Make sure to check children and pets for cuts and scratches.
Never kneel on areas where broken glass is located. Glass could cut your knee. If you don’t have gloves, pick up glass using tongs or forceps. Never try to pick up glass with your bare hands.
If you don’t have anything that glass won’t cut through, such as a plastic bag, wrap the pieces of glass into thick layers of newspaper, then put the wrapped glass into a plastic bag. The newspaper needs to be thick enough so that the glass doesn’t cut through it, reaching the plastic bag.
Some experts recommend not using a broom, as tiny shards of glass can linger in the bristles of the broom. Consider trying one of the broom-less methods below to clean up your glass if you are wary of using a broom. Be aware that sweeping doesn’t remove the small, sharp fragments of glass from most floors. Sweeping can offer the illusion that the glass is gone, when sharp fragments still remain. Continue to keep pets and children out of the area until additional steps are taken to clean the broken glass off the floor.
If the broken glass comes from a broken CFL or other mercury-containing lightbulb, then vacuuming might spread mercury-containing powder or mercury vapor. [5] X Trustworthy Source United States Environmental Protection Agency Independent U. S. government agency responsible for promoting safe environmental practices Go to source If you do use a vacuum, cover the hose with a stocking or sock. The air sucking in will collect the glass fragments, and then you can carefully dispose of the glass-covered cloth.
When you’re finished scrubbing the area well, use duct tape to lift any remaining glass pieces. You should carefully dispose of the duct tape in a double-wrapped plastic or paper bag.
Any root vegetable can be used to collect glass shards from the floor, but potatoes have a good amount of surface space, are easy to grip and are relatively affordable. The potato also works well to clean up broken glasses inside a dishwasher. Start by shining a flashlight into the dishwasher to see where the broken glass is. When you see the reflective glint of glass against the beam, press a cut potato gently but firmly onto the shiny surface. Throw the potato away when you’re finished, and run the dishwasher again to rinse away any stray pieces of glass. [8] X Research source
Bread works well in hard-to-reach spots where broken glass can be found. When your bread is getting hard to hold safely, throw it away and use another piece. Repeat until you’re sure you’ve covered the entire area.
Any tape will work for this method, but duct tape is ideal for its sturdy texture. The width of duct tape also means it will cover the surface area more quickly than other tapes. Fold the tape onto itself, and then throw it away into a plastic or paper bag. Repeat as often as you need to until the whole area is clear of glass.
Because paper towels vary greatly in their thickness, it’s particularly important to wear heavy gloves when using this method to clean up glass fragments, so that you don’t cut yourself. Disposable “wet wipes” will also work for this method.
If the crack is only a small hole, as from a BB gun or tiny rock, you might be able to patch it. Simply apply clear fingernail polish or shellac to the area and allow to dry. For best results, apply several coats. Don’t put off replacing or repairing a broken window. A broken window isn’t just dangerous because of the glass, but also lets in bugs, rain, cold weather, and water.
Using super glue to patch a long crack in the glass. Start by cleaning the window with acetone, then apply super glue to cover the crack. Allow the glue to dry, and then apply another layer. Repeat this process until the crack is covered with 2-3 layers of dried glue. Masking tape makes a good patch for broken glass. Clean your window well with acetone so that the tape will adhere to the glass, then tear off a section of tape the length of the crack. Repeat this process on the other side of the window. Staple a piece of wood or a piece of thick plastic against the broken window. Double thickness trash bags can also be used to cover the broken pane.
You can pick up broken glass with newspaper, as above. Wrap it in the newspaper and place directly into a double-bagged leaf or heavy-duty trash bag. Remember that glass may have fallen into furniture, shrubbery, or elsewhere.
If your window is largely intact, you might have to chisel the putty from the window’s edge to remove the glass. Make sure you’re protecting your hands and arms from the broken glass.
Be careful not to try to remove the putty too quickly, or you might split the window frame on the window. Remove the small metal triangles driven into the frame beneath the putty. These are glazier’s points, and hold the glass in place. If you come across any putty that’s difficult to remove, applying heat might help soften it.
Glazier points should be placed about every 4 inches around the periphery of the replacement glass. You can press glazier’s tips into the wood with your thumb.
When the new window is in place, smooth the putty with your putty knife. Scrape off any excess putty on the window pane.
