May 7, 2026, 6:18 am | Read time: 2 minutes
When a glass shatters, the shards often fly far across the room. The first important rule: Never pick up shards with bare hands! Before starting the cleanup, be sure to put on sturdy shoes and protective gloves to avoid injuries. Only then should you begin the actual search for glass remnants. But even thorough vacuuming or mopping usually isn’t enough–tiny glass pieces can easily go unnoticed and become a hazard. However, this doesn’t have to be the case, as there’s a simple trick to detect even the smallest shards. myHOMEBOOK reveals a trick to find even the tiniest glass splinters.
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Trick to Find Even the Smallest Glass Splinters
To find the glass splinters, all you need is a flashlight. It’s important to first darken the room. Then simply place the flashlight on the floor and slowly sweep it around to illuminate the room. The shards will reflect the light and draw attention to themselves. This works better on smooth floors than on carpet.
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Picking Up Splinters Without Risk of Injury
Once you’ve found all the glass splinters, you just need to pick them up properly. If you don’t have a dustpan or broom available, you can use cotton instead. Slightly dampen it and press it gently onto the shards, and they will stick to it. Alternatively, this also works with a damp cloth or a piece of tape. Again, make sure to wear gloves to minimize the risk of injury.
Removing Glass Splinters with a Vacuum Cleaner–Only Under One Condition
If a glass falls, people often quickly reach for the vacuum cleaner to suck up the splinters. But you should never do that. The shards can damage the hose and the mechanism, and also tear holes in the bag.
However, you can use a nylon stocking as a workaround. Place it over the vacuum cleaner’s nozzle and secure it with a rubber band or some tape. Now you can vacuum without worrying about shards getting into the vacuum cleaner. They will stick to the nylon stocking.