Three quick responses to how to unstuck those stoppers.

First, Bonnie Salzman of Richmond, Virginia

Some suggestions on the stuck stoppers, in this order:

1. Run warm to hot water from the faucet over the neck and stopper. This may take 10-15 minutes.
2. If the neck can hold water, just let water sit in there overnight.
3. Add dish detergent to the water, or just plain dish detergent around the neck, and soak overnight.
4. Try denatured alcohol in the neck and stopper, and let sit overnight.
5. Apply WD-40 to the neck and around the stopper. Let that sit overnight if necessary.
6. I personally have never used the crème Brule blowtorch, but I know people that do. Just keep it moving over the glass, and in very short segments of time. The glass will crack if you get it too hot too quickly.
7. My friend Wayne Montano swears by a soft mallet. But I send it to him for him to whack it, I don’t try this one myself.

Good luck!
Bonnie Salzman
Richmond VA

Next, from Jane O’Donnell

As a response to the stuck bottle tops……Whenever my grandmother’s perfume bottle got stuck she put them in a dishpan of warm water and let them soak for a while. After, she would put a little coating of baby oil on them and it never happened again. I have used the warm water “bath” many times, and it has always worked. Not hot water, but very warm. Hope that helps……Jane

Last, from Sam Kissee

Hi,

I have found an easy way to remove stuck stoppers. Place the bottle in the refrigerator, NOT the freezer. Leave it over night, the next morning take the bottle and hold it tightly around the neck with your warm fingers. Turn on the sink faucet and let it run to luke warm temp. Do not touch the stopper with either your hands or the warm water. Run the warm, not hot, water just over the neck portion, then firmly grasp the stopper and pull out away from the bottle. Do not twist the stopper, just pull it firmly away from the neck.

Good luck,
Sam Kissée
Chico, California

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