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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Don’t put the jars with the labels in the dishwasher as if the label does come off the paper and glue get stuck in the dishwasher filter which traps all kinds of food and throws back on your dishes. I had taken off the filter on the bottom of the dishwasher to clean and found the paper and glue stuck on the filter, it was a real mess to remove.
LOL – I’ve learned this the hard way!
I love the Classico Jars I use them for EVERYTHING! When they go on sale of course.
Those are my favorite too!
This tip is okay.
However, the actual solution is to just use the heat of your BLOW DRYER and basically melt the labels clean off. Works immediately, every time, and perfectly.
I love your writing style!! You are funny!!
Very useful tips.
I love you! You have saved my sanity today! also seems you’ve read my mind … I’m constantly expecting the dishwasher to magically remove those labels and yes… i keep trying … more than 3 times I’m sure! My first thought when I saw your jars as I was reading was How Beautiful! I appreciate those label-less jars! I might as well admit that I have somewhat of a jar addition LOL – and yes, I have on more than one occasion looked at the jar and it’s potential when buying a product ahhh confession is good for the soul isn’t it 🙂
I really really wanted to try this on some canning jars that people had put labels on, but I had just used my rubbing alcohol to Tye-dye a T-shirt (really fun activity). However, I did have some hand sanitizer. I rubbed some of that on the label and waited around the five minutes (I didn’t time it) and it scraped right off with no sticky residue. Totally awesome.
Thank you!!! Nothing worse than trying to get the labels off of Kombucha, beer or wine bottles to reuse them for fermenting! Can’t wait to try this. 🙂
I use WD 40 to take labels off. Spray it on, wait a minute or two then use a stainless scour pad on it and it comes right off. Then run thru the dishwasher.
Yikes, What is rubbing alcohol? More to the point what kind of shop sells it???
I’ve been looking for this solution for like 100 years!! Thanks! I curse labels on all kinds of items …
Love the pic of all your jars — made me laugh.
LOL – thanks Lisa! It was fun pulling them all out. Kinda felt accomplished for saving so many at once (now of course, the collection has grown OUT.OF.CONTROL!)
I have found that many labels come off with a good soak in super hot tap water, but I’m happy to have an alternative to goo gone for the stubborn ones! True confessions: I choose some products over others because they come in lovely jars AND I have a collection just like yours (I love the Classico jars!), but I spray painted the lids black a couple summers ago so they all match!
I share the same confession! 😉 I almost always run them through the dishwasher once or twice before actually trying to remove the label, but for those darn coconut oil jars I needed something that worked! LOVE the idea of spray painting the lids. Just the top? Sides? Do you do underneath and store food?
A friend introduced me to your site for the vinegar mole removal…Loved it! I make my own vinegar and other herbal products. I have found that a hair blow dryer works wonders for removing labels from wine bottles and other glass bottles and jars. Just heat the label with the hair dryer for about 20 seconds and peel from the corners while heating. Works fast and rarely is there any goo left! This is my project while I sit and watch TV. Before I know it, I have a box full! Hope it works as easy for you as it does for me. Love your yhsite. Thank you
Thanks for the tip Linda! I’m happy you found Crumbs!
Wow, so glad I found this post! We are using all sorts of jars for the centrepieces for our upcoming wedding (http://www.oneloveoneday.blogspot.com.au/2013/01/diy-centrepieces.html) in our home town and only arrive home a week before the wedding. I have been really stressing about how long it’s going to take to get all of the labels off the jars our friends and family have been saving for us. This is going to make it a piece of cake! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Jodine,
Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! I imagine your kitchen counters being lined with all sorts of tupperware bins, the jars happily soaking away while you make other last minute wedding preparations. A few scrubs later (our firm grill brush was awesome for this) and a run through the dishwasher should finish the super easy job! You’re very welcome, and congratulations again! ~Tiffany
Wow! This works so well! Thank you for sharing – I tested it out last weekend, and it worked so well I had to post about it: Removing Jar Labels
Thanks for this tip! I’ve been looking for an alternative to GooGone because it makes me cough (that can’t be good…) I’ll have to try it the next jar I get!
I’m sorry Sarah! At least you know now, and I think that’s so cool that you make your own body scrubs!
Hey Tiffany,
This post is being featured this week at Tiny Tip Tuesday!
Have an awesome rest of the week 🙂
Thanks Sarah!
Thanks Nicolette!
Great tutorial! Thanks for sharing at Creative Thursday each week. I appreciate YOU! Can’t wait to see what you link up next 🙂
Michelle
This is fantastic! And I am totally guilty of hoping that the dishwasher would do it. I would love to feature this on Reduce, Reuse, Upcycle. Feel free to stop by and grab a featured button. Thanks!
Will do Rachel Sue – thanks!
This is a great tip! I’ve heard of using peanut butter and even mayo, and tried it on one jar (and it worked!), but couldn’t get myself to waste perfectly good food just to remove labels off jars. Alcohol, on the other hand, I could get behind! Thanks for sharing – I found you over at Anti-Procrastination Tuesdays.
I’d also like to invite you to come over to my blog hop – Tiny Tip Tuesdays – and share this wonderful tip with us! This week’s linky just went live 🙂
Thanks!
Thanks Sarah! Just linked up!