Why is everything so damned hard to open?

[Jazzy1]

Does anyone feel like everything these days is overpackaged and unnecessarily hard to open? I feel like I need to wear a holster with scissors just to get through an average day. And forget “tear here” and “easy open resealable” they usually don’t work.

 

[hearlady]

I try to be careful. People get hurt trying to open difficult packages with knives etc.
I got some heavy duty scissors at Lowes for those tough plastic packages. I use them for many things that ordinary scissors can't handle.

 

[katlupe]

I hear you! I have trouble opening almost everything. I use heavy duty poultry scissors if needed. For shipping boxes I use a sharp utility knife but have to be extra careful when using that thing.

 

[IrishEyes]

I feel like it's a conspiracy to make us older folks feel helpless and move to assisted living.

 

[JustDave]

Anybody buy the new child proof packages of hearing aid batteries lately? You're in for a treat. My guess is that more children will be eating batteries as frustrated adults loose hearing aid batteries into carpets and under chairs as they try to get them out of the packaging. It's the worst well intended blunder since they stopped producing gas cans that poured gas without spilling gas all over your shoes.

 

[IrishEyes]

Anybody buy the new child proof packages of hearing aid batteries lately? You're in for a treat. My guess is that more children will be eating batteries as frustrated adults loose hearing aid batteries into carpets and under chairs as they try to get them out of the packaging. It's the worst well intended blunder since they stopped producing gas cans that poured gas without spilling gas all over your shoes.

I had to buy those tiny circle ones for my dogs laser light, same thing. Me trying to get them out of the packaging, him sitting there
whining and twitching about because he knew a new battery was a bigger target and he wanted to get it! Talk about being pressured!

 

[Messy]

I couldn't find my can opener and asked my son and normally he does ploop and it's open, but he said it was tighter than normal.

 

[jujube]

Opening a bottle of water is an ordeal for me. They make the plastic so thin that when you have to grip it tightly while trying to twist the tiny little lid off, the second the lid comes loose the water comes gushing out.....all over you.

Luckily, I don't buy plastic waterbottles often, but it happens.

My daughter once had to undergo two hours of microsurgery on her index finger when she severed a tendon stabbing a plastic container with a sharp knife, trying to open it. She still cannot totally curl or extend that finger.

I want to damn some of the designers of packaging to eternal hell where they have to open the packages with their bare hands while standing barefoot on shards of sharp plastic....lol.

 

[Messy]

Opening a bottle of water is an ordeal for me. They make the plastic so thin that when you have to grip it tightly while trying to twist the tiny little lid off, the second the lid comes loose the water comes gushing out.....all over you.

I always open it with this:

 

[Pappy]

I eat a lot of pickled beets. Usually have to use a pair of vise grips to open those jars. The child proof medication containers are very rough to open. Push down and twist. Yea, sure my foot.

 

[Sunkist]

Yes- the so-called safety seal part on the cap of some juices..

 

[raybar]

I have no trouble opening anything, although I sometimes do use tools rather than just my hands. Mrs. Molly, however, has little real strength remaining in her hands. But she has no trouble either - just gives things to me.

 

[Jules]

Yes- the so-called safety seal part on the cap of some juices..

If you’re referring to the secondary seal on some things, yes. It has a little itty bitty tab that you’re supposed to be able to grasp. I usually end up stabbing that seal with a very sharp knife.

 

[Sunkist]

If you’re referring to the secondary seal on some things, yes. It has a little itty bitty tab that you’re supposed to be able to grasp. I usually end up stabbing that seal with a very sharp knife.

They can be a little pesky, too, but I was referring to the part on the actual cap.

 

[retiredtraveler]

We call 'child proof' tops 'adult proof' tops. If you have a major store in your area that sells kitchenware, you may be able to find various tools to help open different types of containers. A relative of mine who has problems with her hands has gone to medical supply stores that have all kinds of handy gadgets for gripping, twisting, fetching items out of normal reach, etc. If you have such a store around and can afford some gadgets, take a look. We purchased jar openers years ago and more recently, a small tool to open cans that have a pull tab.

 

[Della]

Just now, I was scanning the forum while struggling with my dog's monthly Simparica tablet. My eyes lit on this thread as I shredded my thumb nail trying to "peel and push" as instructed on the aluminum foil covering that's on each and every pill. Why don't we cover our jet liners with this stuff?

 

[Pappy]

Just now, I was scanning the forum while struggling with my dog's monthly Simparica tablet. My eyes lit on this thread as I shredded my thumb nail trying to "peel and push" as instructed on the aluminum foil covering that's on each and every pill. Why don't we cover our jet liners with this stuff?

This handy gadget would sure help you. Amazon has several different aids.
I forgot to show you the picture.

 

[jim_slim]

Try opening one of these:

 

[Sunkist]

or those pesky things cassette tapes were in in the past..

 

[debodun]

It stems back to the 1980s Tylenol incident:
Chicago Tylenol murders - Wikipedia

Now everything is hermetically sealed "for your protection."

 

[Sunkist]

It stems back to the 1980s Tylenol incident:
Chicago Tylenol murders - Wikipedia

Now everything is hermetically sealed "for your protection."

I remember that.. awful..

 

[dusty]

Here's one...theose tubes of yougert. I orderd a name brand I like lot and thought it would be in a container like cottage cheese----but NO....it arrived in a cardboard boxy thing with 6 tubes of yougert. Mistake on my shoppers part. I tried to open one and for the life of me cannot even figure out the instructions. I ended up getting my scissors out and cutting the bottom off.

 

[PeppermintPatty]

I think fingers are the first things to go due to arthritis so everything becomes difficult to open. I can open bottles of water but opening jars and things on my own is sometimes difficult. Normally I use a blunt knife and bang it on the side of the jar lid a few times but my husband likes to reuse those jars for canning and my banging the lids wrecks them, so I have to wait until he opens it for me.
Other things that are covered in plastic, I use a good sturdy pair of scissors for. These days everything is over sealed it seems.

 

[Rae]

I have a hard time opening pill bottles that are child proof. They are also adult proof. I struggle with a dinner knife to go around the lid, trying to loosen it enough to twist. Sometimes it opens after that and other times I have to keep trying. I forget to tell the pharmacy to use the other lids on them.

 

[HoneyNut]

I struggle with the little cat food containers that have the peel back foil tops. The people who design them must not have to use them, or else they think people like getting cat food on their fingers.