How To: Separate Two Glasses That Are Stuck Together

Learn how to separate two glasses that are stuck together with this Howcast video tutorial.

You nested two glasses when you put them away — and now they're stuck! Gently pry them apart with this system.

You Will Need

• A sink
• Ice water
• And hot water

Step 1: Turn on the Tap

Fill the top glass with ice water; the cold will make the glass molecules contract.

Step 2: Switch to Hot Water

With the top glass still full of ice water, run hot water over the bottom glass, or place it in a few inches of hot water. The heat makes the bottom glass expand.

Step 3: Do the Twist

Gently twist the two glasses; they should come apart easily.

Step 4: Adjust Temperatures

Still stuck? Try colder water, or keep the bottom glass submerged in the hot water a little longer. Unsticking them can take anywhere from one to 10 minutes, depending on the glasses.

TIP: Add salt to the ice water to chill it faster.

FACT: One ton of glass consists of 1,300 pounds of sand and 380 pounds of limestone.