How to Get Fiberglass Out of Fingers

Fiberglass is a material made out of glass spun into very fine threads that is commonly used for insulation, as a furnace filter, and in some plastics. Many boat bodies are built from fiberglass. Although an excellent insulator, fiberglass can be an infuriating material to work with. It easily flakes off into a fine dust of glass shards that can be embedded in the skin. These cause intense itching. Getting fiberglass out of the skin of the fingers, where it very frequently ends up if tight gloves are not worn, is simple, but takes patience.

Things You'll Need

• Duct tape
• Lint roller
• Bathtub
• Epsom salts
• Baby oil, body butter or skin lotion

Show More

Instructions

• 1

  Run cold water over the fingers to reduce the irritation and remove some of the loose fibers.

• 2

  Cut a strip of duct tape and use the sticky side to pull fibers from your skin. A lint roller can work for this as well.

• 3

  Prepare a hot bath or a sink of hot water and immerse your hands in it. This will help open the pores of your skin, which will then release the fibers that are caught in them. Adding Epsom salts to the water will make this even more effective. Taking a full hot bath will be even more helpful, since the heat will make you sweat, which helps push the fibers out of your skin.

• 4

  Pat yourself dry. Do not rub, as this will work any remaining fibers in deeper. Apply a thick layer of baby oil, body butter or skin lotion to the affected fingers. This will loosen and remove any remaining fibers.