In my quest to reclaim a Mason jar (specifically Classico pasta sauce jars) I needed to soak off the labels. I submerged the jars in hot water and let them sit until the paper was easy to pull off.
The best part with the Classico jars is that the glue they use is also water soluble! I was able to remove the glue with hot soapy water.
With another jar, I removed the glue with Goo Gone and a paper towel. I was amazed at how well this worked!
I love vinegar and use it for everything, I have a spray bottle full. To remove a label, I simply wet the label good then I spray with vinegar. Let it sit for a few minutes. Remove the label, then respray the glue with vinegar and wipe.
I realized that if I just spray a coat of furniture polish on the jar and let it sit, the label and all the sticky glue comes right off with the wipe of a towel.
So how does everyone remove the digital writing, sell-by dates, etc. from the tops of jars? It's fairly easy to get if off the glass with a dry brush scrub. What I'm talking about is the caps. I have tried lots of things. Alcohol did not work.
By Vee333
I have used hairspray (also removes ink from clothes). Then there is Goof Off... a good little can product to keep around as it can do many "remove" jobs. Good luck!
You can make a Goo Gone alternative that works very well by mixing two parts vegetable oil with one part baking soda. The oil loosens the glue, and the baking soda acts as a gentle abrasive to wipe it away.
After removing the label, left over glue on jars can be removed using charcoal lighter fluid. It works better than anything I have found.
The best way I have found to get rid of sticker/label residue is a few drops of olbas oil. It slips off with a gentle scrape of the dull side of a knife.
It's easy to remove labels from glass jars by taking a bit of cooking oil and slathering it on the jar's label. Let it sit undisturbed overnight and it should slide right off.
I have a Yankee Candle jar that held a large candle. I got the label peeled off, but I'm still trying to remove the glue. Any ideas? I've tried soaking and scrubbing, but some of it's still there.
By Katheryne
GOO GONE!!! I had a similar problem and researched various options after trying many things. I tore up a sturdy paper towel into pieces that would cover the sticky residue and saturated them with Goo Gone, and then covered the sticky stuff with that. After only letting it rest for a few minutes, I then used soaked towel to scrape off the rest of the residue and it came right off!!!
Just soak the jar in hot water, remove what you can, and use steel wool on the rest. It doesn't scratch the glass and you don't have to use chemicals. It's a win, win.
Slightly sand surface of label with sandpaper. Spray with WD-40. Label will come off easily. If not, put napkin on label and saturate with the WD-40. Let sit for as long as necessary.
I do not remember where I learned this, but I am so glad I did. This tip has always worked for me. The easiest way to remove labels and sticker residue from glass jars is as follows.
I paint glass jars and find at times the labels are nearly impossible to remove without using chemicals. I found a much easier way and it's far less frustrating.
I did not want to mar the surface so I took some WD40 and a soft cloth. I put the WD40 on the cloth, and gently rubbed until all the sticky glue was gone.
How do I remove label glue from bottles?
Use WD-40; spray it on, let it sit, peel the label off, wipe any residue with a paper towel, then wash them all in soapy water. Looks like more steps than it is. I have even used it to successfully remove sticker residue inside pricey leather shoes with no ill after effects.
You can try scraping off what you can with your fingernail, then using fingernail polish remover. Or, another trick I have learned is to use lighter fluid.
