Learn the simple trick to remove labels from jars using a common ingredient you already have on hand! Ready in minutes, cheaper than buying new jars! Consider reusing your jars to stock your real food pantry!
Do you have any empty bottles and jars from grocery stores in your house?
You know, the jars ones that you’ve emptied and washed, secretly hoping the dishwasher would get rid of the paper label and the sticky residue for you, but it didn’t, so you reuse it anyway and hope the dishwasher will remove the label the next time it’s washed?
Yeah, that’s about how it works in my house, lol. I used to have lots. LOTS. But… they’re gone. Vamanos. Vamoose. Nada. Elvis has left the building!
I found a magic potion that will remove labels and glue residue from jars. And guess what! You probably already have some of this potion under your bathroom sink.
It’s called rubbing alcohol.
Who knew, right? You know how white vinegar has a bazillion uses? I’d venture to say that rubbing alcohol has quite a few too. I’ve only tried two so far, but both worked well so I’m sure there’s more!
Once I took off one label, I had to take off more. When I say “more,” I really mean all of them.
It’s kind of addicting. 🙂 But aren’t they beautiful?! With the labels gone, I can finally see the jams, salsa, spaghetti sauce, strawberry puree, freshly drained coconut water, homemade vinaigrette, pizza sauce, soup, vanilla chips, chocolate chips, coconut flakes, sunflower seeds, pepitas and specialty flours that I keep in there. Their food storage capabilities are endless! And I haven’t even touched the surface of crafting potential!
How to Remove Labels from Jars
- Pour rubbing alcohol into a wide yet shallow container and set your ugly jars with the label facing downward. Soak the jars for 5-10 minutes (or even longer, like during nap time or during dinner, etc.)
- Take out the jar and the label should wipe right off.
- If it’s a stubborn label (like some of the Smucker’s jams), put it back in the alcohol and let it sit for an hour (or while you’re doing something else) and try to remove it again.
- If it’s an extra stubborn label, (like Trader Joe’s coconut oil… ahem), let it soak and use a stiff brush (I used a grill brush) to help you remove the residue. I’ve used a wooden spoon too when my grill brush went MIA and that worked well. A couple drops of lemon essential oil works well too.
- If any goo remains after you’ve peeled off the label, use a scrubbing sponge to scrub it off. Dipping the sponge into rubbing alcohol makes it practically dissolve on contact.
- Place jars in the dishwasher and run a cycle (with your other dishes is fine).
Every label is different – some absorb the alcohol and the glue is loosened without actually being in the alcohol. Other labels refuse to let go of the jar unless every single portion of the label has had a chance to bathe in the alcohol. I guess even jars have their own personality!
As I kinda mentioned, we keep our jars to store leftovers in since glass is non-toxic and it’s reusing items we already have – which in the long run, means saving money!
Why should I remove labels and reuse jars?
Well, plain and simple it helps reduce waste. Reusing a jar is a pretty straightforward way to keep it out of the trash. Removing the labels means you can easily see what is inside of the reused jars.
I use glass jars for homemade chicken stock, leftover soup, and even around the house for homemade beauty products. Use this guide to learn how you can freeze food in jars without breaking them.
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No matter the liquid you use to remove a label, first wrap the bottle with a paper towel before applying the liquid so as to keep it in place so it can do its thing.
I discovered what I find is the easiest & quickest method to remove labels a few years ago-a hair dryer (believe it or not). You just blow the hot air over the label for a few mins, it melts/loosens the glue & you can just peel it right off.
If I ever have any stubborn ones, I then just soak them in a sink of hot water & vinegar (for about 20-30mins), & if the glue still remains, I remove it using a toothbrush mixed in baking soda & dish soap.
(Sounds complex, but usually only have to do step 1 🙂
I finally got the labels off my store bought kombucha bottles! I now make my own kombucha
and wanted to use those bottles for my fermentation. I first put the bottles in boiling hot water and peeled the labels off as best I could. I then sprayed the bottles throughly with WD40. I let it sit for about 10 minutes and with a scrubbing sponge wiped the bottles clean. I was amazed how it came clean. Lastly I put dishwashing liquid on bottles and scrubbed them squeaky clean!
Thank you for sharing, Jacqueline. I have not used WD40 on my jars before. 🙂
Oh, yeah, WD40. That was my go-to for removing labels some years ago. It works great. But, these days, I use GooGone to remove them. Thanks for the reminder.
Rubbing alcohol wouldnt work. WD40 wouldnt work, goo gone wouldnt work, nail polish wouldnt work. Ill try the peanut butter, baking soda.
Hi Tye,
Did you try using a grill brush after soaking in alcohol for an hour?
Peanut butter is a great label remover! Peel off the label as best you can, then rub the area with peanut butter and let sit. Use a paper towel to wipe off the peanut butter and glue. Then wash the jar and put it to use!
Hello Dallas!
What a brilliant idea! Thank you for sharing.
FYI, I keep a bottle of rubbing alcohol in my laundry room. I’m a nurse and we always used alcohol swabs (the kind we clean your arm with before a shot!) to get ink stains off of our lab coats. A little splash is effective at removing many different stains!
Hi Jacqueline,
Thanks so much for the tip! I will have to try this hack. 🙂
I find that cooking oil works really well. I soak some paper towels in oil and lay them over the label with the jar lying in a plastic tray or dish with a layer of oil in the bottom. Scrape the residue off, (a metal scouring pad is great), and wash the jars.
The oil and towels can be kept for future use if the dish, (I use take away food containers), has a lid.
Hi Chas,
Thanks for the tips. Getting labels off can be tricky. 🙂
Will this work on plastic jars, too?
It should, yes.