Find out just how easy it is to remove those pesky labels from jars! Here are two easy ways to remove jar labels!
The holidays are just around the corner and to me that means more crafts. Glass jars are a great way to recycle for not only craft projects but are wonderfully useful for storage, rustic vases, and even for cleaning solutions.
Cleaning the labels and the sticky residue off of jars can be an intimidating and time-consuming process. I’m sure we’ve all tried peanut butter, vinegar, hot water, soap, dishwasher, oils, etc. The list goes on and on when you ask people how they remove their labels. I’ve tried a variety of methods and have narrowed it down to the two that I find most effective and efficient. You pick which one works for you!
Gather up several jars at a time to be more efficient. I like to do lots of different sizes and shapes – some of the jars even have really beautiful designs on them.
For each method, remove as much of the label as possible first. An easy way to get the adhesive to release is to fill the jar with really hot water. Be careful when handling the jar and don’t burn yourself!
Let the jar sit for a few minutes so the adhesive can turn more to a liquid and then start gently peeling off the label.
First Method: Olive Oil
Olive Oil is my favorite method because it’s eco-friendly and is super easy. Pour a couple drops of oil onto a paper towel and rub at the remaining residue from the label. Keep rubbing until all residue is gone. This should only take a minute or two. Make sure to wash your jar afterward to get the oil off. I just run mine through the dishwasher.
This method is actually a little faster than the olive oil but you have to deal with the fumes from the nail polish remover. (You can see here that I combat this issue with “cucumber melon” scented remover 🙂 ) Pour the polish remover onto a paper towel or use the applicator if yours came with one. Scrub away at that label and adhesive and it will just slide right off. Quick and easy! Again, make sure to wash the jar afterwards.
These two methods are fail-proof. I have never had a jar label that I couldn’t remove using one of these two methods. Next time you are about to throw out a glass jar think of how easy it is to re-use it and try one of these methods. Let me know what you think.
Tina says
Thank you very much for the tips! I have a plastic herb jar with a cool shaker top, so I really, really wanted to reuse it. After olive oil and nail polish remover didn’t work, I tried Tide HE powder. I wet my finger with water and dipped it in Tide, then smeared it on the jar. To my surprise, the glue and residue just “melted” off after a couple swirls. Maybe the oil or remover weakened the bond? Dunno, but it worked like magic! Thinking back to all the years of scraping and rubbing…wish I would have known about this! 🙂
Erin B. says
I just tried both methods on a couple of glass jars. Didn’t work. Any tips for that?
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
If neither of these home remedies work you may just have to buy goo gone 🙂 Good luck!
jamaree says
I have found that just running them thru the dishwasher until the final rinse while they are hot…. the labels just slip right off…goo n all…simple!……. just make sure you get them before the dry cycle !!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Great tip – thanks!
Katie says
I’m so glad I found this information about removing labels. Trader Joe’s packages their items in such perfect jars and I’ve been using them for dressings, leftovers, etc. I’ve just struggle to get the labels off; attempted the soaking process before, scraping them off, trying to use rough sponges, etc. Let me tell you, nail polish remover did the job and it was effortless!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
So glad Katie! I love re-using cute jars 🙂
Kendra says
So glad I found your post! I just tried the olive oil method and it worked amazing! I usually don’t have a problem taking paper lables off “Classico” sauce jars. But I wanted to take the plastic lables off some Starbucks frappacino jars and nothing was getting the adhesive off…..except for this!!! Yay! Now my kids have cute “milk bottles” to drink out of for Easter.
Betty says
Tried both methods. The best of the two was the olive oil. I removed jam labels, however, maybe it makes a difference with different company labels and the glue they each use. Thanks for your great tip.
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
So glad you found one that works for you Betty! Thanks for stopping by!
Vicki says
It doesn’t have to be olive oil, corn oil, or canola, or vegetable, – any of them work. Don’t use your expensive olive oil for this, use the cheapest vegetable oil you have!
Dave says
The best cleanup (imo) for label residue is the same stuff that gets chewing gum out of hair. Work a little dab of peanut butter with a paper towel into the gluey mess and wash it off with dish detergent when done. The problem of smearing around the glue with npr when the glue is particularly difficult disappears because the residue mixes into the peanut butter!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
I can’t wait to try this! Thanks Dave!
Janna L says
Thank you for the tips!! I’ve been trying to remove labels from Frappucino bottles (they’ll make the cutest milk bottles for my son’s milk n cookies bday party!). Filling them with hot water to “melt” the adhesive was key- then olive oil took it right off!! Thanks 🙂
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Yes! Love those little bottles myself 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
TexNan says
Wow! Lots of comments. Another tip–and I’ve only used this once so I can’t attest to its continued efficacy–is to use a hair dryer. Do this before you try anything else. If it doesn’t work, and it did for me on a label I’ve had difficulty with in the past, then go ahead with the other steps. (Yours are the methods I normally use.)
Anonymous says
I just tired this on a glass and plastic bottle and it worked like a charm, I used the olive oil. Thanks so much now I have a sink full of jars soaking in hot water so that I can use this method on them also 🙂
Lisa Zido says
Tried it–loved it. 🙂 I was so happy to find this! I used nail polish remover for the big pieces and the little sticky patches that were left I used the olive oil. Worked perfectly. THANK YOU!
Shan says
I bet you never thought this post would be so popular? This is perfect…off to clean some jars now. Thanks a million! Found you on Pinterest. Look forward to perusing around your cute blog later. 😉 Shan from Family Brings Joy
Stacey says
Thank you so much for sharing these tips. I’m a new follower. I’ve tried white vinegar (the miracle cleaner) thinking it must certainly clean the labels right off. I usually soak the jars in hot water but never thought to just fill the inside of the jar and let it sit. I can’t wait to finish the next jar of pickles.
Anonymous says
GOO GONE!!!