The best way to find a dropped needle, if no magnet is present, is to use magnetized tailor's scissors. But if they were not at hand, then the following life hacks will help.
Content
- Plasticine
- Vacuum cleaner
- Flashlight, eyes and hands
- Scotch
- Broom
- If this is a carpet
Plasticine
Take a block of plasticine and move it step by step across the floor or carpet until the needle sticks to it. On a smooth floor, the search range should be expanded.
Just do not press the plasticine with excessive force against the fleecy surface, otherwise you will have to clean the carpet from the sticky mass afterwards.
Vacuum cleaner
Household appliances will do an excellent job of finding not only needles on a carpet or linoleum, but also other small items (jewelry, beads, screws, Lego parts).
To prevent "small things" from getting into the hose, the nozzle must be removed from the vacuum cleaner, and a nylon sock or part of tights must be put on the tube. It remains to vacuum in the area of the fall.
Flashlight, eyes and hands
The method is effective when you have to look for a needle on a smooth floor. It is necessary to turn on the flashlight, and carefully examine the place of the fall.
On a smooth floor, the search radius should be increased: pushing off from a flat surface, it could fly off. If the flashlight is on a mobile device, then it is better to increase its brightness to the maximum level.
You can also try to take a photo of this area with a flash. Perhaps the needle will flash.
Scotch
It can be not only scotch tape, but also any other Velcro that is at hand (wide adhesive plaster, electrical tape, roller for cleaning clothes).
How to search: Determine the search range, and apply tape to the surface centimeter by centimeter or slowly roll with a sticky roller. Try to press more tightly so that the needle can stick and not fall off when jerking.
Broom
Not the most reliable way to find a fallen needle, but one of the fastest. Will be effective only on a smooth floor or lint-free carpet.
Gently, without strong pressure, walk the broom over the surface. The movements should be light, not sweeping, otherwise you may not notice how the needle will fly away from the place of the fall.
If this is a carpet
What to do if you drop the needle, you know for sure that it is on the carpet, and none of the methods helped: you need to carefully roll it up so that it does not fall out. Then pour out the contents on a well-visible area, you can in parts, and resume searches in one of the proposed ways.
Of course, you can just shake everything out on the street. But then there is no 100% certainty that the needle has been found and will not injure anyone.
The main thing is not to postpone the search until later and, if possible, attract households to help.
