How to open a barefoot wine bottle without a corkscrew

The trouble with wine, it seems, is remembering a corkscrew. If you’ve forgotten the tool to pop open a bottle of wine, fear not, we’re here to hold your hand through some easy hacks for ways to open a wine bottle without a corkscrew. By the time you’ve read these, it’ll be: Viola, vino.

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Hardwire a Fix with Some Hardware

One way you can learn how to open a wine bottle without a corkscrew is to drill a screw into the cork and remove it by pulling it out with a hammer. In a pinch if you have a loose screw laying around use it to get a cork out. Simply screw it into the middle of the cork with a screwdriver or drill. Leave enough room to use the back of a claw hammer to remove it. Learn the best way to store wine glasses.

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Use a Shoe

Another way you can learn how to open a wine bottle without a wine opener involves a little force. Unleash your frustration of forgetting or misplacing a corkscrew by banging the cork out with a shoe or some other object to help absorb the impact of banging the bottle against a hard surface. But this trick only works with regular corks, not the plastic version, and you can’t use a shoe with too much cushioning. The wine will eventually force the cork out because liquids act like a solid when in a container. Follow these tips on how to remove wine stains from carpet if you should have any spills.

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Open Wine Bottle With a Key

Insert a key, preferably one you have extra copies of, at a 45 degree angle into the cork until most of it is inserted into the cork. Then begin twisting the cork up as pushing up with the key until you get the cork out. Be careful because a weak key has a possibility of breaking. Find a place to store your wine by learning how to build a wine rack.

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Hang on with a Hanger

Take a hanger and form it in the shape of a hook with a pair of pliers. Place the new hook on the edge of the cork with the u shape facing up. Wiggle the hook back and forth until it’s about 2 inches down. Rotate the hook so it grabs the bottom of the cork and then begin pulling once it catches the hook. Find an easy fix for a wine rack with some PVC piping.

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Cut the Cork

Make a small cut on either side of the cork and find a pair of clean, curved nail scissors or a pair of pliers. Put the nail scissors or pliers into the place the cork was cut and lift. Entice guests back by building a bar at home that was inspired by what others have done.

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Slide in Some Scissors

Find a pair of scissors and jam one of the blades into the cork. Twist the cork out while holding on to one of the handles of the scissors. Be sure to work slowly to prevent any potential injury. Prevent future wine-opening dilemmas and learn how to cut glass.

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Pump it Up

We might like this one the best because you get the pop sound if done correctly. Start with a bike pump and place the pump needle between the cork and the rim of the wine bottle. Pump it three or four times, but be careful because if you pump too much the bottle could explode. After a couple of pumps it cork will jump out or you can pull it out. Find out how to remove tough stains from vinyl flooring if you spill some wine.

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Use a Screw Hook

Insert a screw hook into the cork and once sufficiently screwed in, pull. Next time you won't have to spend so much time searching for a wine opener. Get ideas on how to build a bar with these 15 home bars.

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Find a Knife

Insert a serrated knife between the cork and bottle, and twist, gently applying upward pressure as you twist. Be sure to do this carefully since you're using a knife. Once you've got the wine open, plan on building a bar to store essential items like a corkscrew.

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String it Together

Tie a figure eight knot and slip it past the cork by wedging it down with a screwdriver or scissors. Once the knot is below the cork, tilt the bottle and then pull the string. If you find yourself with a spill, check out these tips to remove a stain from a plastic countertop.

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If all Else Fails, Just Push the Cork in

You can push the cork in with your finger until you need to find another object to finish the job. You can use a marker or a pen to get the cork to move. Sure you’ll have a cork sloshing around in your bottle of wine, but a quick glass of refreshing cabernet will help you forget that. Learn to build a pub shed to host friends for an evening of wine.

Originally Published: August 13, 2019