How do I get two plastic cups apart?

Question

I have two plastic cups stuck together...one small one inside of another and there might be some water in between.

Dey K · Answer

Hi Barbara,
I have this problem when gallon buckets are stacked and are still wet inside. The water seems to create a vacuum. Assuming the smaller cup really fits tight inside the bigger one, I have two suggestions: 1) put a towel or paper towels into the cups so that they are against where the 2 edges meet & can hopefully draw out (wick) the water, and place them upside down on another towel. Give that a day or so & try again. Or 2) run the hottest water you can stand into them, dump the water out, run some dish soap along the edges where they're stuck, and try to twist the smaller one around. If it comes loose, keep twisting & pull up, like a corkscrew motion. Hope something works! 
Dey

ROSALIE C · Answer

fill the bucket w/hot water....let soak a few minutes and empty water and pull apart

Judy Peters · Answer

Put it in the freezer for a few hours. Should pull apart when you turn them.

Pat Kukachka · Answer

As long as we're talking plastic, not glass, as it might crack, this should do the trick: Fill the cup with ice water and set the cups into a container of very hot water. The heat should expand the bottom cup and the cold will contract the top one. You should be able to pull them apart.

Lydia Whitehead Torres · Answer

I had this problem with glasses when I bar-tended. Put ice in the upper glass and hold the lower one under warm water for a few seconds. This will cause the upper glass to shrink and the lower one to expand. They should pull apart easily within a few seconds. It works like a charm.

Victoria Cross · Answer

Provided the cups have a coating, try spritzing or dropping a tiny bit of cooking oil in two or three places, evenly apart.  You mY need to wait a few minutes for it to seep in.  Unflavored oil spray may work too (Imdont use them so I can't say for sure it is works.  I did this when I had two Tupperware cups stuck together and it worked like a charm.  Wash real well afterward since the inside one will be slippery.

Begonia · Answer

Water expands when frozen so try cooling freezing and then fill inside cup with hot water. Never tried it but may work.

Alanda · Answer

What Pat said. the old expand and contract trick.

Forshawtink · Answer

Tap them

Robin Datin · Answer

did you try pouring oil in between the cups?

Becky · Answer

my husband did this with 2 Tervis cups. Put ice and water in the top cup, then put the bottom cup in HOT water, then twist. I couldn't believe it, but it worked!

Sara Haleva · Answer

I put ice cubes and cold water in the top cup. I put the bottom cup in a bowl of hot water. I think in less than a minute I was able to easily pull out the top cup--great easy solution--my cups were plastics of some sort.

Sandra · Answer

Put hot water inside the top cup to heat it then dip the bottom in cold water should come apart

How do I get two plastic cups apart?

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How do I get two plastic cups apart?

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