Many household cleaning products are contained in spray bottles, and the bottle design often makes it difficult to access the last part of the product. Not only that, but the nozzles can become clogged, and the spray mechanism itself can simply stop working. Many of these problems can be corrected, so you don't have to buy new product bottles, and you can save empty bottles for reuse.
What will go wrong
The operation of the pump spray bottle depends on a spring-loaded plastic piston operated by a trigger or vertical pump mechanism. When the trigger is pulled or the pump is pressed, the piston will force the fluid in the piston cavity to be ejected through the fine mist sprayer pump. The fine mist sprayer pump is usually equipped with a screw-on adjustment cap. After each spray, the piston automatically retracts, creating a vacuum in the chamber, which sucks more fluid from the bottle through the tube. If your sprayer does not work, it is because the nozzle is blocked, the piston seal is damaged or the inner tube is not immersed in the fluid.
Unblock the nozzle
If your spray bottle contains oil or other substances that may harden (such as hair spray), you may have to clean the nozzle regularly. Before doing this, turn the nozzle cap a quarter turn counterclockwise to loosen the nozzle cap, and then try to spray again. If the nozzle is too tight, the sprayer may be working now. If not, unscrew and remove the cap, place it in hot water, or immerse it in vinegar, and use a pin to poke a hole in any blockage in the nozzle itself. If your bottle contains hairspray, soak the nozzle in alcohol. If the blockage is severe, you may need to unscrew the entire sprayer from the bottle and immerse it in vinegar or alcohol.
Extension tube
The plastic tube connected to the sprayer is designed to reach the bottom of the bottle, but it often curls, and when the liquid level is low, the end will protrude from the liquid in the bottle. You can use a one-foot-long 1/8-inch plastic pipe from a hardware store to prevent this. Cut the existing pipe so that there is only one inch left in the sprayer, then push the 1/8-inch pipe onto the sprayer and connect the 1/8-inch metal nut to the other end. Even if the bottle is turned sideways or overturned, the counterweight can immerse the tube in the water.
Solve other problems
When pumping the piston, the piston does not retract, usually, the spring is broken or missing, but sometimes the spring suddenly pops out. Springs are not always available, but if they are available, you can usually find alternatives in hardware stores. If the spring cannot be reached or the piston seal fails, the sprayer needs to be replaced. When the seal fails and the trigger is pulled, but the sprayer delivers very little fluid, you can improve the performance of the sprayer by spraying it with vegetable oil.