Are you ready to have your socks rocked off? I am not even kidding. I have the magic ingredients on How to Easily Remove Labels from jars and plastic containers without leaving that annoying adhesive residue behind or without ruining the plastic!! Hands down this is the best way to remove labels and I have tried them all!
There are many different reasons to want to remove labels from jars or containers. It simply may be an adhesive label or price tag that was placed in an inconvenient spot!
You may want to reuse food jars or plastic containers. Spraypaint the lid and you now have a budget-friendly container for your craft room, kitchen, or bath.
Many times the paper part of a label will remove but the adhesives used on the label will remain on the jar.
Well, not any more my friends!!
Different Methods to Remove Labels
There are many different methods to remove labels from food storage jars and containers. Here are ones I have tried with limited success or just not quite as good as my all-time favorite method!
Many of these methods will only work for glass jars, not plastic as the solvents or scraping will ruin the plastic.
- Soak the jars in hot water with dish soap in the sink and then scrub the labels with a rag or sponge.
- Use a solvent to dissolve the glue such as rubbing alcohol, acetone, white vinegar, vodka, wd-40, goo gone, or nail polish remover.
- Use essential oils such as lemon or orange to remove the glue residue. This will only work on glass and essential oils are on the expensive side for this type of use.
- Use a knife, flat blade, or razor blade for scraping the sticky residue off.
- Some have good luck using a hair dryer to heat up the glue and remove the sticker but I find if it is a paper label then you still have to remove sticker residue.
- Some labels can be removed in the dishwasher but be sure to clean out the trap afterwards so you don’t clog the drain in your dishwasher.
Supplies for the Best Way to Remove Labels
- Baking Soda
- Cooking Oil
That’s it!! Mix equal parts of each ingredient to form a runny paste. I started with a tablespoon of each because it spreads nicely.
Once I remove the paper part of the label, I mixed up my magic paste. I apply a thick layer of it to the jar and smear it all over the gluey sticky part.
I let it sit on there about 10 minutes or so. That number is not exact. I slapped it on the jar and then got distracted a few times with the kids and remembered to come back to it as I passed by.
I took a paper towel and then wiped away the paste from the jar. All the adhesive that was left on the jar was now wiping away with my paste mixture!
Don’t Miss Out!
Get quick crafts, easy recipes and free printables & cut files straight to your inbox!
I gave the jar a good wash with hot soapy water to get rid of the vegetable oil and I was left with this crystal clear jar that are perfect storage containers in my craft room!
Hands down this is the best way to remove labels that I have found using no harmful chemicals.
You can also use other oil-based agents that are chemical-free, environmentally friendly, and probably already in your pantry.
These alternatives are peanut butter, canola oil, coconut oil, and even mayonnaise.
Projects to Use Upcycled Jars & Containers
I am going to start using this method to easily remove labels every time I need to remove labels for my Decorated Soap Dispensers and if I ever need to make a chalkbaord labeled bottle or any more of my wine bottle luminaries I will remove labels with ease! I wish I had this back when I was still using vinegar to get the gunk off! This method doesn’t make my house smell like we are dying Easter Eggs :)
You can also use this method to remove labels from mason jars and make a set of my DIY Mason Jar Straw Lids or if you needed the Jars to upcycle into fun Manicure in a Jar Gift or Pedicure in a Jar Gift ideas!
I have many other fantastic tips and tricks that will make your life easier! Sign up for my FREE emails below to get new tips and tricks delivered to your inbox for free! Don’t worry I never share your information because I am greedy and I want you all to myself, lol! :)
Comments & Reviews
James Tanis says
THANK YOU!! The residue has been making me crazy!!
Cheryl Spangenberg says
You are so welcome! It drives me insane too!!!
Evelyn Mayfield says
This is great. I’m pinning it so I won’t lose it and I’m blogging about it tonight to share with others…thank you for sharing!!!
Bill says
Tried this on glass works great.. Next tring it on plastic bottles.. KEEP CRAFTING…
Cheryl Spangenberg says
Thanks Bill! :)
Jean says
W D 40 does a real GREAT job in removing all labels I use it all the time found out by accident
Cheryl Spangenberg says
Good to know Jean! I’m probably going to stick to the baking soda and oil…just in case! You never know what my kids will lick! LOL!
sharon chapko says
I tried this and it did not work for me; any suggestions?
Cheryl Spangenberg says
Sharon just make sure all the paper or plastic from the label is removed and maybe let it sit on there longer. You might have super adhesive :)
ERNEST ROBERTS says
I haveound the quickest and easiest way to remove the glue residue it to use nail polish remover it just wipes the glue off,just give it a try
Sue says
Will wipe away with eucalyptus oil and paper towel towel then makes rubbish bin smell good too when disposed of.
Dee Brookner says
Your recipe works great. I tried it out in case I ever need a back up. Thanks so much. I have one you may like to try, works for me every time on anything. Peanut Butter. There is always some left in the jar that I can’t scrape out. One day I scraped some out while washing a jar and smeared it on a clear plastic carryout container that I was getting ready to try and remove the goo from. I let it set a few minutes and it was amazing how easily the goo came off. I now use it for all of my goo removal and it has never let me down. Really enjoy your site, this is the first time I have ever made a comment anywhere. I’m an oldie but a newbie. :) :)
Cheryl Spangenberg says
Thanks for sharing that Dee!! I am totally going to try it!! I am also thrilled to be your first comment ;-)
Eleanore Brown says
I can’t wait to try this! Thank you bunches!
Cheryl Spangenberg says
You are so welcome Eleanore! I hope you find it as awesome as I do!
Kristen Jeffery says
Welcome to Social Fabric! What an awesome tip!!!
Cheryl Spangenberg says
Thanks Kristen!
Sandy says
Wow! Not only did this work on my jars, but I had just bought some dishes at Home Goods and they had price stickers on the front – this worked like a charm! Thanks so much :)
Cheryl Spangenberg says
Yay Sandy! So glad it could help you! I use it on anything sticky these days :) I have thought about apply it to my children as well *wink*!
Teresa says
Any thoughts/ideas on how to get rid of old decals on car windows
Cheryl Spangenberg says
Teresa is it a vinyl decal? I took one off with a flat razor. Just scraped it right off!
Marilyn says
Gave your post a shout out!
http://www.4you-withlove.com/2013/09/the-easiest-way-to-remove-labels-from.html
Cheryl Spangenberg says
Awesome! Thanks Marilyn!
Gypsi says
Can’t wait to try this! I’m always so frustrated by the sticky mess! (Saw the link on 4 You with Love.) =D
cecil sanchez says
marvelous idea!!..i really find your site very helpful and reccomendable..thank you so much!
Val says
Works like a charm! You are amazing!
Val
Cheryl Spangenberg says
Yay! Isn’t it amazing? Changed my life!
Lila says
Oh my gosh!!! I’ve been trying to get the glue off of a pile of jars for MONTHS… here and there, not nonstop :) Just tried this and it worked so well!!!! No elbow grease needed!!! And I love that I didn’t have to use nasty chemicals. I need to go out and buy more things in jars now so I can do it again!!
Nancy says
Oil of any kind removes sticky residue. Basic petroleum. On petroleum products…. Baby oil, cooking oil, great tip though,…love your ideas…
Marine1967 says
It is probably more expensive, but rubbing Peanut Butter (creamy, not crunchy) on the glue and leaving it for 10-15 minutes (again, not exact) will do the same as the formula given. Like I said though, sure seems a waste of Peanut Butter, but it works great
Kimberly says
Pam spray also works wonders! I save jars all the time for Christmas presents for teachers, neighbors and so on. Perfect for peanut brittle or candied nuts :)
Kim says
I have also found goo gone to work. Same idea, remove label, apply and let sit a while. I have also used magic eraser, it works really well when it’s a glass jar and very little residue left. The more tips, the better, for that gunk!
Ashlee says
can’t WAIT to try it, I have a jar sitting on my counter I’ve been meaning to scrap clean!
Cheryl Spangenberg says
I hope you love it as much as I do Ashlee!