How To Get Pepper Spray Off Your Hands - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Get Pepper Spray Off Your Hands PDF download Download Article Explore this Article Steps Steps Other Sections Video Tips and Warnings Things You'll Need Related Articles References Co-authored by Mohiba Tareen, MD

Last Updated: November 15, 2025 References

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This article was co-authored by Mohiba Tareen, MD. Mohiba Tareen is a board certified Dermatologist and the founder of Tareen Dermatology located in Roseville, Maplewood and Faribault, Minnesota. Dr. Tareen completed medical school at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where she was inducted into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. While a dermatology resident at Columbia University in New York City, she won the Conrad Stritzler award of the New York Dermatologic Society and was published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Tareen then completed a procedural fellowship which focused on dermatologic surgery, laser, and cosmetic dermatology. This article has been viewed 121,652 times.

Pepper spray can be both harmful and painful when it comes in contact with your skin or eyes. The best way to counteract this, though, is to either avoid it or to remove it from your skin promptly. This article will show you how to remove pepper spray from your hands.

Steps

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  1. 1 Stop the behavior that got you sprayed (accidentally or intentionally).
    • For instance, if you or someone else mishandled the bottle of spray (in relaxed circumstances or playing), be careful. By continuing the behavior, you can cause more exposure and more damage to be incurred on you or any person in the vicinity.
    • Never do something illegal, because someone can pepper spray you to stop you from:
      • Committing a violent crime (e.g. in self-defense)
      • Leaving after you clearly committed a crime (e.g. by a citizen's arrest), especially when it's a felony, and
      • Resisting arrest if that person is a police officer who is arresting you, which is illegal, even if you're innocent.
  2. Step 2 Avoid touching your towel, eyes, nostrils, mouth actually spreading pepper spray to any other portion of your body. 2 Avoid touching your towel, eyes, nostrils, mouth actually spreading pepper spray to any other portion of your body. Also, don't touch any objects you don't need to. As the pepper material can stick there and hurt someone else or you much later if not cleaned.[1] Advertisement
  3. Step 3 Make sure to watch for any allergies to pepper spray or any of its ingredients. 3 Make sure to watch for any allergies to pepper spray or any of its ingredients. If you don't know, make sure you have no swelling, trouble breathing, hives, or any symptoms that warn you of an impending health problem.[2] Don't hesitate. If you have any allergy problems or questions, call the Emergency Services. Trouble breathing, for example, may be the difference between life and death.[3]
  4. Step 4 Gather the needed materials. 4 Gather the needed materials. (Still focus on your body, making sure you have no allergic symptoms. They may be slow in showing themselves). Get a basin or a container that can hold water and is clean. Be careful, and don't panic while getting the materials.
    • Get some soap. Try dish soap, because it works fine. If the pepper spray was chemical, then you may be wary of mixing it with the dish soap, but you should be fine using Dawn or similar brands. What you may need is a fingernail brush.Step 4 Gather the needed materials.
  5. Step 5 Mix your dish soap into the water as you would for dishwater. 5 Mix your dish soap into the water as you would for dishwater. You may want to use it liberally, as some pepper spray have oil in them, and they are meant to stick (but don't go overboard as it may cause skin irritation).[4]
    • Don't scrub too hard, even though it may be tempting. You can wipe and rub your hands together making sure that every part of your hands are being cleaned. You may want to do this for about a minute or 2.Step 5 Mix your dish soap into the water as you would for dishwater.
  6. Step 6 Take your hands out of the water. 6 Take your hands out of the water. After letting them dry a little (they shouldn't be dripping water anymore), you can wash them again. You should make sure to wash them like you did the first time. Do this step until your hands feel normal again. If they always felt fine (no pain or burning) then you should still wash them at least 5 times.
    • Wash them more between 5-10, if you felt pain or burning, though. If your hands were very contaminated then you may want to change the dishwater between the first, second, and third washings.Step 6 Take your hands out of the water.
    7. Advertisement

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Tips

  • Wear gloves if you are helping someone else with this method.[5] Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
  • Don't hesitate going to the hospital or call the Emergency Services. You may really need them. Thanks Helpful 9 Not Helpful 0
  • Don't panic. During step 1, the pain may cause you to panic. But panicking can make it worse. It will stop you from focusing, may cause everybody else to panic, and will stop you from getting the help you need. Thanks Helpful 6 Not Helpful 1
Show More Tips Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

Warnings

  • This method is meant for your hands, not your face and eyes. See a different tutorial for that. Thanks Helpful 6 Not Helpful 2
  • Be aware of your allergies (pepper spray, dish soap, etc.), as you may endanger yourself further by not knowing your risk. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
  • Don't put yourself into this situation or do something illegal, especially by committing a violent crime or a felony, or resisting an arrest made by a police officer, next time. You might not come out so lucky. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 3
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Things You'll Need

  • Bucket or a container to hold water
  • Towel
  • Dish Soap
  • Clean water

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References

  1. ↑ https://www.kqed.org/news/48046/what-are-the-health-effects-of-pepper-spray
  2. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/allergies/symptoms-causes/syc-20351497
  3. ↑ https://www.webmd.com/lung/breathing-problems-causes-tests-treatments
  4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mH7vA2ZYhzg
  5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYkjR1pI4h0

About This Article

Mohiba Tareen, MD Co-authored by: Mohiba Tareen, MD FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist This article was co-authored by Mohiba Tareen, MD. Mohiba Tareen is a board certified Dermatologist and the founder of Tareen Dermatology located in Roseville, Maplewood and Faribault, Minnesota. Dr. Tareen completed medical school at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where she was inducted into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. While a dermatology resident at Columbia University in New York City, she won the Conrad Stritzler award of the New York Dermatologic Society and was published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Tareen then completed a procedural fellowship which focused on dermatologic surgery, laser, and cosmetic dermatology. This article has been viewed 121,652 times. 64 votes - 62% Co-authors: 31 Updated: November 15, 2025 Views: 121,652 Categories: First Aid and Emergency Health Care | Hand Hygiene In other languagesPortuguese
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Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 121,652 times.

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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Mohiba Tareen, MD Co-authored by: Mohiba Tareen, MD FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist 64 votes - 62% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 31 Updated: November 15, 2025 Views: 121,652

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