Jars impossible to open

I have a cheap gadget from Lakeland which I use on a daily basis with a 90% success rate. It’s a kind of strong plastic, colour dark blue and has a lip which fits wherever there is that indentation on a jar for any kind of prising. You can often hear the air pop and then unscrewing is easy. However, usually opens even without the pop. Wouldn’t be without it.

Some jars are vacuum sealed, especially pickles. I struggled until I learnt to put a knife or spoon just under the lid and twist ( it takes a little practice ) until you hear a pop, and it should then open easily.

Buy a so-called cap key if wrapping a tea towel round the lid doesn't work.

You could try inserting the prong of a tin-opener under the side of the lid. That usually breaks the suction.

Some companies make lids on jars that have a rim you push up to break the suction. Look for them next time.

It is annoying, isn't it? I had to go back to the optician's once with a bottle of contact lens cleaning fluid and ask them to unscrew the lid. An elderly lady I knew brought pill bottles to Mass and got someone to open them for her after Mass.

I have trouble with my hands. Tried all the gadgets going over the years. Only thing that works for me if it's a jar or bottle put it in the sink run very hot water on the lid it for a minute or two. Dry it. Wearing a part of rubber gloves hey presto its open.

I have an implement from Lakeland that releases the vacuum certainly works on 1lb jars.

Put a blunt knife under the edge till you hear a pop .or put it under hot water tap

I put the jar upside down in a little very hot water. Almost always works.

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I have arthritis and have tried many of the tips here but I also have this device which is brilliant. Takes couple mins to work but it does work.

I always use to have problems until I discovered some silicone/rubber grips mats. The are larger than a coaster and a kind of rubbery net. Never fails to help me open jars.

I put a rubber glove on when trying to open jars, it sometimes gives that little extra to twist it off, I have also tried a damp cloth. Tapping on the side of the screw top sometimes helps too, it has to be quite hard so it releases the vacuum. My favourite opening tools a pair of nut crackers. Even my husband uses them, really good on bottles

Another vote for the jarkey.

www.lakeland.co.uk/7706/Jarkey-Screw-Top-Jar-Opener

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Turn it upside down and tap on the work surface or floor

Try inverting the jar over hot water with the metal lid immersed but not the glass.

The metal will expand and maybe allow you to open.

I have a Xyliss -Strong Boy jar opener, works well and was around £15.00. Also, if particularly tough, pour boiling water into plastic bowl for less than a cm and stand jar upside down into it so lid warms up before I use Xyliss to open it.

how do people get the top of the Harpic which need a thumb pinch to get over the child proof locks?

Many lids are sealed in such a way you need to sort of blip the top and them they let you unscrew. It's to de-pressurise the contents.
I have a little plastic tool for levering down on the lid.

Maybe try rapping the jar, upside down, on kitchen worktop or floor: like the piercing trick, this breaks the vacuum.

Like you Charleygirl5, I have most trouble with bottles of bleach and have been know to resort to skewering a hole in the bottle and squirting it from there! Luckily I live alone but put the bottle up aloft in case of small curious visitors!

We had to eventually leave the jar upside down with the lid in boiled water and it worked OH had been trying for 30 minutes Did think how difficult it would be for anyone with painful hands or wrists.

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A very .long address but do have a look at the cheap and useful tool

As I've a poor grip I've been using a jar opener for years. Can't see it online but there's some good ones here.

www.completecareshop.co.uk/kitchen-aids/bottle-and-jar-openers/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA7qP9BRCLARIsABDaZzjsViVtIPKSsPeKIfH9I_7X7ZZa0UCMvcBfo9k-SYf5vv1-c2eksmMaApDmEALw_wcB

If you use a pointed end, v shape bottle opener, and put the pointed end under the lid, and lift it a little. You will hear it releas the seal. It then opens easily.

This is what I use, it's excellent, never been defeated! It must have a battery but I've never replaced it and it's been in use for years.

Travelsafar My mum used the 'door' method as did I. Had to stop when smarties as DH complained about all the dents in the woodwork. I have about 4 different openers the latest one a Brabantia specific for jars. Rather bulky to keep in the drawer and I guess I average 2 out of 3 successes. The opener does need to be squeezed fairly hard to work.

Jenni123 I have a One-touch as well and it is brilliant. Like you, I have arthritis and have no strength in my hands or wrists but the One-touch has never let me down. I have had it for several years now and have yet to change the batteries.

It is the bottles and containers with tops that need pushing down and twisting at the same time that I have difficult with, especially the medicine containers holding my arthritis drugs!! ?