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Personal Care and Style
Nail Care
Painting Nails
Nail Polish
How to Open Stuck Nail Polish Download ArticleExplore this Article parts 1 Dealing With Stuck Lids 2 What to Avoid Other Sections Comments Questions & Answers Video Tips and Warnings Related Articles References Article Summary Co-authored by Mia Rubie
Last Updated: February 8, 2025 Approved
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This article was co-authored by Mia Rubie. Mia Rubie is a Nail Artist and the Owner of Sparkle San Francisco, a nail studio based in San Francisco, California. She has over eight years of nail artist and management experience and is known for her push-the-envelope designs and artistic eye for colors. Her clients include Sephora, Target, and Vogue. Her work has been featured in the San Francisco Chronicle and StyleCaster. She holds a BBA focusing on Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations from San Francisco State University. You can find her work on her Instagram account @superflynails. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, several readers have written to tell us that this article was helpful to them, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 638,747 times.
If it's time to paint your nails-but your favorite bottle of polish just won't budge no matter what you do! Have no fear. Before you get out the chainsaw or give up and toss it, learn just a few simple ways to open stuck polish bottles. It's surprisingly easy to deal even with the most stubbornly tight bottles if you have the right know-how.
Steps
Part 1 Part 1 of 2:
Dealing With Stuck Lids
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1 Use a quick hot water rinse. This is a good first step when dealing with a stuck bottle of polish. It may not open all bottles, but it's quick and easy, so you can move on to something else if it doesn't work. To do this:[1]XResearch source
Run hot water from the tap — ideally, as hot as it will go.
Hold the lid of the stuck bottle under the water for 30 seconds, turning it slowly. Try not to let much of the water touch the bottle itself.
Dry the lid with a towel and try to twist it off. The heat from the water will expand the lid and soften dried nail polish, making it slightly easier to remove.
2 Use a longer hot water soak. If a little hot water doesn't work, try using more time. Fill a cup with hot water, put it somewhere it's not likely to spill, and grab a timer. Follow these steps:
Position the bottle upside down so that the lid (but not the rest of the bottle) is submerged in the water. If you need to, you can balance the bottle between two popsicle sticks laid across the top of the glass.
Let the bottle soak for five minutes.
Remove the bottle, dry with a towel, and try to twist the lid off.
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3 Use rubber bands for additional grip. Sometimes, the problem isn't that you're not twisting hard enough, but that you can't get a good grip on the lid. One way to fix this is to wrap a rubber band or two around the lid. Get the bands as tight as possible — you can put a twist in them each time you wrap them around to get them extra tight. The gummy rubber texture of the bands should make it easier to get traction between your hands and the lid.[2]XResearch source
4 Use nail polish remover to loosen dried polish.[3]XResearch source If there is dry, caked-on polish at the base of the lid, you can use polish remover to dissolve it and loosen the lid. To do this:
Dip a cotton swab in nail polish remover (or, if you have it, pure acetone).
Turn the stuck bottle upside down. Use the cotton swab to apply polish remover in the gap between the cap and the bottle.
Give the polish remover a minute or two to dissolve the polish, then try removing the lid. Repeat as needed.
5 For extra-stuck bottles, use tools. If you're still having a hard time getting the lid off, you may need to use tools to help get a firm enough grip. Use caution here — heavy-duty metal tools can easily break the bottle and cause a spill if you use too much force. There are many possibilities — just a few ideas are below:
Use a nutcracker to grip the lid and twist.
Squeeze the lid in the jaws of an adjustable wrench, then use the wrench as a lever as you turn the lid.
Hold the bottle upside down and grab the lid in a vice. Turn the bottle itself, but be sure to remove it as soon as you feel the resistance give way to prevent a spill.
6 Use polish remover to prevent sticking in the future. Once you do get the lid off, this trick can keep you from having problems in the future. See below:[4]XResearch source
Set the open bottle in front of you.
Wet a tissue with a small amount of polish remover. Gently wipe the outside of the bottle neck with the tissue. Take care not to get any polish remover in the bottle.
Wipe with a dry part of the tissue to remove the dissolved polish. Repeat until the threads on the bottle neck are completely clean.
Ryan Buehner
Feb 3, 2018
"I read some of the suggestions and I was trying to open some OPI older polishes I have. I put them in a very small sauce pan of water I boiled for just a few seconds and tested them, and they opened very easily. So long pliers, yay!"more comments..." more
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What to Avoid
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1 Don't bang the lid on a table. This is a common tactic for stuck lids on glass jars with wide metal lids (like pickle jars, etc.), but it's a bad idea here. Nail polish bottles usually have lids made of plastic, so they won't deform the same way metal will if you bang them on a hard surface. If you do bang them hard enough to change the shape of the lid, you stand a good chance of breaking it, which will cause a spill.
2 Don't force the lid open. A bottle of polish that seems like it's impossible to open can be seriously aggravating, but losing your patience is a bad idea. Ripping or tearing the lid off with pliers, for instance, is a recipe for disaster — you'll likely break the lid and cause a spill. Trying to pry the lid off with a screwdriver or cut it off with sharp implements will usually lead to the same result. As a general rule, trying to get the lid off in any way other than twisting it the way it was meant to be twisted is a risky bet.
3 Don't leave bottles open. Once you get the lid off, you may be tempted to leave it off (or leave it slightly unscrewed) so that it won't get stuck in the future. This is a bad idea. The lid is crucial for keeping the polish from coming in contact with air. If you let air into the bottle, the polish can dry up, making the polish useless. Instead, to prevent sticking, clean the bottle neck with polish remover and close it moderately tightly.
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Comments
Nancy
May 11, 2022
"It reminded me that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure". When I open a new bottle of polish, I treat the top part of the bottle with a light coat of petroleum jelly (or equivalent). Stops any possibility of the polish sealing inside the cap. "..." more
Anon
Mar 23, 2023
"After trying to open a new nail polish bottle for a week without success, the first tip helped and I am happy."
Fatima Noavak
Jul 18, 2017
"The third tip helped so much! As soon as I strapped the rubber band on and turned the cap came right off!" Rated this article:
Latressa W.
Aug 3, 2024
"OMG, this product worked like a charm! Thank you. Fingernail polish is so expensive these days." Rated this article:
Kira R.
Jun 28, 2016
"The best one that worked for me (square lid) was using the elastic band. Thanks so much!"
E. L.
Nov 30, 2019
"A quick 20 seconds in hot tap water worked like a charm and was so easy."
Ilinda Reese
May 25, 2017
"I have been tossing my stuck bottles of nail polish away!" Rated this article:
Hana McAfee
May 30, 2017
"First step helped me a lot." Rated this article:
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Question How hot should the water be to soak the bottle? Community Answer The water doesn't have to be too hot. Just turn your tap to the warmest temperature it will go to, and use that. You do not need to boil the water or anything. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 25 Helpful 91
Question What if the cap comes off but the nail polish is sealed? Community Answer That happens to me often. I screw the cap back on really tight, and try to open it again. It always works. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 23 Helpful 37
Question My nail polish is still stuck. What now? Community Answer Put it in hot water and leave for 15 minutes. Dry it, then use a sweatshirt to twist the cap open. If that doesn't work, use a sharp knife to scrape the dried nail polish from underneath the cap. Then it should work. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 22 Helpful 36
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Tips
Remember — righty tighty, lefty loosey. This holds true even if you're holding the bottle upside down, gripping the lid, and turning the bottle itself.[5]XResearch sourceThanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Try gripping the lid with a dry rag or towel for better grip if rubber bands alone aren't cutting it. Thanks Helpful 17 Not Helpful 10
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
"Rub Vaseline on the edges of all your new nail polish bottles. Nail polish doesn't stick to Vaseline, so the bottle will never get stuck!" - Pippa W.
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Co-authored by: Mia Rubie Nail Artist This article was co-authored by Mia Rubie. Mia Rubie is a Nail Artist and the Owner of Sparkle San Francisco, a nail studio based in San Francisco, California. She has over eight years of nail artist and management experience and is known for her push-the-envelope designs and artistic eye for colors. Her clients include Sephora, Target, and Vogue. Her work has been featured in the San Francisco Chronicle and StyleCaster. She holds a BBA focusing on Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations from San Francisco State University. You can find her work on her Instagram account @superflynails. This article has been viewed 638,747 times. 73 votes - 78% Co-authors: 24Updated: February 8, 2025 Views: 638,747 Categories: Nail PolishArticle SummaryX
To open a stuck bottle of nail polish, run it under hot water from your tap for 30 seconds before drying it off and twisting the lid. By heating it, you'll make it easier to open by expanding the lid and softening any hardened polish. If the lid is still stuck, try filling a cup with hot water and soaking the bottle for 5 minutes. Consider wrapping a rubber band around the lid a few times before trying to twist the bottle open, as this will give your hands a better grip to hold onto. Avoid banging the lid on a table or trying to rip it off with pliers because while you might get it open, you’ll probably spill nail polish everywhere. For more tips, including how to prevent the lid from sticking in the future, read on!Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Download Article Explore this Article parts 1 Dealing With Stuck Lids 2 What to Avoid Other Sections Comments Questions & Answers Video Tips and Warnings Related Articles References Article Summary Co-authored by Mia Rubie 
How to Open a Stuck Plastic or Glass Jar Lid 
How to Open a Bottle Without a Bottle Opener 
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Co-authored by: Mia Rubie Nail Artist This article was co-authored by Mia Rubie. Mia Rubie is a Nail Artist and the Owner of Sparkle San Francisco, a nail studio based in San Francisco, California. She has over eight years of nail artist and management experience and is known for her push-the-envelope designs and artistic eye for colors. Her clients include Sephora, Target, and Vogue. Her work has been featured in the San Francisco Chronicle and StyleCaster. She holds a BBA focusing on Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations from San Francisco State University. You can find her work on her Instagram account @superflynails. This article has been viewed 638,747 times. 73 votes - 78% Co-authors: 24 Updated: February 8, 2025 Views: 638,747 Categories: Nail Polish Article SummaryX
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1 Use a quick hot water rinse. This is a good first step when dealing with a stuck bottle of polish. It may not open all bottles, but it's quick and easy, so you can move on to something else if it doesn't work. To do this:[1] 
2 Use a longer hot water soak. If a little hot water doesn't work, try using more time. Fill a cup with hot water, put it somewhere it's not likely to spill, and grab a timer. Follow these steps: 
1 Don't bang the lid on a table. This is a common tactic for stuck lids on glass jars with wide metal lids (like pickle jars, etc.), but it's a bad idea here. Nail polish bottles usually have lids made of plastic, so they won't deform the same way metal will if you bang them on a hard surface. If you do bang them hard enough to change the shape of the lid, you stand a good chance of breaking it, which will cause a spill. 
2 Don't force the lid open. A bottle of polish that seems like it's impossible to open can be seriously aggravating, but losing your patience is a bad idea. Ripping or tearing the lid off with pliers, for instance, is a recipe for disaster — you'll likely break the lid and cause a spill. Trying to pry the lid off with a screwdriver or cut it off with sharp implements will usually lead to the same result. As a general rule, trying to get the lid off in any way other than twisting it the way it was meant to be twisted is a risky bet. 
3 Don't leave bottles open. Once you get the lid off, you may be tempted to leave it off (or leave it slightly unscrewed) so that it won't get stuck in the future. This is a bad idea. The lid is crucial for keeping the polish from coming in contact with air. If you let air into the bottle, the polish can dry up, making the polish useless. Instead, to prevent sticking, clean the bottle neck with polish remover and close it moderately tightly. Advertisement 
Community Answer The water doesn't have to be too hot. Just turn your tap to the warmest temperature it will go to, and use that. You do not need to boil the water or anything. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 25 Helpful 91 
Community Answer That happens to me often. I screw the cap back on really tight, and try to open it again. It always works. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 23 Helpful 37 