Hopeless pumps and squeeze mechanisms

Those bottles where you have to press the sides and press down at the same time de-press me.

I thought it was all just me until my dil said she has the same problems.

I spy an “opening” in the market here😉 when flogging menopause and 8 year olds “skincare” products has run out of steam we’ll see stuff being sold to the “older customer”.
It will take ‘em some time to cotton on but it won’t be long.!

Course the price will rise, that is a guaranteed.

My most valuable kitchen utensil is old fashioned nut crackers. I couldn't open any squeeze and turn containers without them.

I have endless problems with any container that needs opening, pressing or squeezing. The worse is ,or are, spray deodorants.
The only one that I can use is properly is Dove, even though it's a bit expensive. I've got various gadgets in the kitchen for opening bottles and cans etc, but spray things are hopeless. My hands and wrists seems to be terribly weak.

Suggest we put these complaints on twitter. I'm getting very fed up of pensioner-proof jars, bottles, and pate pots. For some, I need to bring a pair of pliers and a screw driver to bear and of course, there is always a risk of self-injury with that.

Then there is the plastic film on other pots., and there is a need to use scissors as not able to get a hold of the tiny little extra bit tagged on the corner to pull it off cleanly.

Supermarket reviews can help as well.

Plastic soup tubs is one of my bugbears.

Trying to break the seal is impossible for me.
I could go on with loads of other difficult to open packaging etc.
Why is everything designed to make life difficult.?

Most of these products have a “perceived” demographic that they push there stuff towards, with glossy ads on tv and online.
When did you last see a face cream or dental care product or vitamin advertised with the image of anyone over say the age of 48 and most likely a “celeb” at that?
That’s part of this issue.

The other is that being older just isn’t “sexy” and sex, youth, obscene good health are the industries main focus.
I wonder what might change this perception.
Any ideas. because at the moment these manufacturers do not seem to give a proverbial.

Yes, the bleach bottles are very difficult to open. Those indentations to press have little give. I’ve had to force them open with a sharp knife. Even the handwash pump bottles often don’t work. The film covering many meat products is also extremely difficult to completely remove. We are expected to recycle the tray, but not the film. I’d guess that, as removing the film from the edges can be so hard, many people won’t bother.

Oh …and of course there is the shipping and transporting.ie can it survive it’s journey to the other side of the world, and will it last X number of months.

Stand shampoo bottles, mayonnaise etc. upside down with the lid on when they are not in use. You may have to prop them up behind the bath taps, or stand them in a glass or mug, as the makers have craftily used containers that are hard to empty completely. (They sell more that way.)

Gravitiy will then ensure that the contents is near the top of the bottle, so you readily can get the shampoo or whatever where you want it, when you want it. As long as you can get the top of, that is!

Struggled to open a bottle of bleach for a couple of days, asked
younger visitors to try but no luck. In the end managed to cut the top off the bottle with some difficulty but now have to find another receptacle for it!

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202501/medium-873954-618cdu3k1hl-ac-sx300-sy300-ql70-ml2-.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202501/medium-292088-41qb4aysqol-ac-sx300-sy300-ql70-ml2-.jpg

knspol

Struggled to open a bottle of bleach for a couple of days, asked
younger visitors to try but no luck. In the end managed to cut the top off the bottle with some difficulty but now have to find another receptacle for it!

You need one of these! I inherited my MIL's, which is like the one with the white handle.

I get annoyed with the spray for the shower cubicle glass. The trigger gets worn out when the bottle is still half full. So I squeeze it and have to keep pulling it back up with every squirt. (Hard to explain but some of you may understand what I mean). I can't get the top off to decant to another sprayer.

The film covering many meat products is also extremely difficult to completely remove. We are expected to recycle the tray, but not the film. I’d guess that, as removing the film from the edges can be so hard, many people won’t bother.

Tesco bacon have got it right. I can pull up the corner and it peels off all four sides. If they can get one thing right why can't they get more.

Yes, my dog has Forthglade meat in a plastic container with an allegedly rip off soft plastic lid. It’s like breaking into Fort Knox trying to open it. I now use a sharp knife to pierce the lid and cut it off, then put the unused meat into a Tupperware box. It’s very annoying.

Just have to add baking powder containers with their many toothed little lids that never come off. How do others manage this, I struggle every time.

I hate "re-sealable" plastic bags. In my experience, they hardly ever are - and I hate the thought of all the salaries and materials that went into the design and manufacture of the damn things. I just cut the whole top off, fold it over a couple of times, then put an elastic band around the package. Done.

Allira

knspol

Struggled to open a bottle of bleach for a couple of days, asked
younger visitors to try but no luck. In the end managed to cut the top off the bottle with some difficulty but now have to find another receptacle for it!

You need one of these! I inherited my MIL's, which is like the one with the white handle.

I'd love to know the maker's name. I had two of those in rapid succession and then gave up (bruised hands and they didn't shift the lids at all). Best thing is to rap the side of the lid sharply on something hard (I use the floor) until you hear it go click. Then the lid comes off as sweet as a nut.

I use a bar of soap and a shampoo bar. No bottles in the shower - much easier when hands are wet.

knspol

Struggled to open a bottle of bleach for a couple of days, asked
younger visitors to try but no luck. In the end managed to cut the top off the bottle with some difficulty but now have to find another receptacle for it!

Inside those child-proof lids you'll see two small sticky-out tabs. Anyone with strong steady hands can saw the tabs off carefully (I use a Stanley knife but VERY CAREFULLY!). Without them, you can re-close the bottle without it clicking immovably shut again. (Keep it out of the way of children, of course.)

Sorry, I seem to be monopolising this thread, but I've just thought of something else. I have a set of tools which are useful in many different situations (not just one thing made for one job). These pliers, which can be slid into two positions, will fit lots of tops that are too big to fit normal pliers. No idea whether you can still get them (it's been in my family for at least 70 years) but I wouldn't part with this little treasure for all the tea in China and India combined!

NonGrannyMoll

Allira

knspol

Struggled to open a bottle of bleach for a couple of days, asked
younger visitors to try but no luck. In the end managed to cut the top off the bottle with some difficulty but now have to find another receptacle for it!

You need one of these! I inherited my MIL's, which is like the one with the white handle.

I'd love to know the maker's name. I had two of those in rapid succession and then gave up (bruised hands and they didn't shift the lids at all). Best thing is to rap the side of the lid sharply on something hard (I use the floor) until you hear it go click. Then the lid comes off as sweet as a nut.

The white and metal one in the second picture is Brabantia, I think.
The turquoise and grey one is Otstar.

Other makes available, I just googled jar and bottle openers.
The Brabantia one is similar to one I inherited from my MIL but the other one looks more grippy in fact.

With a jar we sometimes tap round the edge of the lid with the back of a knife and if released the seal.

Bleach bottles are the worst.

NonGrannyMoll

I hate "re-sealable" plastic bags. In my experience, they hardly ever are - and I hate the thought of all the salaries and materials that went into the design and manufacture of the damn things. I just cut the whole top off, fold it over a couple of times, then put an elastic band around the package. Done.

=\=\

Yes! I have often meant to bring these up on Gransnet. What is the point of them?