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 those 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!
And I’ll be sharing my super simple method for how to remove labels from jars, bottles, and other glass containers here in today’s post. Hopefully this quick and easy method will make us all more likely to repurpose our glass instead of throwing it out! :-)
My Secret Weapon for Removing Labels From Glass
It turned out that the solution to my problem of how to easily remove labels was already in my laundry room cupboard: OxiClean! Just one scoop of OxiClean and some warm water is all you need remove the labels from a whole batch of jars, bottles, or other glass containers.
Not only is it among the most effective methods I’ve tried, but it’s by far the easiest one! The OxiClean does all of the hard work for you, and you just sit back and watch those stubborn and sticky labels slide right off!
To learn about other useful things you can do with OxiClean around the house, check out this post!
How to Remove Labels From Glass
You’ll need:
- Sink stopper
- Gloves
- OxiClean
Directions:
Start by gathering the glass items whose labels you want to remove. Place a sink stopper in your sink’s drain, add a scoop of OxiClean, then start filling your sink with warm water.
Turn off the water when the water level in the sink is high enough to cover your bottles. Place the glass into the Oxiclean solution, and allow it to soak there for about 30 minutes.
After half an hour, come back and check on the labels. (Put your gloves on first though—OxiClean can really dry out your skin!)
The labels may have fallen off the glass at this point, or you may only have to peel them off. Either way, you shouldn’t have any trouble washing away the remaining residue!
Then just give your glass items a quick rinse, dry them off, and they’ll be ready to reuse in whatever way you see fit! :-)
What About Other Types of Containers?
While this is by far the best method I’ve used for removing labels from glass containers, other methods may work better on other types of containers. Get all my best tips and tricks for removing labels and other types of stickers from all sorts of surfaces, check out this blog post.
More Ideas You'll Love
What sort of containers do you like to reuse or repurpose?
Thanks for the post Jillee! I keep washing soda around also for making my own laundry soap! Glad for this info about labels.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Coconut oil works good too…put it on the sticky label and rub it. It breaks it down. Your way sounds like much less work though.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Just curious. If you plan to use a vinegar jar (with its distinctive shape) to make ‘homemade’ vinegar, why would you want to remove the existing label that declares VINEGAR?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Peanut butter will also work on glue residue from labels.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use mayonnaise – spread enough to cover the sticky part and let it sit for awhile….perfection!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.You can fill the jar with water and put it in the microwave…the label peels right off, a little bit of Baking Soda will get any of the leftover goop off.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Connie, for how long and at what power level? I’d like to try this. Thank you.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.For items that can’t get wet, try using a blow dryer to loosen the glue of the label. I have taken labels off gifts as well as packages using the heat from a blow dryer.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Perfect timing. I have an empty bottle of Braggs sitting on my counter and washing soda in my laundry room. Can’t wait to try it. Thanks for all the great tips. I so appreciate them all.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I also re-use glass bottles and I use the Method cleaner that is pink it has grapefruit in it and is free of chemicals and you could literally drink it so since I usually use the bottles for food items I don’t want to have any chemical residue contaminate the food. It works great too! I’ll apply the product and minutes later the label is off.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Try WD-40.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Beats scrubbing, and I’ve done me fair share along with others. Lol Thanks for the great hint. Ķgw
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks for this helpful idea! I’ll definitely try it. Do you have any ideas for reusing the small glucose test strip containers? I can recycle them, but I’d rather put them to another use.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hi, I work in healthcare doing health screenings and one of the other technicians said that after the event if there’s any bottles left she wanted them. She proceeded to say that she uses them to hold change.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I tried this today, and it worked like a charm. I also used some dry washing soda to scrub the stubborn spots. Thanks, Jillee!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I am a homebrewer and have to de-label cases and cases of bottles at a time. I soak them in oxyclean for a few hours and come back to labels floating on top of the water. warm water works best..just don’t let them sit for days on end or the bottles get a nasty residue on them. I am going to give this a try to compare and see what’s cheapest – thanks for the tip!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Avid homebrewer here so I feel your frustration. I too have tried everything under the sun to get labels off bottles. What allot of homebrewers and myself use is simply Oxyclean Free and water. Let soak for about 30 min and they slide right off.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Great idea, but may I suggest the use a large bowl or something else that isn’t wasting all of the water it takes to fill a sink.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’ve also used OxyClean. Works like a charm!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hey now, quit reading my mind!! lol I have an empty Bragg’s bottle sitting under my sink waiting to be de-labeled. Now I don’t dread doing it and will take it off tomorrow. :D Thank you thank you thank you!!!
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