Does Duct Tape Remove Cactus Spines?

Remove cactus spines with duct tape and other household items.

Cactus spines may be tiny, but they can be immensely painful if one gets stuck in your finger. If you have some duct tape on hand, you can remove the tiny barbs without difficulty.

Duct Tape

A small piece of duct tape can be used to remove tiny cactus spines. Pat the affected area gently with the tape. Repeat the step as often as necessary using fresh tape.

Glue

Glue can be used to remove any tiny cactus spines that duct tape leaves behind. Coat the finger with craft glue or rubber cement, then allow it to dry for about five minutes. When the dried glue is peeled from the skin, the tiny spines will come with it.

Tweezers

Large cactus spines may be easier to remove with tweezers. The tweezers should be sanitized with rubbing alcohol first, then used to remove the large spines from the skin one by one.

References

• Seattle Children's Hospital: Splinter or Sliver-Foreign Body in the Skin
• Sunset: A Trick for Removing Fine Cactus Spines