Can't get the cotton our of your med bottles?

[Gimpy]

http://www.lehmans.com/jump.jsp?itemType=PRODUCT&itemID=2361

I bought one of these pickle grabbers, not from the above site, a few years ago because we eat so many pickles I thought it would be neat.

I have come to use it more for getting cotton packed in bottles for shipping. It's harder then anything to get a hold of it and pull it out. If you have arthritis in your hands, it's even harder to get.

But with this, it's easy.

Just thought I'd share a tip. I just googled it for a picture to use and it was on that site. I don't represent that site at all nor have I ever used it.

Linda

[mrsdoubtfyre]

when you use tweezers or whatever, the cotton comes out better if you
twist the bottle at the same time, you pull.

Many companies now do not use cotton. It seems to be less common.

[Mark N]

Thanks for the good tips as it is often tougher for us men as our fingers are too large to get the cotton.

[Mike Weins]

OOoooo I will have to pass the pickle picker idea off to my mom :) Even with her long fingernails she sometimes has trouble.

[Gimpy]

when you use tweezers or whatever, the cotton comes out better if you
twist the bottle at the same time, you pull.

Many companies now do not use cotton. It seems to be less common.

Mrs. D.

I've tried tweezers too. This works better because the tweezers can only open as far as the hole size. These open up inside the bottle to grab more. However, I've never tried the twisting and pulling at the same time. I imagine it would wind up on the tweezers to pull a bigger portion out.

Linda

[mrsdoubtfyre]

I've used scissors, and long tweezers, and for a while some spatulas
came with little "hook" type picker on the handle. These worked the best.
So they don't have "pinching" issues. Just hook, and twist and the cotton is out. Those little cuticle scissors work pretty well too. They fit narrow necks but require good finger control


I have a pickle grabber in my kitchen..mine has rather thin weak looking
prongs. For some bottles, they might get bent.

Some manufacturers have started using a clear cellophane type substitute for cotton. It is much nicer I think. But it won't work well for small bottles.
Pfizer's (and Greenstone's) narrow necked bottles are the worst IMO.

This link is interesting:
http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/6003914/description.html

[Buttons2]

I use twissors also,now what tricks do you have for the foil covering?I usually end up poking a big hole then peeling it away.

[Gimpy]

This link is interesting:
http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/6003914/description.html


Fiqures, I'm sure there is a patent for just about everything since it has gotten easier to do. :)

Linda

[mrsdoubtfyre]

I use twissors also,now what tricks do you have for the foil covering?I usually end up poking a big hole then peeling it away.

To remove foil... use a knife..it doesn't have to be sharp. Or a spatula blade.

This is hard to describe, but I place is at the edge of the bottle at a little angle, and press down. It then breaks the seal at the edge and then you turn the bottle with your other hand and use the metal edge to just separate the whole disc of foil. It can be very quick, and easy. Some foils have a plastic on the bottom, and these are the hardest to remove. I have used a straight edged razor blade at times for those plasticized types. That is even faster, but the blade is risky. When one does hundreds a day...time is of the essence! When you only do one here and there at home these tricks don't occur to you.

[Diandra]

Hi Linda,
Not only is that pickle grabber a great idea(I ordered one for my Dad)...that is one great website for ALL kinds of neat and useful items. They have all these old-fashioned toys too...I ordered an old fashioned "jaw harp" that they use for bluegrass music for my little nephew. Thanks for the link.
Hope you are doing well today.
All my best,
Diandra