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.
Dinner on a Dime
Subscribe to my newsletter and get instant access to “Dinner on a Dime”: 15+ family-friendly and kid-approved recipes that are quick, cheap and healthy!More Fun Kitchen Hacks:
Want more kitchen hacks? Like us on Facebook or follow us on Instagram!
I’ll definitely have to try this. I normally make a paste of olive oil and Baking soda, rub it on the residue left behind once I get most of the label off, let it sit for ~2 hours then wipe off. Sometimes I have to repeat but I’ll try the alcohol method next time just to compare. Thank you Tiffany!
Elna, hope it works well for you and your label removing projects!
I use acetone (nail polish remover) to get rid of sticky residue.
I didn’t realize that this article was reprinted from 8 years ago until I looked at the comments. I did not see the method we used but might have missed it. Peanut oil, olive oil and mineral oil are all items kept in the kitchen and pantry. Those paper labels come off with just soap and water but leave the glue behind. Any of the oils can be used to soak the glue (or the labels and glue if you’re not in a hurry. Then rubbing the surface with an old washcloth and perhaps more oil will remove the glue. The remaining oil is easily remove with dish soap and water. I’ll try the alcohol next time.
Such a good tip, thank you!
I have so many food jars that are great for organizing and storing small items, I will have to try the alcohol. It sounds like it works pretty quick. Thanks!
Denise,
You’re welcome!
Just did this and it worked great! I used alcohol, a plastic spatula, and the rough side of my kitchen sponge. I’ve seen other posts online about boiling jars to get labels off, but when it’s warm I really don’t feel like boiling a big pot of water and getting the kitchen/living room all hot, so I kept searching till I found your non-heat-related solution lol. I tried on a Classico pasta sauce jar, they’re lovely Mason jars with measurement lines (ounces) on the sides, I’m keeping this one handy on the window ledge above my kitchen sink. All I had to do was soak on one side for 5 minutes, then flip. While the other side was soaking I worked on the already soaked side…peeled off the label, then took 30 seconds to scrape with plastic spatula and rub the last vestiges of goo off with the sponge (the scrubbing side). I didn’t toss the alcohol, either, I poured it back into the bottle, I’ll be able to re-use it to de-label a few more jars before it loses its oomph.
P.S. Just tried your method again but this time on a couple old plastic (Rubbermaid and Sterilite) containers and, again, it worked great–didn’t even need to scrub with sponge. Very old, deteriorated lables that had been holding on for dear life for years scraped right off with the plastic spatula after soaking in alcohol for 5 minutes. 🙂
I often use lard too.
if nothing works to remove the labels try WD 40.
Simply COLD water works well for most labels. Use like the rubbing alcohol instructions: place jar label down in shallow dish of cold water; let sit for 15 minutes or more.
I wish cold water worked as well for me as it does for you!
I just washed a wine bottle had trouble getting the glue off, smeared a little peanut butter on the glue waited 5 minutes , washed and it was perfect. Took all of the sticky glue off yay.
Thanks for the tip. I’m thinking that you’ve shared it before and I couldn’t remember what it was.
In regards to your picture of the jar soaking in the glass dish, I use a metal scrubber (looped steel wool, but not pokey like SOS pads) to keep my glass casseroles sparkly clean. Works much better than baking soda/sodium bicarbonate. 🙂
I have cut off a small portion of a steel wool scrubbing pad then I use about a t. of EVOO, rub that on the outside of the offending jar and scrub away. Usually done in about 1 min. then wash with hot soapy water to remove oil. Generally I have had 100% success and I am using oil that I keep pretty handy in the kitchen (out on my counter) as opposed to rubbing alcohol which I keep in the bathroom…But thanks for encouraging others to reuse! Love seeing folks choosing contents based on containers, hopefully some food manufacturers are checking up on that as I would hate to see Polaner All Fruit Spread suddenly start showing up at the supermarket in a plastic container (I reuse those jars for spices).
After having to pay a dishwasher repairman to unclog the years of “label buildup” due to putting glass jars with labels in my dishwasher, I started using vinegar in the same way to remove the labels. It’s pretty effective, but I’m going to try this to see if I like it better!
I use a drop or two of lemon essential oil. Rub the oil into the label and it lifts off.
I have used rubbing alcohol for years and am glad to see you have too! In my experience, though, there are some labels/goo that just won’t come off with alcohol and all kinds of scraping and scrubbing. A product I discovered several years ago, when I worked for a local hardware store, is called “Goo Gone”. This is a natural product made up from citrus oils and comes in a small bottle that will last forever. It is especially good for removing dried up “goo” from very old labels which has dried out and nothing seems to phase it. I wonder if you or any of the other followers have discovered this and how it works for you?
Hi Gary! I’ve heard of goo gone before, but haven’t tried it myself personally. If I get a really stubborn label, beyond the scope of rubbing alcohol, I use lemon essential oil. That seems to do the trick too!
i soak the jars in water, scrub with a bit of dishwashing soap & Mr. Clean Magic Eraser . simple & easy
I haven’t tried a magic erase ever since I saw it take paint off our walls! :/
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.