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How to Correctly Open an E-liquid Bottle
While it may seem like a simple subject, opening an e-liquid bottle can be a bit trickier than first thought, especially if it's your first time opening one, but don't worry—I'm here to run you through it and provide some tips and tricks to help you on your way.
Key Points
Most e-liquid bottles use child-proof caps to protect children from accidentally ingesting harmful substances like nicotine, and they're also required by law.
To open an e-liquid bottle, push the cap down and twist anti-clockwise or squeeze the sides and twist anti-clockwise. If you need more grip, use tools like a cloth or pliers.
If your e-liquid bottle is damaged, you can try fixing the nib or transfer the contents to a new bottle.
Child-Proof Caps
Child-proof caps are a special type of screw-top lid usually found on products that can be harmful if ingested, such as medicines and bleach. They help add a layer of security, so children don't accidentally consume the contents. E-liquids fall into this category as they can be very toxic if swallowed in liquid form.
By law, all e-liquid bottles are required to have child-proof and tamper-evident caps. So, if you've picked up a bottle of Elf Bar's ElfLIQ nic salt e-liquid, you'll notice that the cap spins if you open it normally. It also has a connector ring at the base, which must be broken to open, so it's easy to identify if the bottle has been opened.
The Importance of Child-Proof Caps
Of course, keeping our children out of harm's way is a top priority, but like many parents, I'm sure young children have a habit of letting their curiosity get the better of them. Without these child-proof caps in place, it would be all too easy for a young child to see the pretty colours on your Elux Legend e-liquid bottle and decide to have a taste - an act that could lead to disastrous consequences. Thanks to the unique way these caps have to be opened, most kids will give up when they can't open them normally, saving them and their parents a lot of trouble.
These caps are also essential to ensure you know your bottle isn't being tampered with. The little ring of the cap is attached to it, and when it's opened for the first time, the connections break. If you receive a supposedly unopened e-liquid bottle and find that this ring's connections are already broken, contact your supplier immediately and do not use the product, as there may be a chance that the contents have been modified, which could pose a substantial health risk.
How Child-Proof Caps Work
Despite appearing complex due to the cap's continual spinning, opening it normally is pretty straightforward. It requires a specific technique that involves pushing down on the cap and then twisting anti-clockwise while maintaining downward pressure.
The child-proof cap consists of an outer cap and an inner cap. These two components have teeth that interlock like gears when the cap is pushed down and rotated, allowing it to open freely. However, some caps require you to squeeze the sides and rotate instead or perform a combination of pushing down and squeezing to open. Test these methods on your e-liquid bottle, and you'll find the one that works pretty quickly.
How to Open Your E-liquid Bottle
To break it down even further, here's a step-by-step guide on how to open your e-liquid bottle:
Firmly grip the cap of your e-liquid bottle and push down. Different-sized caps and e-liquid bottles may require different amounts of pressure to engage the mechanism, so keep that in mind.
While pushing down, twist the cap of the e-liquid bottle to the left or anti-clockwise. Nearly all e-liquid bottles open this way (just remember: lefty loosey, righty tighty !).
If the cap requires squeezing instead of being pushed down, repeat the same steps as above, but instead of pushing down, firmly squeeze the sides of the cap before twisting.
Tip #1: Sometimes, leaked e-liquid can dry, forming a glue-like seal around the cap's thread. In this instance, more pressure and a more forceful twist, or the aid of some kind of tool, may be required.
Tip #2: Implements like rubber gloves and tea towels can provide a better grip when trying to twist off a stubborn cap. Pliers are also a helpful tool—they allow for a better grip on the cap and more force to be applied when pushing the cap down.
If your E-liquid Bottle or Nib is Broken
If your e-liquid bottle or nib is broken, there are a few ways to rectify the problem. If the nib is only slightly damaged, you may be able to use it as normal. If it's severely damaged, very carefully use a pair of scissors to snip the damaged part of the nib off to allow regular flow to be restored to the nib. Just make sure not to cut too close to the base, or you'll be in trouble!
If your e-liquid bottle is damaged, your only option is to replace the bottle. To do this, ensure your work area is clean so as not to risk the purity of your e-liquid. Then, find an empty e-liquid bottle and prise the nib out carefully with the tip of a flathead screwdriver or a small knife. Just be careful not to cut yourself if using the latter. Do the same with the broken e-liquid bottle.
You can also use any other bottle with an air-tight, leak-proof cap. A funnel or a syringe will help you transfer the e-liquid to the new bottle without spills.
Finally, make sure the nib or lid (depending on what type of bottle you're using) is properly secured in the new bottle, and you're ready to go! If you receive a broken e-liquid bottle, make sure to contact your supplier for advice and guidance.
Shortfill E-liquid Bottles - How to Open
Shorfill e-liquid bottles operate in much the same way as smaller e-liquid bottles but come with unique challenges, namely when removing the nib to administer a nic shot. You'll find shortfills in many different flavours, like Wick Liquor's Solstice Morning Star, which tastes of cheesecake drizzled in caramel, or the Zeus Juice 100 ml shortfill with Greek mythology-inspired flavours like Atlantis with its blue raspberry, blueberry and cool overtones.
Like smaller bottles, apply downward pressure to the cap or squeeze the sides to engage the child-proof mechanism and twist anti-clockwise to open. If the cap is stubborn, use the same tools as before.
Adding Nicotine Shots to Your Shortfill Bottle
Nicotine shots, or nic shots, are small bottles of concentrated nicotine suspended in VG and PG. They come in 10 ml bottles and can be added to shortfills, which have space for nic shots to increase the nicotine strength of the e-liquid, as shortfills typically come in 0 mg nicotine strength.
To add your nic shot to your short-fill e-liquid bottle:
Remove the nib from the bottle. As mentioned previously, this can be done carefully with a flathead screwdriver or small knife.
Once the nib is removed, squeeze in your desired nic shot and replace it, ensuring it's securely in place.
Screw on the lid and give the bottle a good shake to incorporate the nic shot with the rest of the e-liquid.
Typically, a 50 ml shortfill e-liquid bottle requires just one 10 ml nic shot at either 18 mg/ml or 20 mg/ml to make up to 60 ml of e-liquid at 3 mg nicotine strength. The same can be applied to 100 ml bottles with the same nicotine ratio, but these e-liquid bottles require two 10 ml nic shots.
Additional Tips and Tricks for Opening Your E-liquid Bottle + Storage Recommendations
Sometimes, those pesky e-liquid bottles just don't want to open, no matter how hard you try or what tools you use. Here are a few tricks you can try to make the opening process a bit easier for those instances.
Tips and Tricks + Storage Recommendations
Warming the e-liquid bottle— If the cap is stubborn, try holding the e-liquid bottle in your hands for a few minutes. The warmth can make the plastic more pliable, easing the opening process.
Placing in hot water - E-liquid that has leaked and solidified around the base of the cap can act like glue, preventing you from opening it. Placing the e-liquid bottle in a bowl of hot water can make the plastic expand and dissolve this glue-like seal, allowing for easy opening.
When it comes to storing your e-liquid bottles, there are a couple of things you want to do and avoid:
Keep the e-liquid bottle upright to prevent potential leaks.
Keep it in a cool, dark place out of direct sunlight. Sunlight can cause the e-liquid to spoil.
Do not store in the fridge, as extreme cold can cause the PG and VG to separate and the flavour molecules to crystallise.
Keep your e-liquid bottle away from electronic devices and magnets, as they can affect the quality.
Keep the cap tightly shut; oxidation can change the colour and ruin the flavour.
Safety and Precautionary Measures
Care should always be taken when handling e-liquid bottles, especially since they're designed to be child-proof and prevent accidental consumption by children. These precautions are in place for good reason, even if you're struggling to open the bottle. Check out these tips to keep safe while opening your e-liquid bottles:
Child-proof Caps:
Remember that child-proof caps have an inner and outer mechanism that needs to be activated to open.
Push the cap down to activate the lock
Only by doing this will the cap open. Otherwise, it'll just spin.
If Your Bottle Won't Open:
Don't use your teeth or any sharp objects to avoid injury.
Wrapping a cloth around the cap can provide extra grip to stubborn caps.
Pliers can also be helpful if the cap is stuck, but exercise caution to avoid hurting yourself or breaking the bottle.
Overall Precautionary Steps:
Keep your e-liquid bottles out of reach of children and pets.
Keep e-liquids in a cool, dry place to maximise lifespan.
Always check the bottle and cap for damage before opening.
Regulatory Compliance
The safety precautions employed by e-liquid bottles must also align with regulatory requirements to ensure consumer protection is upheld. In the UK, TPD (Tobacco Product Directive) laws help ensure strict guidelines are adhered to, that the bottles and caps are up to snuff, and that the packaging is both safe and compliant.
Child-proof caps must be designed to be pushed down and twisted to open. This stops children from accidentally accessing and ingesting the contents, which can potentially be harmful.
Packaging manufacturing must also comply with TPD laws, such as being able to withstand adverse weather while being transported without damaging the safety features of the product inside. This requirement is required, as the child-proofing should be strong enough to withstand any damage it may receive from the point of production to sale.
These regulations are not only for manufacturers to follow but also for you, the consumer, to understand. If you purchase any products that don't live up to these regulations, you are armed with the knowledge to understand that they don't meet safety standards, and you can act accordingly.
Summary
Hopefully, you now have all the information you need to correctly open your e-liquid bottle and safely troubleshoot any problems you may encounter. As mentioned at the beginning of this blog post, opening an e-liquid bottle may seem straightforward, but specific nuances and techniques make it a much smoother process. Follow these guidelines, and you'll enjoy your new bottle of IVG Bar Favourites, Lost Mary MaryLiq, or any other excellent e-liquid in no time at all.
FAQs
How do I open my E-liquid bottle?
Push down on the cap of the e-liquid bottle and twist anti-clockwise, or squeeze the sides of the cap and twist anti-clockwise.
What tools can help me open my e-liquid bottle if I can't do it by hand?
Textured items like a rubber gloves of a tea towel can help you get a better grip, or a tool like a pair of pliers can work too.
How do I open a child-proof e-liquid bottle?
Push down or squeeze the sides of the cap to engage the child-proof mechanism and then twist anti-clockwise.
Is there specific technique for opening an e-liquid bottle?
Usually applying downwards pressure to the cap or squeezing the sides works. The amount of pressure required depends on the shape and size of the cap.
What common mistakes should I avoid when opening an e-liquid bottle?
Don't force the cap as this could cause you injury and damage the bottle.
How do I deal with a broken e-liquid bottle?
If the nib is badly broken, carefully use scissors to snip off the broken part. If the bottle is broken, carefully transfer the contents to a new air-tight, leak-free bottle.
Sam Wareing
Sam, the lead content writer at Ecigone, has spent the past five years crafting content across various industries. As an avid vaper and a dedicated nicotine pouch user, he is passionate about thoroughly researching and using the products he writes about. Sam is a strong advocate for helping people transition from smoking to vaping.
