This grandmother’s trick could save you from having to bring out the big arsenal for a simple broken glass.
The sound of broken glass is familiar in our homes: a glass falling, a vase knocked over or a plate breaking… and it’s the start of a tedious clean-up. Usually our first instinct is to grab a broom or vacuum to make sure we pick up all the shards. But it’s not necessarily the quickest, most efficient or safest way to do it. There is another simple and surprisingly effective solution for picking up broken glass without risking cuts. It is less economical but can get you out of a bad situation.
This cleaning method may seem odd, but it really works. The solution to this common problem is simply to use bread, or even better, sandwich bread. Are you wondering how this can work? The structure of the bread is ideal for capturing and retaining small pieces of glass. Its soft, slightly damp texture is perfect for sticking to glass debris, even the finest shards that sometimes escape the vacuum cleaner or broom.
Here’s how to use bread or sandwich bread to pick up broken glass. Start by securing the area by keeping children and animals away to avoid injuries. Using thick gloves, pick up any larger pieces of glass and place them in a suitable trash can. Be careful not to touch the glass directly to avoid any risk of cuts.
Next, take a slice of sandwich bread (or regular bread) and gently press it on the area where the shards fell, without rubbing, so that the small pieces of glass stick to the bread. By gently pressing a slice of bread onto the shards, the glass clings to the crumb, making scooping both safer and more efficient. This process allows you to reach the splinters invisible to the naked eye, often left behind by a conventional broom.
After using the bread, inspect the surface from different angles to make sure there are no visible chips left. You can repeat the process if necessary with a new slice of bread to ensure the area is completely safe. Immediately dispose of used bread carefully in a tightly closed trash bag.
Why choose bread rather than the vacuum cleaner or the broom? Unlike a vacuum cleaner, there is no risk of glass fragments getting stuck in the device and damaging the filter or motor. The broom, for its part, can sometimes scatter the splinters or even leave residue trapped in the fibers, which can pose risks during its subsequent use.
Additionally, this bread method is particularly useful on difficult surfaces like rugs or carpets. Where the vacuum cleaner may fail to suck up the smallest pieces or risk crushing them further, the bar provides a unique grip that helps capture even the most stubborn shards.