How to Open Nail Glue

Loosening the Lid

Submerge the glue bottle in 8 fl oz (240 mL) of hot water for 5 minutes. Fill a cup or small bowl with hot tap water. Don’t use boiling water as this may melt the glue container. Then, place the glue container into the water and let it sit for 5 minutes. When the time is up, use a fork or spoon to fish out the glue tube and try to unscrew the lid. If there’s a lot of glue around the cap, you may need to leave it in the water for longer or try another option. You can also try adding a few drops of dish soap or 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of white vinegar to the water. Make sure to wash the cup or bowl and utensil thoroughly before using them for food after you do this.

Swab the edges of the lid with white vinegar. Vinegar is not a strong solvent, but it might be enough to loosen a small amount of nail glue on the lid. Dip the tip of a cotton swab into white vinegar and use it to wipe along the edge of the glue cap. Let the vinegar sit for 5 minutes. The, try to unscrew the lid and open the nail glue. If you don’t have white vinegar, you can also try red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar.

Wipe the lid with acetone nail polish remover. Dip the end of a cotton swab into the acetone and then wipe it along the edge of the nail glue lid. Let it sit for about 3 minutes and then try to unscrew the cap. Make sure that the nail polish remover contains acetone as this is the active ingredient that will dissolve the glue.

Dip the nail glue lid into acetone nail polish remover if it’s very stuck. If the glue container has lots of glue on the outside of the lid, you may also dip the top of the nail glue container into a small dish of acetone. Hold it there for about 15 seconds, remove it, and then let the container sit for about 3 minutes before you try to unscrew the cap again.Warning: Never use your teeth or try to wrench a nail glue lid open if it’s stuck. Nail glue is a chemical agent that can cause burns, so never put it anywhere close to your mouth.

Puncturing the Tip of a Nail Glue Tube

Read the instructions on the nail glue’s label. If you have a container of nail glue that has no premade opening in it, then you will probably need to puncture it. Check the instructions for opening the nail glue if any were included. You may also check the manufacturer’s website for information on how to properly open the nail glue.

Insert a pin into the center of the nail glue tip or where indicated. Most nail glues only require a tiny opening that you can make with a pin. Remove the cap from the glue, locate the center or the glue container’s tip, and insert a pin into the center of the tip. Then, remove the pin from the container. Some nail glue products come with a lid that will puncture the top for you when you screw it on and this special lid will also keep the glue from drying out.

Replace the lid when you’re not using the nail glue. Nail glue dries out quickly, so always make sure to replace the lid when you’re not using it. Screw the lid on tightly to ensure that the nail glue will not leak or dry out. Tip: You can also place your nail glue in a resealable plastic bag to protect it from drying out. Place the closed nail glue tube into the bag, and push the air out of the bag before closing it up.

Cut the tip off of your nail glue if you cannot puncture it. If you cannot puncture the tip or if it is the kind of tip that you need to cut off, get a sharp pair of scissors and cut straight across the tip about ⁄8 in (0.32 cm) from the end. Hold the tube so that the tip is facing up when you do this to prevent glue from leaking out. Discard the tip that you cut off and place the cap on the nail glue tube to keep the glue from leaking or drying out. This is not ideal for some types of nail glue containers since cutting off the tip can make a large opening in the nail glue. However, if the nail glue container indicates that you need to cut the tip off to open it, you can try this option.