Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning
• What you need

Too bad when I'm hungry and can't open the food bottle. Even if the lid of the pickle jar is stuck or unable to get the peanut butter, don't stress too much. You don't need any complicated tools to open the lid; There are tons of ways for you to open stubborn jars with objects in the house!

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Break the vacuum seal on the vial cap

1. 

   Use a wooden spoon to knock around the lid of the jar to break the vacuum seal. Take a wooden spoon, as heavy as possible. Tap the spoon on the lid of the vial a few times around the top of the vial to break the seal, then try to screw the cap on the vial.
   • You may need to tap a few times to let the cap loosen.
   • You can try other tools if you don't have a wooden spoon. A wooden spoon is the best tool, but anything heavy can work.

2. 

   
   
   Use a butter knife or spoon edge as a lever. Slide the flat tip of the butter knife or the end of a flat metal object under the edge of the lid. Carefully pry the vial cap up, pry slowly around the top of the vial to break the seal.

   Tips: Listen for a “pop” as you pry around the lid. This sound means you broke the seal and can be screwed the lid to open.

3. 

   
   
   Pat the bottom of the vial with the palm of your hand using the barehand method. Hold the bottle down 45 degrees with your non-dominant hand. Tap the bottom of the vial with your dominant palm and listen for a "pop" to indicate that the seal has been broken.
   • This method is called a "water hammer", which works by increasing the pressure on the lid of the vial to break the seal.

4. 

   
   
   Soak the cap of the vial in hot water for 30 seconds to break the seal. Fill the plate with hot (but not boiling) water and place the lid on the bottle. Soak for about 30 seconds, then try to open it. Repeat this process if you are not able to open the bottle at first.

   Tips: You can also try leaving the lid of the vial under hot running water for about 2 minutes to break the seal if there is no plate to soak.

5. 

   Use a hairdryer to heat up the vial if the hot water does not work. Turn on the hair dryer on high heat and face the vial cap for 30 seconds so that the cap of the vial expands and loosens the seal. Use a towel or other insulating material to unscrew the lid.
   • This method also helps to melt jams or other sticky foods that could cause the lid of the jar to stick.
   • You need to be careful when using this method, be careful not to burn again. The metal lid will be very hot.

6. 

   Try using a lighter as another way to heat up the lid and break the seal. Move the flame slowly and carefully around the edge of the lid to heat. Use a towel or glove to try to open the lid when it's hot.
   • The hotter the lid, the wider it will expand, but be very careful, as the lighter and the lid of the bottle will be very hot!
   advertisement

Method 2 of 2: Increase the friction on the lid of the vial

1. 

   Try opening the cap with a dry towel. Sometimes all you need to open a stubborn jar lid is just a towel to increase friction. Hold the vial in your non-dominant hand and cover the vial with a towel, then turn counterclockwise.
   • Perhaps you should try opening the vial lid on the sink. This will make it easier to clean if the contents of the jar spill out when the lid suddenly pops open.

2. 

   Wear kitchen rubber gloves to increase the friction of your hands. Wear the gloves that you normally use to wash dishes, making sure they are dry. Try to screw the lid of the bottle as usual.
   • You may only need to use a glove if you find the body of the bottle more secure with bare hands.

3. 

   Cover the lid with food wrap for a better grip. Cut a piece of plastic wrap large enough to cover the lid. Place the wrap over the top of the vial and press down around the edges to stick to the lid, then unscrew the lid.
   • Remember that the more sticky the wrap is, the more effective this method is.

4. 

   Wrap an elastic band around the lid of the jar instead of a food wrap to increase grip. Choose an elastic band that fits the lid of the vial and stretch it around the edge of the lid. Hold the rubber band in your dominant hand and try to open the lid of the bottle.

   Tips: The wide elastic band is most effective in this method, as it increases the friction surface area.

5. 

   Try drying clothes with scented paper to increase friction if available. Clothes drying scented paper is another option to give your hands friction. Place a sheet over the top of the jar and turn it open.
   • You can try combining this method with the elastic method by tying the elastic band on fragrant paper to hold it tight.
   advertisement

Advice

• You can try a variety of methods with each bottle particularly difficult to open. Be patient and don't give up, and you will open almost any jar!

Warning

• Check the top of the jar with the lid open to see if any broken glass is broken when you try to open the lid (glass fragments could fall on food).
• Be careful when using the butter knife to open the lid. While the butter knife may not seem sharp, it can also cause minor cuts if you slip your hand while using the force of the lid.
• Do not use a hairdryer to heat bottles with plastic parts. Heat can melt plastic.
• Be very careful not to burn when using a lighter to heat the lid of the bottle.

What you need

• Napkins
• Rubber gloves for washing dishes
• Food wrap
• Rubberband
• Wooden spoon
• Butter knife or metal spoon
• Hot water dish or hot water tap
• Hairdryer
• Fragrant paper drying clothes
• Lighters