It may happen that glasses stacked on top of each other get stuck together. It often happens because the glass expands when washed in very hot water and then contracts as it cools. Read on to learn how to gently rotate, heat and lubricate glasses and separate them!
Steps
Method 1 of 3: With Heat
Step 1. Learn how glass reacts to heat
In most cases, glasses fit together when stacked immediately after washing them; the glass expands with heat, contracts as it cools and in some situations these minimal variations are enough to make them stick to each other. No fear! You can exploit the same phenomenon in your favor; you have to cool the inner glass and heat the outer one to separate them.
To prevent the problem from happening again in the future, be more careful when stacking them; wait for them to cool down - but washing them in cold water shouldn't run into this phenomenon
Step 2. Heat the outer glass
This method carries some risk, so you should proceed with caution. Since the outer container has shrunk around the inner one, you need to expand the first to extract the second. Gently heat it by putting it under running hot water for about a minute. With any luck, you should be able to unlock the two glasses; if not, you must consider making what is inside contract by filling it with cold tap water.
Don't use ice or boiling water. A sudden change in temperature can cause one or both containers to break violently, with even dangerous consequences; the glass is already under pressure, so the situation is particularly risky
Step 3. Cool the inner glass
If you can't free it by simply heating what it contains, try lowering the temperature; in this way, the glass on the outside expands while the one on the inside contracts.
Step 4. Give it a try with a bowl of very hot water
First, fill the upper glass with cold water. Pour very hot water into a shallow bowl and submerge the base of the outer glass; wait a few minutes and then try to separate them.
Step 5. Divide them by pulling them gently
The temperature difference should have taken effect; hold the glasses firmly, using one hand to grasp the base of the outer one and the other to grasp the edge of the inner one. Rotate, tilt and yank them carefully.
If you can't unlock them, try giving them some more time to expand and contract; leave them in the hot water bowl and try again after a few minutes
Method 2 of 3: With the Force
Step 1. Try spinning or tilting the glasses to separate them
A glass is rarely perfectly circular, so the upper one could only be stuck in a couple of places. If you notice that it wiggles a bit when you try to tilt it, you are in luck because in this case it is much easier to take it out.
Step 2. Proceed gently
Remember not to exert excessive force, otherwise you run the risk of shattering one or both glasses; if the inner one suddenly breaks free, it could slip out of your hands.
Make sure you have a firm grip on both elements. Dry them before starting and do the same with your hands; if you lose contact, the glasses may fall and break
Step 3. Consider breaking one
If you can't tear them apart in any way, you can sacrifice one to save the other. Place them on a solid, easy-to-clean base or simply hold them in your hand. Tap the outer one with a hammer along the edge until you break it. This is a risky solution because you could crack them both, but it is the last and desperate attempt.
When finished, remember to collect all the shards of glass - safety is always the priority
Step 4. Try to blow air between the glasses
Sometimes, a thin layer of water remains between the surfaces which keeps them blocked; try to insert a straw into the gap between the glasses and blow into it. A small amount of air should be sufficient; however, blow as much as possible, as the straw is squeezed between the glasses.
Method 3 of 3: With a Lubricant
Step 1. Apply some lubricant
If the glasses got stuck and you are not getting results with the method described in the second section, you can try this technique. A few drops of olive or sunflower oil are enough to solve the problem; alternatively try with soap, which is particularly effective if the two containers are only stuck in a couple of points.
- Consider using oil in combination with heat; by doing so, you should be able to solve even the worst situations.
- Give the WD-40 a try as a last resort. Spray it between the surfaces; the oil should then spread by itself facilitating the extraction process. Remember to wash your glasses thoroughly after the operation, as WD-40 is toxic.
Step 2. Pour some oil between the glasses
Try to make it penetrate along the contact surfaces by gently tilting the top glass in all directions. As you go, the oil may loosen the glasses just enough to allow you to separate them; wet them to help spread the lubricant.
Try to use a straw or knife to push the liquid, but work gently
Step 3. Rotate them
When you feel they are well lubricated, grab the upper one with your dominant hand and the outer one with the other hand. Rotate them in opposite directions to unlock them and at the same time try to separate them but with less force; focus more on rotation than traction. If this method works, the inner cup should come off by itself.
Don't just pull the containers! The force you have to exert on the grip could break the glass
Advice
This method works because the stuck glass contracts and the one containing it expands
Warnings
- Work over a sink to avoid splashing.
- Do not immerse delicate glasses in very hot water, unless you are sure they can withstand such temperatures.
- Hold them towards the bottom of the sink and be careful not to drop them; remember that wet glass is slippery.
