How to Wash Pepper Spray Out of Eyes

Commercially created pepper spray is used for self-defense. A homemade form of pepper spray, created in the kitchen by the home gardener, can also be used as an insecticide on garden plants. Either kind of pepper spray contains concentrated oils from hot peppers. On the skin, these oils cause a burning sensation. In the eyes, the feeling is greatly intensified and can be excruciating.

Things You'll Need

• Dish soap
• Bottled saline solution for eyes

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Instructions

• 1

  Remove contacts, if applicable, using clean hands. To clean your hands, wash them with cool water and a non-oily detergent or soap such as dish soap.

• 2

  Turn on cool water from your tap or a garden hose. If using the hose, tilt your head and allow the water to gently run over your eyes for 15 minutes. If using a tap, stick your head beneath the running water to let it run into your eyes if the sink is big enough for this; if the sink is too small, you'll need to splash the water into your eyes.

• 3

  Use a commercially prepared saline solution meant for washing the eyes. These come in bottles with an applicator tip--tilt your head and squeeze the bottle, allowing the fluid to flow into your eyes.

• 4

  Get medical help if eye pain persists after taking these measures.