# How to open pump bottles? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 25, 2020, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-open-pump-bottles/912960 "2020-06-25T12:05:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2020, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-open-pump-bottles/912960/1 "2020-06-25T12:05:21Z")
I have 3 different pump bottles and can’t get the pump to pop up on any of them. I tried various things I found on youtube with no luck. One guy said it took him 30 minutes to get it working. Anyone have any tips for this? Never had this problem until recently. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2020, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-open-pump-bottles/912960/2 "2020-06-25T12:24:00Z")
I usually just turn the topmost bit. It seems to find a notch where it can open and rises up…maybe you need to encourage it to come upward once you find that point? One other thing I’ve found about pump bottles…the ones I keep in the shower usually malfunction before I’ve finished using the product. To get around this, I put a little plastic cup over the top. That keeps the pump mechanism dry and working forever. Good luck! ---
**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:** [June 25, 2020, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-open-pump-bottles/912960/3 "2020-06-25T13:57:37Z")
I buy the generic store-brand liquid hand soap for my bathroom and kitchen. My solution has been that if I can’t get the new hand soap open (which happens like 1 in 4 times), I swap out the pump from the previous hand soap and use that. I have not found a trick to open them reliably ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2020, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-open-pump-bottles/912960/4 "2020-06-25T14:03:02Z")
I’ve been doing that (reusing the pump dispenser) for my shampoo bottles for years. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-open-pump-bottles/912960/5 "2020-06-26T03:22:00Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > I usually just turn the topmost bit. It seems to find a notch where it can open and rises up…maybe you need to encourage it to come upward once you find that point? > One other thing I’ve found about pump bottles…the ones I keep in the shower usually malfunction before I’ve finished using the product. To get around this, I put a little plastic cup over the top. That keeps the pump mechanism dry and working forever. > Good luck! Do this. When you get it up put a tiny bit of baby oil or olive oil on the sliding part. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-open-pump-bottles/912960/6 "2020-06-26T12:04:41Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > I buy the generic store-brand liquid hand soap for my bathroom and kitchen. My solution has been that if I can’t get the new hand soap open (which happens like 1 in 4 times), I swap out the pump from the previous hand soap and use that. > > I have not found a trick to open them reliably ☹ Same. I’ve been having this problem with Irish Spring. The first bottle I got, opened up like a champ. Every bottle after that; no dice. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2020, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-open-pump-bottles/912960/7 "2020-07-05T21:31:36Z")
Solved the problem by buying a new pump bottle from a pottery shop.