The Clever Hack That Will Remove Pesky Glitter From Your Furniture & Carpet

You might not expect negative answers when you ask, "Who loves things that sparkle?" But when you're talking about glitter and the frustrating way it gets all over everything, not everyone will be so enthusiastic. Even if you've outlawed bottles of glitter from coming into your home, it can still sneak its way in on gift bags, holiday decor items, crafts, and costumes. Sure, it's very pretty to look at, but it often shows up in places it's not supposed to. Your carpet and furniture are two spots you especially don't want becoming glittery — not only because glitter has no business being there, but because it can also be a pain to fully clean up. That is, unless you have a rubber glove.

Rubber gloves typically come out when you're about to wash dishes or tackle icky household chores. But they're also helpful if you're in need of getting rid of those annoying glittery particles. Glitter, which first arrived in the early 1930s, is made up of plastic with a shiny aluminum coating. While it notoriously seems to never go away, it's no match for a staticky rubber glove. The glove's rubber material can produce a static charge that helps pick glitter up. This could be a useful hack after the Christmas season when you're still noticing sparkles on the carpet, or when your child decides to bring their art project onto the couch.

Although there are many ways to repurpose rubber gloves around your home, it's a good idea to save one for glitter mishaps. Start by getting one out and washing it off in soapy water. Once it's dry, put it on and stroke your carpet with it to generate static electricity. Then, run your hand over the glitter to pick it up. It'll be a relief to see the colorful specks sticking to your glove instead of the rug. 

You can use the same technique with your furniture. Create static with the glove by swiping it on the carpet or on something upholstered, like a cushion. Then, gently rub any areas where you see leftover glitter, including sofas, chairs, and tabletops. Look closely, because those teeny sparkles can be sneaky.

Now that you've managed to clean up the glitter, you'll now have a glove full of the shiny particles. Washing them down the sink isn't recommended due to glitter being a microplastic, which can end up in our waterways. You could try using a mesh strainer with a paper towel on top of it instead. After you rinse the glove, the paper towel will make it easy to dispose of the glitter in the trash. Rubber gloves are a common kitchen tool we keep on hand. The next time glitter is giving you a headache, try reaching for them.