The Best Way to Get Glitter Off of Floors

Flecks of glitter tend to show up even months after you think you've completely cleaned up a glitter spill. Tackle those tricky, tiny specks using everything from card stock and a paintbrush, on up to a vacuum cleaner, damp cloth or masking tape.

Large Spills

Not all glitter that falls to the floor has to end up in the trash. If a vial of glitter hits the floor and spills over a small area, for example, you may be able to salvage some of it.

1. Angle a piece of card stock or thick paper near the bulk of the glitter spill. Hold it at a slight angle to make a ramp with one edge completely against the floor, carpet or rug.

2. Push a second piece of card stock along the other side of the pile, using it like a broom to push glitter up the ramp.

3. Deposit the glitter, as you collect it, into an empty container or atop a sheet of paper. Continue using the ramp and sweeping process until you've retrieved as much glitter as possible.

4. Sweep some of the remaining glitter up your card stock ramp using a soft-bristled paintbrush or makeup brush, depositing as much glitter as you can into the container or atop a sheet of paper.

5. Pour the retrieved glitter back into its own container by folding part of a sheet of paper to make a V shape. Place the fold above the glitter container's opening and pour the captured glitter down the paper channel, back into the container.

Vacuum Method

A vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment, such as a small shop vac, comes in handy for grabbing the glitter that sticks to the floor or embeds itself between carpet fibers. Use the hose without any attachments, or add a crevice tool to channel the suction power into a smaller area.

Damp Cloth for Clingy Glitter

Remove glitter that clings to tile, vinyl, wood or laminate flooring by wetting a paper towel or cloth, dabbing and wiping the glitter up. The moisture helps release glitter that sticks to the floor due to static electricity.

Tape to the Rescue

Use a tape-based lint roller to remove even the most stubborn stray bits of glitter from any type of flooring. If you don't have a lint roller handy, wrap masking tape or packaging tape around your fingers, so the sticky side faces out; packaging tape is a bit stickier than glitter. Pat your tape-wrapped hand over the glitter to pick it up.