are tiny glass shards in a shirt something that can be removed?

February 2, 2010 3:37 PM

a favorite shirt + many tiny glass shards. is this a lost shirt, or can it be recovered?

i was futzing in the kitchen and my sleeve caught a mixing spoon that was resting in a jelly jar. it hit the floor and shattered into millions of tiny glass shards. i was cleaning up glass five feet away from the point of impact, as well as picking them out of the bloody nicks on my ankles.

now, i don't know for sure that there ARE any tiny glass shards in the shirt... but given how many tiny shards i cleaned up and how far they had spread, let's just assume for the sake of this argument that there are at least a handful in the fabric.

now what? is it time to retire the shirt? my gut reaction is that sending it through the washing machine & dryer at least stands a chance of removing them, but i don't know anything about whether or not i should go down that path.

hivemind, thoughts?

posted by radiosilents to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (10 answers total)

Other than shake the crap out of the shirt (preferably outside) I don't think there is much you can do.
posted by rokusan at 3:41 PM on February 2, 2010

I suppose you could try to remove the bits by using some super-sticky tape, too. Slowly and patiently, all over.
posted by rokusan at 3:41 PM on February 2, 2010

If you've gotten out any obvious, big shards, I don't see how a trip through the washer & dryer will hurt. I don't think the tiny pieces left would be big enough to harm the machine, for example. So unless the shirt itself is dry clean only, I'd definitely throw it in.
posted by BlahLaLa at 3:42 PM on February 2, 2010

Maybe try a lint roller?
posted by jjb at 3:42 PM on February 2, 2010

Rather than a lint roller, I'd wrap some packing tape around your hand and sort of pat the shirt lightly to pick up glass shards. If you make sweeping motions with a lint roller, you might create tiny tears in the shirt if there are any glass shards in there. But then yeah, washing and drying should be fine after that.
posted by adiabat at 3:55 PM on February 2, 2010 [1 favorite]

Vacuum?

On preview, I think adiabat's plan would be good too.
posted by grapesaresour at 4:08 PM on February 2, 2010

Best answer: Just shake the shirt out outside before you wash it. I do stained glass work and I'm always getting covered in tiny glass shards. I've never even thought about it before. My washer and dryer are fine.
posted by amro at 4:17 PM on February 2, 2010

I think you're over reacting, particularly if it's a favorite shirt. If it happened to me, it would not have even occurred to me to change the shirt, much less wash or tape it, or throw it out. I don't think you should worry.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 4:18 PM on February 2, 2010

(If you're going to shake it out vigorously, put on some goggles first)
This message brought to you by The Safety Squirrel.
posted by blueberry at 4:36 PM on February 2, 2010 [1 favorite]

I'd hang it on a clothesline and beat it like a dirty carpet. Then wash and dry.
posted by slateyness at 8:54 PM on February 2, 2010