How to Remove Cork from Inside Bottle

If bottle is empty:

• Pour ammonia into bottle till the cork floats. Set bottle aside for a few days.
• The cork should deteriorate from the ammonia and after a few days will be small enough to fall out.

If bottle is not empty:

• First pour liquid into a carafe or bottle and seal. If there are cork bits in the liquid, strain by pouring through cheesecloth or a coffee filter. Then try the above ammonia trick on the now empty bottle to remove the cork.

If you’d like to save the cork, you can try this technique:

• Fold a thin cloth napkin or fabric piece opposite corner to opposite corner so that you now have a triangle. Carefully insert into bottle with the fold side coming underneath the cork, make sure to leave enough of the napkin out of the bottle for you to hold onto. Once cork is positioned in between fabric (with fold underneath it), start pulling napkin out. Watch the cork as you are pulling out the fabric, trying to position it in such a way that it will come out with the fabric.

Each weekday we will publish a family friendly tip.

Click here to receive our daily tips by email or feed.

Click here to visit our Tip of the Day Archive.