How to remove sticky labels from jars and bottles – my secret formula using 2 non-toxic ingredients!

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How to remove sticky labels from jars and bottles using 2 non-toxic ingredients – learn my secret formula for removing all those super sticky and annoying labels that simply won’t go off, using 2 non toxic everyday ingredients that you already have in your kitchen! 

Today I’m sharing my super easy and secret formula for removing all those annoying sticky labels from jars and bottles. This will completely change your life… not to mention it will make it so much easier! Especially if you love recycling, because jars and bottles, in different sizes and shapes from all types of produce you are using in your kitchen can be recycled in no time! I recycle every single bottle or jar that I lay my hands on and I usually manage to put them all to good use afterwards.

I actually made this project a few years back, but now that we are forced to spend more time inside, I thought it would be a great idea and the perfect moment to share it with you! We need something to keep our hands (and our minds) busy, just until things will start to look normal again. Now this whole period of time it feels like a way too long weekend that it just won’t end, don’t you think? But in the mean time, let’s just focus on the positive side of things – we have more time to try new projects, spend more time with our loved ones, resting, reading, gardening, watching Netflix and many more.

To be completely honest, I’m not (extremely) happy with the step by step images I took while documenting this process. But at least I can see how my photography has evolved during the years and I’m making a conscious decision of focusing on the positive side of things again and consider all this as part of the learning process! And I’m trying to fight my obsession of making everything perfect, so I’m giving myself a free pass this time, I hope you will too! :)

Next time I’ll be sharing a roundup with all my DIY projects that involved recycled jars and bottles, in different forms, throughout the years! I was quite surprised to see how many they are! And I realized I might actually have a slight obsession?! Ha ha! :)  But I know you get me, we are in this together! :)

P.S. I have these alcohol bottles from my sister’s coffee shop & bar, she used to save them for me and now I have quite a collection! They make the perfect vases when filled with flowers or seasonal branches, but I also love using them when making lemonade or kombucha, especially the ones that also have a cap. We don’t drink too much alcohol in our house, except for a good Chianti wine from time to time, so it was really helpful to have my sister saving these for me. If you have friends that work in a bar or even better own a bar, ask them to save some interesting looking bottles for you, they can be a great addition to your home!

I usually do a few things before removing the sticky labels from any recycled jars and bottles:

• I wash the inside and the outside of the jars and bottles right after finishing their content with hot water and some dish soap. Some labels will simply peel right off when in contact with the hot water leaving no residue behind. Some labels will partially peel, but sometimes the adhesive won’t. Some won’t peel at all. I hate when that happens! :)
• I use a hairdryer to heat the labels. Again, sometimes this works like a charm and when the adhesive is heated enough, the labels come off easily.

But some of the labels are simply stubborn and when none of these two methods work, I declare the labels too sti(n)ky for my taste and I use a large box to store them in our pantry until I have enough to work with. I prefer working in larger batches because there are a few repetitive steps and I find it easier and less time consuming this way.

How to remove sticky labels from jars and bottles using 2 non-toxic ingredients!

1. Fill your sink with hot water and pour some dish soap. Add the jars and bottles and let them sit for 10-15 min.

2. Check to see if the labels are peeling off, the hot soapy water should help with loosening the adhesive. Remove the labels that are coming off easily and use the abrasive side of a sponge to remove any glue residue. Everything worked perfectly with this bottle and I did’t had to do anything else, I just let it air dry.

3. If the labels come off, but leave some residue that won’t come off with the sponge, put that jar or bottle aside and move to another … not so resilient one! ;)

4. Now for my secret formula reveal, are you ready to learn the 2 non toxic and natural ingredients that help me remove all the stubborn sticky labels and residue? :) OK!
The first secret ingredient is vegetable oil and the second secret ingredient is baking soda! Tadaa! ;)
Oil will loosen the adhesive and baking soda will act as a mild abrasive, these two combine their super powers and work like a charm every single time!
You need to mix equal parts cooking oil and baking soda to make the paste. I usually start with one tablespoon each (and make more as needed), I mix them in a small bowl and I use my fingers to gradually smear the mixture all over the residue. Leave it on for about 10-20 min (the longer, the better), then use paper towels to remove the paste. And the residue … hopefully! Make sure you use a plastic bag, baking paper, a large tray or some plates to protect your working area before doing all these!

5. If the residue won’t come off completely at this stage, apply another layer of the oil-baking soda paste and leave it on for another 10-20 minutes. You can even use the abrasive side of a dry sponge, while applying a little bit / or more pressure in a circular motion, this should help with loosening and removing all the final gunk.

The sponge will be quite a mess after this, but at least you will be able to remove all that nasty adhesive! :)

6. Use paper towels to remove as much paste and greasiness as you can, then wash the jars and the bottles with plenty of hot water and dish soap. Let them air dry. 

I have been using this foll proof method for years with great results, now your recycled jars and bottles should be squeaky clean! :)

You can try this on any other surfaces, I actually used a hairdryer first and then this secret paste to clean some super annoying vinyl residue from our (used) car when we bought it.

Other people use peanut butter to help loosen the sticky labels or the adhesive. I’m guessing it’s the oil in the peanut butter that does all the job anyway, following the same principles from my method, so I prefer eating the peanut butter and using the vegetable oil instead! :)

SHOP THIS POST ♥

vegetable oil | baking soda | paper towels | kitchen sponge

I hope you’ll find this method of removing sticky labels from jars and bottles helpful! You can try it now or save it for future use on Pinterest, you will be soooo glad you did! :)

Don’t forget to smile,
Diana

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