Convert Child-Resistant Cap to Adult Friendly

Don’t you hate it when you start to open something as simple as a bottle of mouthwash and all you get is click-click-click, or worse yet, locked shut – sorry, no entry here unless you squeeze together these two specific areas, then rotate. And the cap seems to be saying “maybe, just maybe, if you squeeze hard enough I’ll let you open the bottle”.

Well cheer up my friends, for that resistant mouthwash bottle the solution lies in simple set of nail clippers which should be somewhere in your bathroom along with that mouthwash anyway! You’re about to convert that child-resistant cap to the adult friendly variety.

Side Note: Obviously besides mouthwash there are many other types of child-proof caps and lids for containers, especially medicines and cleaning products. And if there any young children in the house, you shouldn't modify them in any way that would alter that child-resistant quality. But if you live sans children, modifying the caps or lids really improves the convenience of the product. Enjoy!

Step 1: What You'll Need

Nail clippers

That's it. Simple.

Step 2: See That Spike -

Most mouthwash bottles have child-resistant caps that act like a ratchet against a tapered spike protruding from the neck of the bottle just under the threads.

Step 3: Now Let That Spike Say Hello to Your Little Friend

Take those nail clippers and slide them over that spike. Keep it close to the neck of the bottle. I usually find it easiest to slide the clippers from the side onto the spike instead of trying to force them straight on. Larger clippers will make it easier too.

Don’t try to clip that spike off all at once. It’s pretty tough and squeezing the clippers too hard could damage them. But steady pressure on the clippers combined with a gentle up-down rocking motion will cause that spike to pop right off in just a few seconds.