# Clogged aerosol spray cans. Irretrievable ? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 29, 2012, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clogged-aerosol-spray-cans-irretrievable/633062 "2012-08-29T19:35:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cynyc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@cynyc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cynyc)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clogged-aerosol-spray-cans-irretrievable/633062/1 "2012-08-29T19:35:21Z")
You know how it goes. You get three sprays out of that fixative or that dust spray and then you go to use the near-full canister again and it’s clogged. And yes I learned the part about storing them upside down. But I’m getting pissed off now because this shit is getting old. Has anyone ever resuscitated one of these? :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Sister\_Vigilante](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Sister\_Vigilante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sister_Vigilante)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clogged-aerosol-spray-cans-irretrievable/633062/2 "2012-08-29T19:36:36Z")
Run it under hot water. It will loosen the clog. ---
**Author:** ![perfectparanoia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a5b964/32.png) [@perfectparanoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perfectparanoia)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clogged-aerosol-spray-cans-irretrievable/633062/3 "2012-08-29T19:44:01Z")
Pull the plastic bit that the spray comes out of off and then wash it/boil it/scrub it with a toothbrush. ETA: Like the red part in the first image on [this page](http://www.greenwala.com/channels/family-go-green/blog/5710-15-Totally-Recyclable-Materials-That-Most-Of-Us-Keep-Forgetting-About). ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clogged-aerosol-spray-cans-irretrievable/633062/4 "2012-08-29T19:53:04Z")
I always end their initial use by turning them upside down and clearing the spray with the propellant. ---
**Author:** ![Michael63129](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3da27b/32.png) [@Michael63129](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael63129)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clogged-aerosol-spray-cans-irretrievable/633062/5 "2012-08-29T19:57:43Z")
A related issue that I have seen is that aerosol cans stored for a long time sometimes lose pressure; I recently tried to use a can of spray paint and a brief spray came out then nothing - even though it was still mostly full (it was stored in a garage which probably isn’t the best place since it was exposed to extremes of cold and heat, causing a leak in the seal). As for the clogging part, some cans tell you to turn them upside down and spray until only propellant comes out to clear the nozzle after use (and wipe it off). ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clogged-aerosol-spray-cans-irretrievable/633062/6 "2012-08-29T20:21:47Z")
You can buy replacement nozzles. It’s been a long time since I’ve needed any, but you can usually find small packets of them at arts/crafts shops, paint stores and similar places that sell lots of spray paint. Plan B is to soak the nozzle in whatever solvent is appropriate to the can. A good generic pick is ordinary paint thinner. Don’t poke anything into the nozzle - that just tends to pack the clog in tighter. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clogged-aerosol-spray-cans-irretrievable/633062/7 "2012-08-30T01:59:45Z")
My can of Krylon says before you store it, turn it upside down and spray until nothing comes out, and then you’ve cleared the head.