How to save a spoiled bottle of wine: Clever life hack removes unsavoury smells from liquor using just a PENNY 

  • First, grab a penny and give it a good wash using soap and hot water 
  • Drop it into the glass of red wine and stir it around for several minutes  
  • Take the coin out, the bad smell is gone and your tipple is as good as new  

By SARAH BARNS FOR MAILONLINE

Published: | Updated:

There's nothing worse than having to pour a bad-smelling bottle of red wine down the sink. 

But instead of throwing away the spoiled liquor, American scientists have unveiled a clever trick which shows how it can be saved using just a penny coin.  

A simple 1.30 minute long film, which explains the life hack, has received over 42,000 views since it was posted to YouTube by Reactions on December 7. 

Instead of throwing away the spoiled liquor, American scientists have unveiled a clever trick which shows how it can be saved using just a penny coin

Instead of throwing away the spoiled liquor, American scientists have unveiled a clever trick which shows how it can be saved using just a penny coin

All you have to do is grab a copper coin then give it a good wash using soap and hot water. 

Drop the clean penny into a glass of wine and stir it around for several minutes. 

Take the coin out of the glass, any unpleasant scents are gone and the tipple is now ready to drink. 

The smart trick also works with a silver spoon if you do not have a penny to hand. 

A simple 1.30 minute long film, which explains the life hack, has received over 42,000 views since it was posted to YouTube by Reactions on December 7

A simple 1.30 minute long film, which explains the life hack, has received over 42,000 views since it was posted to YouTube by Reactions on December 7

All you have to do is grab a copper coin then give it a good wash using soap and hot water

All you have to do is grab a copper coin then give it a good wash using soap and hot water

Drop the clean penny into a glass of wine and stir it around for several minutes

Drop the clean penny into a glass of wine and stir it around for several minutes

Take the coin out of the glass, any unpleasant scents are gone and the tipple is now ready to drink

Take the coin out of the glass, any unpleasant scents are gone and the tipple is now ready to drink

The chemists behind the video explained that wine sometimes smells of rotten egg, burning matches or burnt rubber because of a process called reduction. 

Some wine making processes restrict the liquid's contact with oxygen during fermentation.

At times, this process can start producing thiols, which are sulphur molecules and responsible for unsavoury smells. 

This trick doesn't work on corked wine, which stinks of mouldy cardboard and is due to a contaminated cork.

The caption on the wine-saving film read: 'Wine drinkers rejoice, if you've got a bottle of wine on hand that's pumping out bad, sulfury smells, we've got a cheap chemistry life hack to help.'

The team have also revealed how you can open a tin of tuna without an opener, take the top of a bottle of beer using a cigarette lighter and to sharpen your knife with just a plate.  

This trick doesn't work on corked wine, which stinks of mouldy cardboard and is due to a contaminated cork

This trick doesn't work on corked wine, which stinks of mouldy cardboard and is due to a contaminated cork

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