NBR: splinters

SusieBW · June 2014

First world problems, I know.

My work has a lovely courtyard with a fountain and a bunch of tables and some benches where we can take lunchtime to go and sit outside to eat and read or chat or whatever. It's lovely, and usually at midday, half the tables are in the sun and half in the shade, so there is a very nice balance. It's so nice, and I'm terribly thankful that we have this nice little space. However, I don't know the last time they might've refinished the wooden tables out there. I feel like I have permanent splinters in my elbows and the outsides of my hands from leaning on the table. And sometimes I'm afraid that if I sit wrong, I'm going to get them in my bum. I've gotten them in the backs of my legs before. They're itty bitty little splinters and they burn, and sometimes when I lean my elbow on another surface (like the arm of my desk chair just now), it hurts a lot. I know the solution is to stop sitting out there or ask building maintenance to do something about it or maybe start bringing a towel to sit on and one to lean on, but for now, I just wanted to whine about it. Thanks.

Anyone have any good, easy solutions for getting splinters out? I've been squeezing or pinching them out, but that hurts sometimes.

Emerald27 · June 2014

Baking soda! Make a paste of baking soda and water and put it on the splinter/ let it dry. When you wipe it off, unless the splinter is really deeply embedded, it should have come out and just wipe away with the baking soda. Then you should cleanse the area with soap and warm water.

Ouch!

ETA: some people say that you have to leave the baking soda overnight, so you can cover it with a bandaid and go to sleep, and clean it in the morning. I've had success with just letting it dry, though.

jlabbe1123 · June 2014

I've heard that if you put Elmers glue on it & let it dry it will come out when you peel it off. Haven't gotten a splinter in a long time so haven't be able to test this one though