Whether you’re hosting a celebration, just moved in, or simply fancy a glass of wine, it’s always a headache when you can’t find your key.
But don’t despair: There are some clever corkscrew removal tricks out there that are easy and relatively inexpensive. In fact, some of the best alternatives are simple household items. The idea is to find a tool that mimics the traditional screw-down method of inserting a sharpened tooth into a cork, and to use an external lever to extract the cork from the bottle.
And while there are plenty of online hacks to do this, we’ve chosen the safest methods. Keep in mind that you should only use one item at a time when removing a cork without a key, and proceed with caution. Also, remember to do this away from crowded areas. So if you ever find yourself with a wine emergency, here’s how to remove a cork without a corkscrew.
You may also need to know How to remove red wine stains From carpets and clothes, or if you have stains on leather products, check out how to clean leather to restore its shine.
1. Using a nail and a hammer
Start by removing the tin covering the wine bottle cap. Then take a long screw (the longer, the better), and Use the screwdriver to push the screw down in the middle of the cork. Rotate until there is about an inch left over the cork. Then, Take the back of the hammer, place the pliers to lock under the screw, before carefully pulling out the cork. This may require some force to extract the cork, but it is a proven method!
2. Twist with keys or a serrated knife
Similar to the method above, Simply push your keys or a serrated knife into the cork at a 45-degree angle, moving the top of the element in a circle. Slowly roll the cork up, which should eventually come out after a few turns.
If you use a knife, proceed with caution when twisting to avoid accidents, and try not to damage valuable keys!
3. The wooden spoon method
This is relatively easy because it involves pushing the cork down rather than pulling it up. Find a long-handled wooden spoon Push the handle down into the top of the cork. You can also do this with any blunt object or tool.
Then, using a little force, Push the cork down into the wine bottle. This should make the cork slide into the contents of the bottle. The only caveat is that the cork may collapse and fall into the wine once pushed in. However, you can just pour the wine through a strainer to remove unwanted pieces of cork.
4. The method of attaching hangers
First, completely Wash and dry the wire hanger before bending the edge about 30 degrees back To resemble a fish hook. Next, slide the hook down into the neck of the bottle along with the cork. Rotate the wire 90 degrees to make sure the hook is under the cork, before simply pulling the wire until the cork drops. If the wire gets stuck, you can always use pliers to give it a good tug.
5. Use scissors to twist the cork
First, get household scissors and Carefully plunge one blade into the center of the cork, Till the end. Then, gently Rotate the handles of the scissors, and pull up until the cork is loose It is enough to remove it from the bottle.
Again, use caution when using sharp scissors to avoid any accidents.
6. The bike pump method
If you own a bike, Simply take a pump (which has a needle attached to it), and insert the needle through the cork. Make sure it goes all the way through so the needle can get into the air between the cork and the wine. Then, Slowly pump air into the bottle. Continue pumping until the cork begins to pop out of the bottle due to the air pressure. Just make sure you’re doing it on a flat surface, preferably on the floor.
7. The shoe method
This is the most unconventional—and risks spilling the wine if you’re not careful—but it works. Remove the foil from the top of the wine bottle and place the bottom of the wine bottle into the shoe. (Choose shoes with a good rubber sole, not, say, a stiletto.) Hold the shoes and the bottle horizontally, and hit the bottom of the shoes against the wall. The wine inside the bottle should force the cork out. It will take a few swipes to get the cork out, and keep in mind you may get wine all over the place!
Can I still drink wine if the cork goes into the bottle?
If you find broken pieces of cork floating in your wine, it’s perfectly safe (albeit unpleasant) to drink. However, the best procedure is to filter the wine through a fine strainer, cheesecloth, or a coffee filter. This will catch any bits of cork, and it will be more interesting for you and your guests.
Do you have more than just wine stains that need to be removed? Well, here’s how to remove oil stains from clothes without damaging them. And learn how to clean a leather sofa to remove everyday stains. Also take a look at 11 things you didn’t know you could clean with toothpaste.
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