How to Open a Stuck Nail Polish Bottle

It's time for a manicure, but what's this? No matter how hard you twist, your favorite nail polish bottle won't budge! Don't worry—before you resort to a saw or give up and throw the bottle away, learn a few simple tricks to open those stubborn nail polish bottles. If you know the right way, even the toughest bottles will open with ease!

Run it under hot water. This is the first step to try when dealing with a stuck nail polish bottle. Not every bottle will open with this method, but it's quick and easy, so you can move on to another technique if it doesn't work. Here's how to do it:

• Turn on the hot water; the hotter, the better.
• Hold the bottle cap under the stream of hot water for 30 seconds and gently twist the bottle. Try to avoid getting water into the bottle itself.
• Dry the bottle cap with a towel and try twisting it open. The heat will cause the cap to expand, and it will soften the dried polish, making it easier to open.

Soak it in hot water for a longer time. If a quick dip in hot water doesn't work, try soaking it for a bit longer. Pour hot water into a cup, place the cup somewhere stable to avoid spills, and grab a timer. Follow these steps:

• Invert the nail polish bottle so that the cap is submerged in the water (but don't soak the bottle body). If needed, use two popsicle sticks across the top of the cup to balance the bottle.
• Let it soak for about 5 minutes.
• Remove the bottle, dry the cap with a towel, and try twisting it open.

Use a rubber band for better grip. Sometimes, the issue isn't that you're not twisting hard enough, but rather that the cap doesn't have enough grip. A simple solution is to wrap one or two rubber bands around the cap. The tighter, the better. You can twist the rubber band after each loop to make it more secure. The texture of the rubber band will give you a better grip and make it easier to open the bottle.

Use nail polish remover to loosen the dried polish. If a thick layer of dried polish is stuck at the edge of the bottle cap, you can use nail polish remover to dissolve and loosen it. Here's how:

• Dip a cotton swab into nail polish remover (or acetone if available).
• Invert the bottle. Use the cotton swab to apply the nail polish remover into the gap between the cap and the bottle.
• Wait 1-2 minutes for the polish to dissolve, then try opening the cap. Repeat if necessary.

Use tools to open extremely stuck bottles. If the cap still won't budge, you may need to use tools to get a better grip. Be cautious, as hard metal tools can easily break the bottle and spill polish if you apply too much force. There are several ways to tackle this:

• Use a nutcracker to hold the cap and twist it open.
• Tighten the cap with an adjustable wrench, then use the wrench as leverage to twist the cap open.
• Hold the bottle upside down and use locking pliers to grip the bottle. Rotate the body of the bottle, but stop immediately once you feel it's loosening to prevent spilling polish.

Use nail polish remover to prevent the cap from sticking. After you've managed to open the bottle, here's a tip to prevent future issues. Follow these steps:

• Place the open bottle in front of you.
• Pour a little nail polish remover onto a paper towel and gently wipe the outer rim of the bottle neck. Be careful not to let the remover drip into the bottle.
• Use the dry part of the towel to wipe off any dissolved polish. Make sure to clean the neck of the bottle thoroughly.

Don’t bang the bottle on the table. This is a common trick people use when a glass jar with a metal lid gets stuck, but in the case of a nail polish bottle, it’s a terrible idea. Nail polish bottles usually have plastic caps, which won’t change shape like metal caps when you hit them against a hard surface. If you bang hard enough to distort the cap, it’s likely to break and spill the polish everywhere.

Don’t try to open the cap by force. A nail polish bottle that’s stuck so tightly you can’t open it can be frustrating, but rushing won’t help. Forceful methods, like using pliers to tear the cap off, can lead to disaster. The cap could crack open and spill polish everywhere. Using a screwdriver to pry open the lid or using sharp tools to cut it will have similar results. In general, any method that tries to open the bottle without twisting the cap the normal way carries risks.

Don’t leave the cap off. Once you’ve managed to open the bottle, you might be tempted to leave it open (or loosely closed) so that it won’t stick again next time. This is not a good idea. The cap is essential to keep the polish from being exposed to air. If air gets into the bottle, the polish will dry out and become unusable. Instead, prevent the cap from sticking by cleaning the bottle neck with nail polish remover and twisting the cap on tightly.

• If the rubber band doesn’t provide enough grip, try using a dry cloth or towel to hold the cap tightly while twisting it.
• Remember: turning to the right closes, turning to the left opens. This rule applies even when you’re holding the bottle upside down, keeping the cap steady, and twisting the bottle body.