We have all been there. You grab your metal grinder, twist the top, and... nothing happens. It is completely locked up, glued shut by months of sticky resin.

When your grinder is jammed, your first instinct might be to force it or start banging it on the table. Don't do that! You'll just strip the threads or dent the metal. Here is how to unstick your grinder and get it spinning smoothly again.

The Freezer Trick (For Quick Fixes)

If your grinder is just stubbornly sticky but not totally cemented shut, toss the whole thing in the freezer for about 20 minutes.

The freezing temperature makes the sticky plant resin brittle instead of gooey. Take it out, give it a firm twist, and it should crack loose. Once it's open, use a stiff brush (a clean toothbrush works great) to knock all the dried resin out of the threads and teeth.

The Deep Clean (For Seriously Stuck Grinders)

If your aluminum or steel grinder is completely locked up and the freezer trick didn't work, it's time for a bath.

• Step 1: Place your grinder (or the pieces of it, if you can get it partially apart) into a glass bowl or a Ziploc bag.
• Step 2: Pour in enough 90% isopropyl alcohol to submerge it.
• Step 3: Let it soak for 30 minutes. The alcohol will dissolve the hardened resin.
• Step 4: Take it out, pull it apart, and scrub the stubborn spots with an old toothbrush. Rinse it thoroughly with warm water and let it dry completely.

Note: Only do this with metal or glass grinders. Alcohol can ruin acrylic or wooden grinders!

How to Prevent It From Happening Again

The easiest way to keep your grinder spinning freely is to do a little preventative maintenance. Every few weeks, take a Q-tip dipped in a tiny bit of alcohol (or Randy's Swipes) and wipe down the "friction ring" (the thin plastic or metal ring on the top lid) and the threads where the pieces screw together. Keep those clean, and you'll never have to wrestle with your grinder again.