How To Remove Labels From Wine Bottles & Glass Jars Demystified

If you’ve ever wanted to try some crafting with wine bottles or any glass jars with labels, then you already know that removing the labels can be quite annoying, and in other cases labels just slide right off. I’ve finally figured out the mystery of how to remove labels with non-toxic household products.  Yippee! From now on, the re-use of glass bottles and jars will be pure pleasure!

How To Remove Labels From Wine Bottles:

  1. There are two types of labels: those applied with water based glue and those applied with oil based glue. 
  2. You won’t know what kind of labels you have until you do a simple test. Fill your wine bottle or jar with water, and place in a tall container, like a bucket or a cylindrical vase, and fill that container with water. Let sit overnight or for a few hours. If the label slides right off, lucky you, the label was applied with water based glue and all you need to do is scrub the bottle a bit to remove any remaining glue.
  3. If your labels don’t come off after soaking in water, then you’ll have to use oil. Any oil will do, I even used low grade olive oil used for lighting wicks. 
  4. Fill your wine bottle with water and look for a tall narrow container that is just a bit wider than your wine bottle. I happened to have a plastic honey container that was the perfect size, so not much oil was needed. Place your bottle in the container and fill container with oil to cover label area. Let sit overnight and voila, your label will peel off easily! Wash bottle with hot soapy water to remove oil and any remaining label residue. If only the paper portion of the label comes off, leaving lots of glue on the bottle, place the bottle in the oil again and let sit until the glue comes off easily. 
  5. You can continue to re-use the oil until you’ve removed labels from all your bottles!

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11 responses to “How To Remove Labels From Wine Bottles & Glass Jars Demystified”

  1. Alisha @ Felt So Cute Avatar

    These were really helpful! Another trick I’ve found is to simply heat the labels with a hair dryer ~ after warming it up a bit, most peel right off.

  2. Debra Avatar
    Debra

    This might be one of the best tips I have received from any blog. Thanks so much!
    I reuse different color wine bottles for my holiday centerpiece. Each person gets their own bottle filled with a green plant growing in water. Centerpiece and gift in one. A Happy and Healthy New Year to all!

  3. Sara Rivka Avatar

    Sounds great and so glad my post was helpful!

  4. Letitia Avatar

    Yeah! What I have with those labels (applied with oil based glue) worried! thank you very very for Showing how to do it! Definitely try it.
    Letitia from Slovakia.

  5. Sara Rivka Avatar

    You are so welcome, I cant tell you how much Ive slaved to remove labels in the past…..now I know the secret and am so happy you do too! Thanks so much for introducing yourself,
    so happy to meet someone from Slovakia!

  6. Letitia Avatar

    I would like to share this great idea with the Slovak readers too. http://letitia-tiba.blogspot.com/2011/11/ako-na-vinety/
    Of course my words, thoughts and images, and stating the source. It´s OK?
    Good day. Letitia

  7. Sara Rivka Avatar

    No problem, thanks for asking!

  8. Iqbal Avatar

    Thanks for this great tip.
    I hand engrave personal messages on wine or liquor bottles or any glass bottle.
    Many times when the message is a little longer I have to remove the label from the back of the bottle.
    I live in the Austin, Texas area.
    Email: makemygift@aol.com

  9. dysport Orange County Avatar

    Yeah, this is the nice information because if I remove label then no one can predict it and I can carry it easily.

  10. Phill Puryer Avatar
    Phill Puryer

    Another problem adhesive for bottle labels I’ve found, are hot glued ones, which come off easily enough with VERY hot water but Always leave a residue!! I once tried wiping that off with kitchen towel and ended-up with a load of kitchen towel hot glued to the bottle!! Grrrr!
    Phill, Wales

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