezers. Wipe down your tweezers with rubbing alcohol and pinch the raised tip of the glass splinter. Then, carefully lift and remove the splinter from your foot.[5] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source

Can you soak a splinter out?

1. Possibly, but it’s not a replacement for a needle and tweezers. Before pulling out a glass splinter, some experts suggest soaking the splinter in warm water for a couple minutes, so the skin is soft and easier to work with. Ultimately, it’s the needle and tweezer that will help you get the splinter out.[6] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source

What do you do once the glass is removed?

1. Bandage the wound and apply antibiotic ointment. Once you’ve removed all the glass, clean off the wound again with soap and warm water. Then, gently rub an over-the-counter antibiotic ointment like Polysporin around the injury.[7] X Research source Throw out the glass shard or splinter once you’ve removed it.
   • To be safe, cover any leftover cuts or wounds with a clean bandage.

Should I get medical assistance?

1. Yes, if the wound is severe. Minor splinters and shards are one thing, but you shouldn’t try to handle any major injuries on your own. If the glass is embedded really deep, call emergency services or visit an urgent care facility right away.[8] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source
   • Before getting help, wrap the wound with gauze, and place padding around the glass. Then, gently but carefully wrap a clean bandage or cloth around the injury.

Can I leave glass in my foot?

1. Yes, if the glass sliver is tiny and not causing any pain. If the sliver isn’t lodged that far in the skin, it’ll eventually fall out as your skin sheds naturally. You might also notice a small pimple form where the glass sliver used to be—this is totally normal, and just your body’s way of getting rid of the sliver.[9] X Research source

Can you use baking soda to get glass out of your foot?

1. Possibly, but there’s not much evidence to support it. The only places that really advertise this method are blogs, forums, and life hack sites. Unfortunately, no medical sources or experts officially back these claims.
   • Similarly, there’s no concrete medical evidence that vinegar or an Epsom salt bath will help, either.

Expert Q&A

• QuestionDoes this also work with fingers too?Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MSLuba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Tennessee in 2006.
  Board-Certified Family Nurse PractitionerBoard-Certified Family Nurse PractitionerExpert AnswerYes. You can apply the above recommendations for removing glass out of your foot to removing glass out of your fingers or hands.
• QuestionI’m a 58-year-old diabetic. Is it safe for me to remove it at home myself?Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MSLuba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Tennessee in 2006.
  Board-Certified Family Nurse PractitionerBoard-Certified Family Nurse PractitionerExpert AnswerIt might be perfectly ok to use the above recommendations as first aid if your injury is minor and you have good blood sugar control. A few important things for you to remember: 1) clean your hands and the area really well before attempting the glass removal, 2) remove the glass completely, 3) clean off and dry the area of the cut after glass removal, 4) apply an antibiotic ointment over the area, 5) apply a bandage or a band-aid, 6) and watch the area for healing or signs of infection in the next 1-2 days. If you notice worsening of pain, swelling, pus, or redness in the area, you will need to go for a follow up with your healthcare provider. To improve chances of a quick recovery, stick to a high quality diet of lean protein and low-glycemic foods, as elevated blood sugar impairs wound healing.

References

1. ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html
2. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid/basics/art-20056604
3. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid/basics/art-20056604
4. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid/basics/art-20056604
5. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid/basics/art-20056604
6. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-remove-a-splinter-and-when-to-call-the-doctor/
7. ↑ https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/skin/Pages/Splinters-and-Other-Foreign-Bodies-in-the-Skin.aspx
8. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid/basics/art-20056604
9. ↑ https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/skin/Pages/Splinters-and-Other-Foreign-Bodies-in-the-Skin.aspx

About This Article

Before you can get glass out of your foot, you’ll need to gently force it to the surface by soaking your foot for 20 to 30 minutes in warm water and epsom salts. Alternatively, you could try taping a cotton ball soaked in castor oil over the area, and leave it to soak for as long as you can. When you’re ready to extract the glass, disinfect both your foot and tweezers with a cotton ball soaked in an antiseptic, like alcohol. Using the tweezers, gently tug the glass to remove it, then bandage the area. If you’re having trouble removing the glass, don’t insert the tweezers into your foot, or you could cause further damage. Instead, have a doctor remove the glass professionally. For more advice, including how to use glue to get glass out of your foot, keep reading!

Reader Success Stories

• “This worked really well. I had a centimeter wide piece of glass stuck in my foot, all I had to do was the massage thing then warm water. I poured 70% rubbing alcohol on my wound, then I disinfected my tweezers and took out the glass.”…” more