I think they are so annoying

I discovered this gadget years ago. It always works for me although my Mum never got the hang of it.
www.completecareshop.co.uk/kitchen-aids/bottle-and-jar-openers/baby-boa-bottle-opener
I find large jars more difficult to open though as I have small hands. I find that the Boa can be used on larger jars if I turn them on their sides - it can be a bit messy then but you have a lot of control using the Boa and can give the lid enough of a turn to loosen it rather than take it off completely. For ring pulls, I always use a vegetable peeler which has a pointed but not sharp end and is 'V' shaped so it is strong but slips under the ring and lifts it gently. I agree that bleach bottles with their child-proof tops can also be granny-proof as well - some makes are better than others for ease of opening.

I bash around the edge of the lid with the back of a knife and it usually works! I knew about the hot water method and sometimes use that.
I open sardine tins with a ring puller over the sink
Just threw away about a quarter of a squeezy bottle of honey because it had gone sugary so I am back to proper glass jars again now.

I've also got a little rubber 'mat' that is a gripper for opening jars etc.

here are some ideas I just found:
www.completecareshop.co.uk/kitchen-aids/bottle-and-jar-openers/?gclid=CMbXlLXlsNECFVRAGwodJIUGGg

Be Very Careful with microwave, my honey plastic bottle literally exploded !!!

I hate the last bit of ring pulling when it flicks the contents around - especially fish tins. Even a drop of smoked mackerel juice is smelly!

Sorry Irene lily I didnt see your post. I was a science teacher and used to teach that to children too!

For glass jare with metal lids, hold them under a very hot tap (expands the lid but not the jar) then use a tea towel to grip and it comes off easily. Works for me. Jabbing with knives sounds really dangerous to me, and the door hinge method damages the edge if the door, Ive found.

Rambling rose. The Brabantia gadget is still manufactured. See Luckygirl's link. It is also useful for opening bleach bottles.
To get the most out of hand cream and toothpaste tubes you have to cut off the top.

I have a plastic gadget for ring pulls - n ever fails. Got it from Keeneze. - are they still about? Lakeland probably do them. Glass jars - upend them in a small bowl of hot water. Leave for several mi notes. Glass and metal expand at uneven rates ( thanks science teacher years and years ago!) the jar will then open easily)

Plastic bags containing food that will not separate at the top and then splits down the side is very annoying.

I struggle with tin openers these days. I squeeze the handles together to puncture the tin, then I cant turn the flat bit round as I haven't got the grip. Must try one of those electric ones when I remember to look for one. Lots of tins are still not ring pull. Beer was first, well it's still a man's world isn't it...

Jar lids that have rounded sides so that my ancient jar opener won't work on them.

Ditto Bleach bottles. Sardine tins.

I can never ever pull the lid straight of.

Ready made soup cartons. Thank goodness milk containers have changed.

craftycat I too hate wasting face creams, hand creams etc in plastic tubes and cut them in half. But the cream then dries up before I've finished it. Next time I will scoop it out into a small jar with a lid which will probably be a messy business! So annoying.

Put hard to open jars tops in the hinge part of a door close the door onto it and twist the jar. The top is held fast and the jar comes away, my dear old mum taught me to do this and it works every time

Have had prob opening soluble aspirin s in those blister packs. Now buy bottle of them if I can find them! Also problem switching on sat nav and lakeland drier as I just don't have enough power in thumbs.

It is not just turning a lid that it is determined to stick, it is holding the body of the jar in my other hand, which can't grip hard enough to keep it from turning too. Those sheets of rubber are no use then. And some jars are too big, so I've even less grip.

I have a jar/bottle opener, problem is I can't squeeze it hard enough to use effectively. If you pierce lids on jars contents will not keep as well.Thin lids are a real problem as jar opener slips off. Rubber band trick I've used for years, first came across that as a tip to opening nail varnish bottles (about 45 years ago). Most plastic "squeezy" bottles are great especially if you can get top off to get last bits out. All plastic is re-cycleable as is glass. Marmite jars I rinse out with hot water to use in casseroles.
Bleach bottles are impossible for me to open (weak wrists/grip & arthritic thumb)

Marelli, I`ll look at the next Betterware book I get.
Luckygirl, I have one of those, don't know if it`s Brabantia, my daughter gave it to me, but I can`t get on with it.

I must try the microwave idea wildrose. I usually cut off the bottoms of the squeezies and scrape the contents out.

I hate jars that I can't open and juice cartons that you have to cut the corner off and then the juice squirts all over the table when you pick the carton up.

I jab lids with a knife use the door jam for stubborn bottle tops etc but squeezy bottles are awful I think because my kitchen is cold (8* today) the honey etc isn't as runny as it should be so needs a really hard constant squeeze and all squeezy jars have necks that the stuff gets stuck behind and knives won't go in so I cut the plastic in half to get to it and that's not as it should be a nice glass 'jam jar' type is what I need

I tap side of jar lid on back doorstep to release pressure. Also have a rubber mat thing to help grip. Sometimes have problem with ring pull cans ( cat food)when I use the handle of a wooden spoon as a lever.

For stiff jar lids I usually jab a sharp knife through it to release the vacuum.
Husband doesn't approve - he keeps all empty jars with lids for his nails and screws etc.

boggles - that is such a good idea; I had that passed on to me and it works every time. The only thing I would say is to be mindful of the shape of the jar or bottle - I gave a jar of sundried tomatoes a neat tap on the tiled kitchen floor. The lid loosened at once but I had also cracked open the 'shoulder' of the jar - it took a whole kitchen roll to mop up the oil!

And the lion on the syrup tin is not dead!

I couldn't get the tops open on Boots own brand vitamins tablets. So I took them to local Boots store and spoke to manager. He showed me a trick - you get a small strong elastic band, wind it round the top (usually goes twice round) then turn to open. Tahdah. It usually works. I use it on bottles of spring water, etc.
The problems with packaging need to be addressed but it's not considered as a big enough issue, even though many of us struggle daily.