Clean labels off jars

[JuzaMum]

I have made a few jams this year and also had my first go at chutney making. I reuse old jars but have trouble removing the labels on some. They sometimes leave a nasty sticky residue. Any ideas please?

JuzaMum

[spider8]

I use white spirit although it does stink and needs lots of washing to get rid of it.

[Davie Crockett]

I reuse old jars but have trouble removing the labels on some. They sometimes leave a nasty sticky residue. Any ideas please?

I have the same problem with wine bottle labels. In the main I use hot water, detergent and elbow grease, as a last resort I "borrow" some nail varnish remover. Sometimes white spirit shifts it, but you need to thoroughly clean up afterwards for food use.

[JuzaMum]

Thanks - I will try white spirit on the particually stubborn ones then stick them in the dishwasher after.

JuzaMum

[baldybloke]

Better than white spirit is metholated spirit. Dab it on and the label should scrape off easily.

[Durgan]

I gave up on the paper labels due to the work involved in removing. I don't reuse the tops so mark the necessary information using a black marker. A quick swipe using alcohol cleans the marking off if it is desired to keep the top.

[wabbit955]

metal scrubbers work well after a good soak
or a quick dip in me petrol tank for those realy sticky ones

[julie_lanteri]

Some labels peel off easier than others so it's a matter of trial and error. When I find some that are easy to remove with a soak in really hot water, I run to the shop and get some more. I also try to find jars with plain lids so it doesn't scream "I was a dolmio jar!". I know it's silly as it doesn't change what's inside but it's nicer to look at. I print my own labels on paper and stick them with a glue stick. super easy to remove and survive a season of storage in cupboard and fridge once open.

[Thomzo]

Like said, try soaking overnight first. Paint brush cleaner is pretty good at removing the sticky residue.

If it's something posh for a gift, I make a tag from thin card, and tie it on, looks pretty and you can put extra information, such as the ingredients, on the back.

Zoe

[Durgan]

metal scrubbers work well after a good soak
or a quick dip in me petrol tank for those realy sticky ones

I like that. That sticky glue is sure a pain.

[wulf]

I use boiling water and a plastic jug (which means I don't use a lot more water than is needed to soak the label). Some jars need two or three passes in between attempts to scrape the glue off (a blunt old knife works well here).

If a jar or bottle is very problematic at cleaning, it is better put in recycling or using a label that covers the remaining residue. On the other hand, some are very easy to clean - my first stage is often just to leave an empty jar or two sitting in the water left from washing up. It has until the next time I wash up (and perhaps a few tentative attempts at peeling away the label) to see how much of a headstart I can give it.

Wulf

[Thomzo]

Perhaps we need a list of the good, the bad and the ugly. Which brands soak off easily? Which ones don't come off at all? And which ones can be persuaded to go with a bit of elbow grease? That would help us to chose the brands to buy in the first place.

Zoe

[confused]

I've just cleaned 16 jars this morning , i give them a good soak (these ones were overnight ) then peel of as much as possible , then i use the back of an old kithen knife and just scrape it of , takes no time at all , and no nasty unpleasant smells in the jars. I wish i had tried this years ago it's so simple.

[Millymollymandy]

I use my fingernails!

[torisocks]

This is probably a few months too late, but this seems to always work well for me. I always put my jars in a big stockpot with enough water to cover them up and boil them up for a few minutes to sterilise them. I've found that you can then peel the whole label off with very little trouble with some tongs (or any other improvised method that doesn't burn you). Two jobs in one as well.
(This is my preferred method of sterilising things because you can also get all the bits left in the crease at the bottom of the jar (or bottle) that you can't get out otherwise, and you can let them cool on the stove with the water if you're only pickling etc.) I imagine it's tricky to get the timing right for jam jars though (and probably hard to fit all the ones you need in) so it's probably best done in advance and then pop them in the oven for the jam?