Does Milk Help With Pepper Spray? I Analyze the Claim

Pepper spray is a really effective as self-defense option, good against people and aggressive mammals like dogs and bears. But as effective and convenient as it is, there’s always the risk of accidental exposure, specifically tagging yourself or someone else with blowback.

It’s always a bummer to get zapped by your own spicy stuff, and when that happens you need to know how to decontaminate yourself properly to minimize pain and end the effects of the OC as quickly as possible.

Some folks on the internet assert that milk is actually ideal for decontaminating pepper spray. Is it true? Does milk help with pepper spray exposure?

No, milk doesn’t work for decontaminating pepper spray. Contrary to popular opinion, it does not neutralize oleoresin capsicum or effectively wash the chemical from eyes or skin. Milk might make things worse by binding the chemical to pores.

Call this self-defense myth busted. Milk is not effective for decontaminating pepper spray in any regard, or if I’m being very charitable it is no more effective at decontaminating pepper spray compared to just plain old water.

At worst, it might make things even worse for the unfortunate victim and cover them with stinky milk on top of it. At best, it might work as well as water. I’ll tell you not to waste your time or your milk. If you want to know how to properly decontaminate pepper spray exposure and why you shouldn’t use milk, keep reading.

But Milk is Supposed to Help with Spicy Food Burn, Right?

I think I know exactly where this myth got started and why it’s gained such purchase. If you look around on the internet, or talk to any spicy food fans, it won’t be long before you hear claims that milk and other dairy foods neutralize the heat experienced when you eat spicy foods.

Accordingly, since pepper spray is in truth made from the active ingredient in these spicy foods, milk should work to neutralize it, yes?

Exploring the assertion, the precise mechanism for why milk works this way varies, and usually has something to do with the fats in the milk binding with the spice molecules or the capsaicin molecules in the food to insulate and protect pain receptors or taste buds or whatever.

Some folks only go as far as to claim that it will cut down on the duration of the heat experienced by sufferers. In my experience? It’s just not true and I think it is a bit of self-hypnosis when somebody has bitten off more than they can handle from a really spicy buffalo wing.

In any case, it just isn’t true. Milk does not neutralize pepper spray, or at least neutralize it with enough efficacy to be worthwhile.

I can absolutely promise you that milk does nothing concerning the pain pepper spray inflicts on people exposed to it, and will not aid in the decontamination process to get them back to normal.

Decontaminating Pepper Spray Exposure is Not Rocket Science

It really grinds my gears when I cruise around various blogs on this topic and see all the cockamamie recommendations that people come up with for helping someone deal with the burn of pepper spray.

I’ve seen everything recommended from IV solution to iced tea, milk to antacid and absolutely everything in between.

Once more, I’m here to tell you that you don’t need any of that crap and there’s a non-zero chance that using something strange as a wash can make the problem worse.

All you need to decontaminate pepper spray exposure from skin and eyes is water and soap of some kind, and that’s it. Lacking soap, enough water will do the job.

I’ll walk you through it step by step below.

Step 1: Remove Contaminated Clothing

Before you do anything else, you’ll want to remove clothing that has been directly hit by the pepper spray or exposed to significant quantities. This will track the spray against the skin, causing prolonged irritation, and also serve as a secondary source of contamination that can re-contaminate a person exposed to OC.

Take off the clothing, ditch it and move away from it, or place it carefully in a plastic bag and tie it off if you can. This will cut down on area contamination.

Caution: DO NOT Strip and Shower!

Before you go crazy and take off all your clothes, even if you’re in the comfort of your own home, resist the temptation to strip and jump in the shower. This is the very last thing you want to do even though it seems the most sensible and the best way to get relief!

Keep in mind that pepper spray, whether it has an alcohol- or water-based formula, is ultimately a type of oil. Oil and water don’t mix, and oil won’t really be diluted by water.

When you jump under that stream of water in the shower and rinse your face in your eyes off, all of that oil is going to run down your body straight to your private regions and then you really will be on fire.

You’ll be so on fire that you might wish for death. Ask me how I know…

Only take off clothing that has been directly contaminated and then set about to rinsing your eyes and skin.

Step 2: Rinse Eyes and Skin with Cool or Tepid Water

Once you get the contaminated clothing off, start applying copious amounts of running water from a hose, sprayer, nozzle or whatever is convenient.

Don’t use a stream so forceful that it could harm the eyes or forces OC residue deeper into the eye socket. Take care not to wash it into your mouth or nose either.

The eyes should be blinked at the preference of the exposee; don’t try to hold them open.

Also, don’t use hot water for this. That can make the pepper spray more energetic. Use cold or room-temperature water only.

Step 3: Use Plain Soap or Baby Shampoo Only

After a good initial rinse, grab some plain, unscented soap or baby shampoo, lather and then rinse again. Soap will help to break down the oil in the pepper spray and carry it away from the skin.

Never use a scented product if you can avoid it or anything with lotion, other oils, conditioners and things like that because they have a tendency to lock the pepper spray against the skin and onto hair, prolonging misery.

Step 4: Dry and Leave it Alone

After you’ve had a good rinse, with or without shampoo or soap, dry your face with a clean, dry cloth and then leave it alone.

Some burning and pain will persist, but it will subside over time. Resist the temptation to wash your face again because the water will rehydrate the pepper spray residue that is drying out, intensifying the problem.

Dry off well, leave it alone. Be disciplined and stick with it and most of the pain should be gone within 24 hours.

Never, Ever Use Milk, Antacids, or Anything Else on OC Exposure

To be perfectly clear, never, ever use milk, antacids, milk of magnesia or any other strange solution on pepper spray. It’s not going to make a positive difference and might well make things worse.

In some cases, negative reactions can occur and inflict genuine harm, particularly in the case of chemicals like bleach, specialty grease cutting products and household cleaners.

Don’t do it!

Specialty Decon Products are Available from Some Manufacturers

All you really need is water and sometimes soap or baby shampoo to clean up after pepper spray exposure, but if you care to track it down and want to invest in it there are specialty decontamination products available from some pepper spray manufacturers like Sabre.

For whatever reason, they tend to only sell these products to law enforcement security agencies, but they are out there and legal for civilians to possess.

If you’re really worried about the negative consequences of cross-contamination with pepper spray, or you’re going to be going into a live exposure pepper spray training course, they are worth looking into.