Prevent Your Glue Bottle From Drying Shut With One Bathroom Staple

Glue may be the king of your craft room, but its powers impact all corners of a house, fixing everything from toys to tile. In fact, the versatile adhesive is a must-have in an important place in your home: your bathroom medicine cabinet. According to the Mayo Clinic, in an emergency, super glue can seal up small cuts until you can secure proper medical treatment. Coincidentally, another bathroom staple can come to the rescue when your go-to adhesive is working a bit too well. A little Vaseline can go a long way to prevent you from being shut out of using your favorite glue.

Whether it's glue sticks, rubber cement, fabric adhesive, or the everyday white variety with the familiar orange ribbed cap, if you're not diligent about wiping off excess sealant from the vessels' cover after each use, there's a good chance you'll be struggling to open it in the future. This is especially true if you're a fan of cyanoacrylate glue. The popular acrylic resin is better known as Super Glue, Krazy Glue, or Gorilla Glue. The fast-acting adhesive is designed to create strong bonds between various materials, including metal, plastic, leather, and rubber. However, its superior curing ability also forces many homeowners to dig around for pencils, pliers, or paper clips to pry open glue containers that are sealed shut. Fortunately, there is a quicker, easier, and safer way to solve this sticky situation.

Let's face it: if you are reaching for glue, there's a good chance something has gone wrong. And in that moment of high anxiety, you're probably not concentrating on properly storing your adhesive when you're done using it. However, by smearing a light coat of petroleum jelly — like Vaseline — under the cap and around the rim of the glue's container before putting it away, you can help prevent the adhesive from drying in the cover's crevices and plastering the top shut.

Given that Vaseline is made of non-toxic waxes and natural mineral oils, applying the gelatinous substance to the glue's nozzle or covering it directly with your finger is safe. Doing so will allow you to thoroughly coat the threads of the cap prior to storing the entire container. In addition, there's no need to worry about getting paste on your skin during the Vaseline application process, as petroleum jelly compromises glue's bonds, thereby preventing the adhesive from damaging or irritating your skin.

Finally, keep in mind that cyanoacrylate adhesives are activated by moisture in the air. Consequently, to increase the effectiveness of the Vaseline technique, consider storing the glue's original bottle in an airtight plastic bag. Additionally, if you save silica gel packs that come with new shoes, electronics, or purses, add one to the plastic resealable bag to help absorb any humidity that may build up over time.