It is a scary feeling.
It is a scary feeling. You wake up on a hot morning, or return from a long hike, and realize your finger has swollen up like a balloon. Your wedding band or favorite gold ring is cutting into your skin, and pulling on it just makes the swelling worse.
1. The Cold Water and Elevation Trick
Hold your hand high up in the air (above your heart) for 3 to 5 minutes to let the blood drain out of your fingers. While your hand is elevated, apply an ice pack to the finger or dip it in a bowl of ice-cold water.
2. The Windex / Glass Cleaner Hack
Jewelers use standard glass cleaner (like Windex or Colin). It contains surfactants that act as an incredibly slippery liquid without being sticky. Spray a generous amount around the ring, twist it gently back and forth, and ease it off.
3. The Dental Floss Wrap (The Ultimate Rescue)
Slip the end of a long piece of dental floss under the ring (from the tip of the finger towards the hand). Tightly wrap the remaining floss around your finger, starting from the ring and moving up past the swollen knuckle. Grab the loose end of the floss at the bottom and start unwinding it upwards. As it unwinds, it will physically push the ring up and over the compressed knuckle!
