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Household Glue Offers Remedy for Easy Splinter Removal

Using regular white (school) glue is a clever way facilitate easy splinter removal. Find out how using Elmer's glue or a over the counter wart remover could get a painful splinter out easily.

Have you ever struggled trying to get a splinter out of a finger or toe? It can be a challenge, not to mention a pain. That is why we are enthusiastic about a technique for easy splinter removal.

Remedy for Easy Splinter Removal:

Q. I am looking for a remedy to remove splinters. I heard about instant glue, but I am not sure how to use it.

A. Few things are more annoying (and painful) than getting a splinter. If you have little kids, you know how hard it is to get them to hold still while you try to work a splinter out with tweezers. Please do NOT use instant (crazy or super) glue to attempt to remove a splinter. That is likely to seal the splinter in and make it even harder to extract.

White Glue to the Rescue:

Perhaps you intended to ask about common white glue.

We heard from one reader who described this tactic:

“I had a splinter in my heel area and used white Elmer’s Glue and a bandage for a few hours and the splinter came out when I pulled the glue off. I thought this wouldn’t work but I was pleasantly surprised.”

The trick is to pull the glue off after it has dried–but in the opposite direction to the path the splinter took going in. This way the glue has a chance to pull the splinter out the way it went in.

Wart Plaster for Easy Splinter Removal:

Another way to remove splinters is to place a salicylic acid wart plaster over the splinter. After a day or two the splinter should work its way out or be easily removed (Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, April, 1989).

If you like these home remedies for easy splinter removal, you may also be interested in our book, The People’s Pharmacy Quick & Handy Home Remedies.

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About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
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