How to Remove Cactus Glochids From Clothes

The tiny little hair-like barbs called glochids that grow in discrete masses on certain prickly pear and cholla cacti can be a bane for unsuspecting hikers and others who accidentally stumble on these floras of the desert Southwest and elsewhere. When the glochids detach from the plant and sink into your skin and clothing, excruciating pain can result. Using white glue to remove the delicate projections from the skin has been shown to be effective; however, to remove them from clothing, try very sticky tape.

Things You'll Need

• magnifying glass
• light source
• fine tweezers
• sticky tape
• needle

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Instructions

• 1

  Use a magnifying glass to find the glochids, which might be difficult to detect with just the naked eye.

• 2

  Tweeze gently, with a steady hand, to pull the glochids out intact. Avoid breaking them where they connect to the cloth.

• 3

  Affix a piece of extra sticky tape to the affected area, lightly covering the area. Remove the tape to uproot the glochids. Use a different piece of tape for each application.

• 4

  Look for any embedded or broken glochids using the magnifying glass and dig them out with the needle, making sure not to damage the clothes. If the broken glochids are embedded into your skin, you will have to wait until the body naturally ejects them over time.