Tip Details Add a Related Tip

Rate as: Positive Negative

Removing cactus needles

Cactus needles can be a real hassle to remove.

While the big spiky needles are more painful, they are easy to remove since you can usually grab them with tweezers or finger nails and pull them out.

The real problem are the very fine, hair-like needles. These tend to come in clumps of hundreds, and they are nearly impossible to grab hold of. The best way I've found to remove them is to use duct tape. Cut off a piece of tape, press it to the skin with the needles, and then rip the tape off. This will bring needles off with it. It takes a while as you have to repeat this many times, but it usually manages to get most of the needles out.

If you have a lot of needles, or the duct tape is not working for you, the final thing to try is waxing. You can try using a home waxing kit (http://www.amazon.com/Poetic-Waxing-Kit-at-home-removal/dp/B0000Y3FLW), or you can visit your local nail salon... most them offer waxing too.
Rating: 94% positive, 18 total Votes
Categories: camping outdoors first aid
Added: on Apr 29, 2007 at 7:11 am
Added By: an anonymous user
Searches: needle aid tape camping outdoor

Comments on this Tip

Add a Comment
I've had to resort to this before. It takes a while, but the duct tape did work for me.
– Added by an anonymous user on Apr 29, 2007 at 12:49 pm
What about removal on clothes?
– Added by an anonymous user on Sep 28, 2007 at 3:49 pm
I also have the fine needles in clothing. Any suggestions on removal??
– Added by an anonymous user on Nov 18, 2007 at 5:04 pm
Seems like duct tape should work for removing cactus needles in clothing just as well as removing them from skin.
– Added by an anonymous user on Dec 24, 2007 at 12:31 pm
When you have *way* to many needles in one area, I find it best to go at them with tweezers first. Once you get the big bunches out, then the duct tape works great for getting rid of the stragglers and the smaller or shorter needles
– Added by an anonymous user on Jun 19, 2009 at 1:52 pm
Your Comment:
(how to format)
Rate This Tip:

Verify Humanity:
Sorry, we know it's annoying, but please enter the characters shown in the image to the left so that we know you're an actual person and not an evil spammer. Thanks.
       

Related Tips

Things to do if bitten by a rattlesnake

85% positive, 0 comments
– Tip added by an anonymous user on May 28, 2007 at 9:40 pm

Make your own fire starter for use when camping... and how to re-use dryer lint

85% positive, 2 comments - last added on Jun 29, 2009 at 6:14 am
– Tip added by an anonymous user on Mar 25, 2007 at 10:43 am

Make your own pillow when camping

Categories: camping outdoors
100% positive, 0 comments
– Tip added by an anonymous user on Mar 06, 2007 at 2:34 pm

Find north without a compass

Categories: camping compass outdoors
no ratings, 0 comments
– Tip added by an anonymous user on Mar 11, 2009 at 8:08 am

free camping

Categories: Free Camping
100% positive, 1 comment - last added on Jul 10, 2007 at 7:16 pm
– Tip added by an anonymous user on Jun 12, 2007 at 4:04 pm

high points by country and US state

66% positive, 0 comments
– Tip added by chas66 on May 10, 2007 at 6:09 pm

Prevent Bug Bites with Listerine

Categories: outdoors health
100% positive, 0 comments
– Tip added by mflann on Nov 26, 2008 at 5:10 am

Keep from getting blisters

Categories: shoes first aid blisters
100% positive, 0 comments
– Tip added by an anonymous user on Apr 23, 2008 at 4:35 pm

Reducing hot pepper burn

Categories: first aid food
100% positive, 0 comments
– Tip added by an anonymous user on Jun 14, 2007 at 9:42 pm

Prevent blisters with new shoes and boots

100% positive, 0 comments
– Tip added by an anonymous user on May 29, 2007 at 9:27 am

Inflating a Therm-a-rest camping mattress

no ratings, 0 comments
– Tip added by an anonymous user on Aug 17, 2009 at 3:12 pm

Burn relief

Categories: skin first aid burns
no ratings, 0 comments
– Tip added by suzy7170 on Jul 31, 2009 at 8:18 pm

Burke Lake Park train and carousel

Categories: children travel outdoors
no ratings, 0 comments
– Tip added by mflann on Apr 25, 2009 at 6:01 am

Removing mold and mildew from canvas

no ratings, 0 comments
– Tip added by an anonymous user on Nov 17, 2008 at 7:33 am

Bringing hot dogs on a picnic

no ratings, 0 comments
– Tip added by an anonymous user on Oct 21, 2008 at 9:49 am

How Long do you need to boil water?

no ratings, 1 comment - last added on Jan 11, 2008 at 4:21 pm
– Tip added by an anonymous user on Jan 11, 2008 at 3:17 pm

Mosquito bite treatment

no ratings, 0 comments
– Tip added by bungie on Dec 30, 2007 at 10:49 am

Treating Mosquito Bites

Categories: health first aid
no ratings, 0 comments
– Tip added by an anonymous user on May 27, 2007 at 3:51 pm

Burrs on boot laces

Categories: camping hiking
no ratings, 0 comments
– Tip added by an anonymous user on May 06, 2007 at 8:55 am