How to Separate Inline Bottles

Bottles that are stacked inline, or one inside the other, can often become stuck together and very hard to remove. Using force to separate the bottles can damage or break the glass or plastic bottles. Creating a temperature difference between the two bottles uses a basic scientific principle that separates them. Heat expands objects, so the key to separating inline bottles is to heat the outer bottle while keeping the inner bottle at a lower temperature. This is accomplished using hot water and ice.

Sink with stopper
Kitchen gloves
Hot water
Ice

Instructions

- 1
  Plug the sink with a stopper, and run a basin of hot water that will cover all but 1 to 2 inches of the outer bottle. The water should be hot but not boiling. The hottest tap water available should suffice.
- 2
  Put on kitchen gloves to protect your hands from the hot water.
- 3
  Drop several cubes of ice into the inner bottle to maintain its temperature.
- 4
  Place the bottles down into the hot water and wait 10 to 15 seconds. Try to twist the outer bottle gently. If this is not effective, wait another 10 to 15 seconds and try again.
- 5
  Turn the bottles sideways and pull them apart when the outer bottle can be turned.

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