This is not a job that can be put off until later.
Learn how to clean up broken glass safely.
The glass will glitter in the light.
The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska
Pick Up the Large Shards
Wearing gloves, pick up the large shards of glass.
If you don’t have gloves, use kitchen tongs to pick up the glass.
Never use your bare hands.
The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska
The shards should be placed in a thick paper or triple-layered plastic bag for disposal.
Tip
Do not kneel on the floor to pick up the glass.
You could end up with glass in your knee.
The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska
Take care not to flick the shards up, or they’ll scatter.
Use a stiff-bristled broom and dustpan to sweep up as many glass shards as possible.
Use short, efficient strokes to prevent the small pieces from scattering around the room.
The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska
Handheld vacuums and wet/dry shop vacuums are safe to use.
Using the flashlight, you’ll see them lingering just waiting for a bare foot or hand.
One way to get rid of them is with items from the pantry.
The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska
Wearing gloves, press a slice of soft, fresh bread onto the glass shards.
Be sure to dispose of the bread promptly.
Or, slice a potato in half to expose the interior flesh.
The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska
Press the cut side of the potato onto the glass shards to pick them up easily.
Immediately toss the potato into the garbagedo not compost it.
Dampen and press the square onto the glass shards.
The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska
They will stick to the paper towel for easy disposal.
Peel away the glass-filled sheet and dispose of it properly.
Press the tape on the glass pieces and then carefully toss the tape in the garbage bag.
The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska
Do a Final Clean-Up
Glass shards may cling to thebristles of your broomor the dustpan.
Take them outside and rinse well with a garden hose over a bucket.
Dispose of the water down a utility drain.
The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska
Check the bottom of your shoes for any glass caught in the treads.
The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska
The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska
