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!
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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
Susa B. says
Can you use olive oil instead?
Gma says
How about removing the labels from plastic containers? Like jars, THEY DO NOT PEEL OFF!!!
mary says
I hope this works on plastic. I’ve needed it recently but couldn’t get the label off so just threw the bottle away.
Boo says
Or you can use rubbing alcohol which removes adhesive residue immediately.
You can also purchase the prepackaged alcohol wipes to keep handy (they’re inexpensive).
WD-40 also works, but imo, requires more cleanup.
Jeanne says
Girls, after you spray paint the lids, try brushing on one coat of acrylic varnish. Two or three coats is even better. Let dry about 20 mins in between coats, then let sit for about 24 hrs to fully cure the varnish. This will make them more scratch-proof, etc. and the newly painted lids will hold up better.
Nesa says
Oh, my Goodness!! I’ve found your post a couple of hours ago and I had to give it a try… I CAN’T BELIEVE IT!! It works GREAT!!! I had so many sticky jars laying around waiting for the day I’d discover a way to clean them… Not any more!! They are spotless now!!
THANK YOU SO MUCH!! IT’S UNBELIEVABLE!! And SO easy!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
Have a great day!!
N.
Cheryl Spangenberg says
Oh Nesa I am so happy you love it as much as I do! Seriously this changed my life! Have a wonderful day! Thanks for visiting my blog!
Susan says
Thank you so much for this valuable tip… I have been struggling for years trying to remove those pesky labels from all of my prescription bottles. Like you, I just know I can find a good use for them in my craft studio, but after soaking the paper labels off, the remaining sticky glue is impossible to remove. I can’t wait to give this a try. Again, thank you
Cheryl Spangenberg says
Thanks Susan! I am so glad I could help! I appreciate the comment! Have a wonderful week!
Mary Ann Waara says
This worked great! Thank you for sharing .
Cheryl Spangenberg says
Great Mary Ann! I love to hear it! Thanks for stopping by my blog!
Katina says
This works A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!!!!!! Thanks!!!
Cheryl Spangenberg says
You are so welcome Katina! It seriously was a life changer for me!
Mart Ramirez says
THANK U SO MUCH FOR THIS!! I was just yesterday trying to remove glue sticker from a pencil much and it drives me crazy! I hate to use Goo be gone cuz it’s strong odor and strength. THANK U!! I just love your blog!! XO
Cheryl Spangenberg says
Mart you are so very welcome! I love sharing things that make life easier and thank you for the nice compliments!
Tina says
Prior to Goo Gone being on the market, my late mother taught me to use lighter fluid. She was a smoker, and had it on hand to refill her Zippo! But I tend to migraines and the smell can send me into one. (And Goo Gone is even worse, as it doesn’t evaporate like lighter fluid.)Not to mention the obvious flammability. Excited to try this. It makes sense…
Tina says
Oh! and I just thought of something else to add. Why not use a small one of those jars that you have cleaned, and keep some premixed paste on hand!
Sadie says
Just gotta ‘PIN’ this… crafters everywhere will just luv,luv,luv you for this tip. And all of the possible solutions supplied by your reader’s, is definitely ‘icing on the cake’. Thanx ever so much… 8o)
Jade says
Wow, this is the easiest, practically no-effort removal of that sticky residue! I was shocked how easily it came off! Thank you!!!
Cheryl Spangenberg says
Yay! I’m glad you love it! That’s my goal is to share practical easy tips!