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Removing a Jammed Glass Decanter Stopper?

My heirloom spherical crystal decanter, with some whiskey in it, has the crystal stopper so firmly jammed that it has been unopened for 20 years. I have tried heat, cold, liquid wrench, etc., to no avail. Even glassware experts decline to try. Can someone advise me of how to remove it safely?

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By P.D. Graham from Kamloops, BC, Canada

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August 10, 200914 found this helpful
Best Answer

Wrap the neck of the decanter in a fairly hot, damp towel and use the handle of a wooden spoon to gently tap opposite sides of the stopper. Then pour two or three drips of cooking oil around the decanter's rim and leave in a warm place.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

 
September 7, 20162 found this helpful

This just worked for us too with a bottle that has been locked shut for over 10 years! Thanks so much!

 
October 10, 20160 found this helpful

This just worked for me. My decanter has been stopped up for years. I've tried so many things. Thank you for this easy idea. Success!!!

 
October 11, 20160 found this helpful

Just removed a decanter stopper that had been stuck for over a year. Used the ice method on the stopper for half an hour and then wrapped the stopper in a very hot cloth.

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Tapped neck several times and then the stopper was removed. With thanks.

 
October 11, 20161 found this helpful

Just removed a decanter stopper that had been stuck for over a year. Used the ice method on the stopper for half an hour and then wrapped the stopper in a very hot cloth. Tapped neck several times and then the stopper was removed. With thanks.

 
November 1, 20160 found this helpful

Stopper lodged in large jar, tried everything to get it out, your method worked like magic...Thanks for the top tip :-)

 
November 2, 20161 found this helpful

After 25 years, the perfume bottle with the ground glass stopper is opened! I wrapped it in a washcloth.. just below the stopper and kept it in place with rubber bands. Slowly pour very hot water on the cloth, starting near the top.

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Tap with the spoon.... and it just came out! I had tried every kind of solvent and penetrating oil in the past. No luck. Heat and differential expansion did the trick. Thanks.

 
January 23, 20170 found this helpful

Amazing this worked on an old bottle in just a couple of minutes to get a bottle top removed. Our daughter will be so excited to be able to use her bottle again!

Shirley Peters

 
January 30, 20170 found this helpful

I just used your method to unstick a fused lid on a vintage glass jar that I purchased to replace another; they are very hard to find. I took a chance on it, hoping for the best.

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Brute strength and freezing the canister did nothing. But your method worked in seconds! Thank you so much!

 
February 17, 20170 found this helpful

Just unstopped a ground-glass bottle by putting it in a hot-water (not boiling) bath with an ice cube on top (held in place with an inverted paper cup). After a few minutes, we tapped the top with a wooden spoon and the top soon came off. Thanks for the advice!!!

 
February 18, 20170 found this helpful

Just unstopped a ground-glass bottle by putting it in a hot-water (not boiling) bath with an ice cube on top (held in place with an inverted paper cup). After a few minutes, we tapped the top with a wooden spoon and the top soon came off. Thanks for the advice!!!

 
March 26, 20170 found this helpful

This really works. Did not even use the oil. Great!!

 
March 30, 20170 found this helpful

Genius. It popped out like a charm. I will always remember this. Thank you for saving my decanter!!

 
April 11, 20170 found this helpful

I love you! Another bottle opened thanks to your tip!

 
April 15, 20170 found this helpful

OMG I had struggled for an hour and then partner came home and he tried and struggled. 30 secs after reading your solution I got the stopper off. Many thanks .... Success !!

 
June 12, 20170 found this helpful

I was amazed at the simplicity of the method.Itook less than 30 seconds for the stopper to come free.

 
August 5, 20170 found this helpful

I was very sceptical that anything could work, but this did. I had an old laboratory glass flask that I had tried to get the stopper off of for years, it was wrapped in an old newspaper 1983.

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To my amazement and joy, the stopper popped out on the third attempt. Thank You! Over 34 years sealed.

 
August 31, 20170 found this helpful

Brilliant tip, another successful effort. Thanks

 
February 2, 20180 found this helpful

WOW! So excited. Had the stopper stuck in our Waterford decanter (full with cognac) since 2001. Tried this and IT WORKED! Can't wait to try the cognac tonight. THANK YOU!

 
February 12, 20180 found this helpful

Unfortunately,the decanter has cracked down one side,and the stopper is still set tight.

 
March 31, 20180 found this helpful

I was skeptical, but the stopper came right out in my husband's hand. Thank you!

 
Anonymous
April 15, 20180 found this helpful

This worked! Thanks so much:

 
May 25, 20180 found this helpful

I wish I had read your suggestion earlier. I pulled the crystal top so hard it broke inside the jar and I could not remove the piece inside the decanter. You suggestions worked and I was able to pull the rest out easily. Thanks!

 
February 10, 20190 found this helpful

Wow.. .it worked..tried everything else for ages.. a wonderful solution thanks

 
June 29, 20190 found this helpful

Awesome. This just worked for me. Thank you..

 
Anonymous
September 27, 20190 found this helpful

Thank you it worked for us too

 
October 4, 20200 found this helpful

Steve from Pembroke dock.
had a very expensive whiskey in my decanter, thought i would never get to taste it but hooray, came right off in 1 minute.

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thank you so much.

 
November 8, 20200 found this helpful

Like magic! Thank you so much - was just about to throw away the decanter as couldnt use it with the stopper fused & had tried everything!

 
Anonymous
April 23, 20210 found this helpful

THANK YOU! That worked before I drizzled the oil on it!!

 
Anonymous
August 1, 20210 found this helpful

yikes it worked
wrapped in pretty hot wet towel
and bowl of water.
set in slightly warm oven with oil
drops for a half hour. actually had
to tap glass stopper, but it popped
right out

 
August 19, 20210 found this helpful

I just used your method!!! I'm so excited it was sooo easy!!! I've tried everything! Thank you!!

 
Anonymous
August 31, 20210 found this helpful

Thank you. Just used the cold then hot method on a decanter that probably hadn't been opened for 30+ years. Worked like magic. I put the top in a bucket of ice water for 20 min, then wrapped it with a hot washcloth and used a wooden spoon, tapping on each of 4 sides twice and voila... opened. Thank you.

 
Anonymous
September 1, 20210 found this helpful

Brilliant / thank you !

 
October 25, 20210 found this helpful

Amazing!! Just put cutglass marmalade jar up to neck in hot water, left for less than a minute, tapped side of top twice and - voila - stopper came out without any pressure after being stuck for years. No oil required. Thanks a million

 
December 28, 20210 found this helpful

Of everything I tried THIS WORKED in about 3 mins! Hot paper towel in the microwave, wrapped around the neck, a couple of taps on the stopper and TADA!!! Thank you !

 
February 27, 20220 found this helpful

OMG thank you SO very much!!

 
April 19, 20220 found this helpful

Thank you Jackie Blue! I just opened for a neighbor, a $4,000 bottle of Remy Martin Louis XIII cognac that has had a stuck crystal stopper for 10 years. It took me about 10 minutes and they think I am a genius.

 
May 6, 20220 found this helpful

Thanks. Perfect solution.

 
Anonymous
October 8, 20220 found this helpful

Success! Thank you!

 
December 16, 20220 found this helpful

I had despaired of getting the stopper out, fearful of breaking my decanter. I tried your method and it worked! Thank you. I will share
your trick with frinds

 
August 13, 20090 found this helpful
Best Answer

Try soaking it in a tub or sink filled with very hot boiling water so that the whole bottle is under the water. You may even try to put some dawn dish soap in it too for a few hours, or until the water cools enough to get your hands in. Try to open in under the water, hold the bottle with one hand and use a wash cloth to try and pull it off.

Shirley, golden7673 AT yahoo.com

 
Anonymous
April 22, 20160 found this helpful

Do not EVER put fine glass or crystal into water hotter than you would place a baby in. It will cause it to burst or crack.

 
November 29, 20100 found this helpful
Best Answer

Hello! I was just able to remove a stuck stopper in a very old crystal decanter. A few details: My decanter was filled with water for a very long time and nothing would get it out! So I put olive oil on the area where the stopper was stuck and than placed the decanter on the flat surface of my stove-top while baking chicken at 325 degrees. It did not budge until I raised the temperature to 400 for the last 15 minutes to brown the meat. Be careful! I think what helped in my case was that the decanter was full of water. Hope this helps. I was so pleased with the results, I had been trying just about everything.

 
Rex L.
December 11, 20140 found this helpful
Best Answer

This is to thank everyone who responded to the request for help to remove a glass stopper from a glass decanter. Well guys, it worked last evening. We did not expect to ever again to pour wine from this very old bottle. Gratefully, thanks, thanks, thanks!

The instructions I followed are from P.D. Graham. The decanter had just been filled with wine, up to the base of the neck. The decanter was placed in a container of hot water to heat the neck. It had snowed earlier so we had an ample supply of something cold. I took a medium sized plastic margarine container and cut a star in the bottom to allow it to be pushed over the stopper and rest on the lip of the decanter. When we were satisfied that the decanter was warm enough, we packed the marg pot with snow. I then started to gently tap the under side of the stopper. After less than a minute, the stopper popped out of the decanter neck, with no damage to either piece.

A word of warning - the stopper literally popped out of the decanter neck, so be ready and patient!

 
Anonymous
November 16, 20150 found this helpful

Thank you so much for this solution, it worked perfectly!

 
December 13, 20161 found this helpful
Best Answer

This also worked for me! The stopper was truly stuck and nothing worked. I heated a wet towel in the microwave for 2 minutes and wrapped it around the stopper. I had put 2 drops of kitchen oil around the stopper, tapped it a few times within the wooden spoon, only on one side, took off the towel and the stopper came out like it had never been stuck! Thanks for the tip!!

 
May 14, 20170 found this helpful

Worked great on my 50 year old decanter(a wedding present) will now fill with wine and drink your health.

 
May 17, 20170 found this helpful

How long did you leave the heated towel around the stopper? Thanks.

 
July 1, 20180 found this helpful

Worked like a charm. Be careful with HOT cloth...use tongs or oven mitts to remove.
Thank you!

 

Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 168 Feedbacks
August 10, 20090 found this helpful

You could also try using WD40 and spray around the stopper and lip of decanter, leaving it set a few minutes if you're not concerned the whiskey is affected.

 
August 10, 20091 found this helpful

The combination of WD40 (tried alone, unsuccessful) AND a quite hot, wet dishcloth wrapped around the neck, with previous dipping of the stopper in crushed ice, allowed the tapping with a wooden spoon to free the twenty-year-stuck stopper. Granny's heir-loom decanter lives again. Thank you!

 
August 19, 20200 found this helpful

This worked for me too. Thank you.

 

Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 213 Posts
August 10, 20090 found this helpful

WOW!!! ... THRIFTY FUN RULES AGAIN!

 
February 4, 20150 found this helpful

We had a crystal with stopper stuck for 60+ years. We followed the instructions and placed it in very hot water up to neck. Filled a plastic container with chipped ice and after a few minutes took it out, wrapped a towel around the stopper and tapped very gently with a wooden spoon. After 4 or 5 taps ...POP...the stopper jumped out and I was lucky to have a good hold of it with the towel. Many thanks.

 
Anonymous
December 25, 20150 found this helpful

Olive Oil

 
Anonymous
April 28, 20160 found this helpful

Yesssss it really works, a stubborn stopped free at last

 
Anonymous
February 5, 20160 found this helpful

I used Jackie Blue's suggestion (wrap the neck in hot towel; tap with wooden spoon, drip cooking oil). Worked within minutes. Great tip.

 
Anonymous
March 10, 20160 found this helpful

Took a bit of advice from everything I read. No one thing seemed to loosen it. So put a few drops of oil around the stopper, put very hot water in a pan and placed the decanter in it for a few minutes then tapped the stuck part of the stopper with knife quite hard, hitting it upwards and the stopper popped off. So happy, the decanter is a very heavy antique so was very apprehensive about hitting the stopper but it only took about four or five taps.

 
December 18, 20160 found this helpful

hello love all ur solutions, however I have a Baccarat Perfume bottle which has no fragrance in it but does have all its labels intact.
to submerse is not an option for me-i cannot destroy the labels-what can u reccomend?
why cant WD 40 work? isnt that what it is for? unsticking things?

 
January 23, 20170 found this helpful

Worked great...amazing.

Shirley

 
Anonymous
March 31, 20170 found this helpful

Try an ultrasonic cleaner. Ii was successful in 2 out of 2 tries. Using a warm water bath, it took less than 10 minutes for the stopper to fall out in the first case, and in the second case it fell out in under 30 seconds.

 
August 18, 20170 found this helpful

I had a vintage bottle of parfum which had never been opened. After cutting the cord which was wrapped around the neck, I then used a sharp knife & tweezers to loosen & remove the plastic. After reading all of these answers I heated up a washcloth in the microwave & secured it around the bottle with a rubber band. I placed another washcloth with several ice cubes on top of the stopper. I wrapped all of this in a hand towel to keep heat in. After a few minutes I unwrapped it all & scored the stopper base with manicure sizzors & tapped gently with a citrus reamer. It worked beautifully. Many thanks to all!

 
Anonymous
August 23, 20170 found this helpful

Worked for me too. Stopper had been impossible to remove. I did warm the oil and that seemed to do the trick

 
January 24, 20191 found this helpful

I had a stopper stuck tight for about a week in a ship's decanter full of old sweet sherry. I held the neck under a very slow flow from the 'hot' tap of a wash hand basin and held it there as the flowing water heated up while holding the stopper. After less than a couple of minutes the stopper came free. The slow flow meant reduced possibility of the decanter cracking. A small sherry to celebrate tasted even sweeter!

 
June 18, 20190 found this helpful

Thanks for the tip. I just removed the stopper on a crystal perfume bottle (no perfume in it). I put a small amount of cooking oil around the top of bottle where the stopper enters the neck of the bottle. I then filled my wash basin with hot tap water up to the lip of the bottle. Left for a few minutes and gently tapped the stopper. Out came the stopper. Fantastic!

 
October 31, 20190 found this helpful

Thank you. The hot water and wooden spoon worked in seconds.

 
May 29, 20200 found this helpful

I just used the hot water, wood force system and it worked perfectly. Mine was a vinegar cruet. I took a small wash cloth and wet it with very hot water, wrung it out and wrapped it around the neck of the stopper, held it a few minutes, then did the water treatment again. i dried it and tapped it lightly on the edge of my chopping block and "voila" the stopper came out!!

 
April 9, 20230 found this helpful

Thank you sooo much! I only had to apply the damp hot towel and, voila! Truly appreciated!

 

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