There are a number of reasons you may need to sterilize needles at home, such as for the removal of shallow wood, metal, or glass splinters.
If you wish to sterilize a needle of any type at home, keep in mind that disinfecting and sterilizing are not the same thing.
Disinfection reduces infection risk, but doesn't eliminate it. That's because disinfection can greatly reduce the amount of bacteria on an object, but does not remove it completely.
When done correctly, sterilization procedures can completely remove all types of bacteria and other potentially harmful microorganisms from needles.
Keep in mind that the air found in homes is not sterile. For a sterilized needle to remain sterile, it must be kept in an air-tight container, which has also been sterilized.
Never use a needle, sterilized or not, to pop a pimple or boil. And if you have a deep splinter, see a doctor instead of trying to remove it yourself. That can help reduce your risk for infection or additional injury.
It isn't recommended that you reuse syringes. Syringes with needles are used for injecting medications, such as insulin or fertility drugs. At-home sterilization procedures may dull or bend the fine-point needles on syringes, making injections more painful or difficult.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), moist heat is the most effective way to sterilize needles. That's because of its ability to kill microorganisms.
In a medical setting, autoclave machines may be used to sterilize needles or other medical equipment by pressurizing saturated steam. These machines are very expensive and may not be practical for at-home use.
Sterilizing needles with boiling water is not as effective as using pressurized steam, and does not provide 100 percent sterilization. It does, however, kill many microorganisms. Boiling is not enough to kill heat-resistant bacteria, such as endospores.
To disinfect a needle at home through boiling:
Rubbing alcohol may be adequate for the purpose of sterilizing a needle you're planning to use to remove splinters located close to the skin's surface.
To sterilize a needle for this purpose:
The CDC doesn't recommend using rubbing alcohol to sterilize needles or syringes used for injections. They also don't recommend using alcohol to sterilize medical equipment.
However, you can use alcohol to clean your skin prior to an injection. This includes both ethyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol. Neither solution is able to kill bacterial spores, but in full-strength, high concentrations, both have antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties.
Rubbing alcohol also evaporates quickly on surfaces, making it possible for bacterial growth to rapidly occur or reoccur.
Sterilizing a needle in fire does not provide complete protection from bacteria and other organisms. It may be ok for splinter removal, but this method should never be used for syringe needles.
If you're going to sterilize a needle in flame, such as from a lighter or stove, follow these steps:
Bleach is not recommended for sterilizing needles used for splinter removal, or for sterilizing medical needles and syringes.
Bleach will not completely disinfect this equipment. It can also dull needle points over time.
Salt water, such as the water found in the ocean, is not sterile. Neither is water from the tap, even if you put salt into it.
To use salt water to disinfect — not sterilize — a needle for splinter removal, you must start with sterile water.
However, this isn't a fool-proof system and should not be used for medical needles. Additionally, you should only use this method if a more effective sterilization technique is not available.
To disinfect a needle you're planning to use to remove a shallow splinter:
Needles intended for medical use should be used only one time, and not reused. If you must reuse a needle, sterilization can be tried at home, but will never provide a complete, 100 percent guarantee.
New needles come packed in sterilized packaging. They cease to be completely sterile once they hit the air, and should be used as quickly as possible after unwrapping.
New needles that touch unsterile surfaces, such as a table or your hands, are no longer sterile. Make sure to thoroughly wash your hands, and to use new surgical gloves before use.
Steam or boiling water is the best way to sterilize a needle you're planning to use for the removal of a shallow splinter. If you have a deep splinter, you may need to seek medical help to reduce your risk of infection.