For the longest time I had a love/hate relationship with repurposing and reusing empty containers. While I loved being able to give empty bottles and jars new life by finding some other way to use them, I also hated how hard it was to remove the impossibly stubborn labels attached to them!
Over the past decade of my blogging career, I’m sure I’ve tried nearly every method under the sun for removing labels from glass jars and containers. I’ve mixed up dozens of potions and concoctions in my attempts to remove that sticky combination of paper and glue, but as is often the case, it turned out that the best solution was also the simplest one!
More Ideas You'll Love
Glass bottles
1. Boil water (preferably in a kettle).
2. As the water is heating up, fill the bottle with warm water from the tap. This will warm up the glass to above room temperature, making it unlikely to crack when you perform the next step.
3. Empty the bottle into the sink. Then, wearing oven mitts, carefully pour the hot water into the glass bottle. If you don't have a kettle, use a funnel or spouted measuring cup.
4. The heat from the water should loosen the label's adhesive, allowing you to pull off the label, being careful not to tear it. If you do begin to tear it, just start peeling at another corner.
5. Pour out the hot water.
6. Find cooking oil, baking soda, a shallow bowl and paper towels (or cotton balls).
7. Mix two parts oil and one part baking soda in the bowl.
8. Using a finger, apply the mix to any sticky residue left on the bottle by the label.
9. Allow the mix to set for five minutes. If the label is particularly stubborn, feel free to leave it longer.
10. Use a paper towel to scrub the bottle clean (the residue should dissolve easily).
11. Once all sticky bits have been removed, rinse the bottle with water and dish soap to remove excess oil.
12. Find a new home for your squeaky-clean container.
Plastic bottles
Not all plastic bottles can handle boiling water, and scrubbing the adhesive from them is usually slightly easier. So if you want to remove that sticky stuff from a plastic bottle, simply start by removing the label, then proceed to step 4 above.