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I wanted to make a vodka watermelon. Some people call it infuse a watermelon. Some people charge a watermelon. Whatever you it call it, it is the same thing. A 21 years and older watermelon filled with booze with a 50-50 chance of either coming out perfect or not infusing at all. I’m not trying to scare you out of a spiked vodka watermelon recipe. I’m letting you know up front, if your vodka watermelon didn’t work, keep reading this post to learn how to fix a drunken watermelon that won't absorb vodka on the first go round. How to Soak a Drunken Watermelon With Vodka   Pin this recipe for your next party!

7 Ways to Remove Sticky Jar Labels

 When I told Husband about my plan to pest proof the rest of our pantry and kitchen because a photo of a friend’s pantry moth invasion skeeved me out he finished my sentence for me, “by putting everything in jars like a crazy person?”

He knows me.

Because I’m taking everything out of  boxes and bags and putting it into jars like a crazy person.

I clean out and consolidate as time and empty jars permit. I like to reuse empty food jars as much as I can to free up my mason jars for canning. It is cheaper too.

7 Ways to Remove Sticky Jar Labels
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Glass jars are my favorite because they don’t absorb odor. I don’t have to check and double check if they are BPA free either. Fortunately, our salsa habit is helping us with this recycled jar organization and moth proofing project.
7 Ways to Remove Sticky Jar Labels
I can fit more food in my cabinets too!


How to Remove a Label from a Glass Jar

What kind of evil genius developed label adhesive? I have broken my fingernails down to the nub using them to scrap off jar labels. 


7 Ways to Remove Sticky Jar Labels
I’m using some repurposed BPA free plastic jars to store food until I figure out what is working and what is not.

1. Stick the jar in the dishwasher. My laziness extends to washing dishes too. If the dishwasher doesn’t remove the entire label, it makes it easy to remove after the wash and dry cycle when the jar is still warm and damp.  Be sure to clean the filters more often because they may become clogged with bits of label.   UPDATED 7/26/2018: Don't do this! I clogged the dishwasher pump this way and it stopped working. I had to take the dishwasher apart to clean out the pipe and it was the most smelly, vile, and disgusting DIY I have done in my entire life! Seriously, seriously gross!

2. Heat the label with a hair dryer. I don’t like to remove the labels from BPA free plastic jars using the dishwasher because the heat cycle can warp the jar and makes it useless for food storage. Instead I remove the jar label by heating it with alow watt hair dryer like this one to soften the glue and peel off the label. This is my favorite method because it is the least likely to leave sticky glue on the jar.

how to use a hair dryer to remove jar labels
Be careful that you don't burn the label or the melt plastic 
Disclosure: I am including affiliate links in this post for your convince.


3. Goo Gone. I have better luck using Goo Gone (affiliate link) to remove paper labels and leftover adhesive on a glass jar. Goo Gone doesn't always work for me when I’m removing a paper label from a plastic jar. Sometimes Goo Gone messes with the finish too.

4. Soak the label off in hot water. 

How to Remove Glue and Sticky Adhesive From a Jar


How to Remove Glue and Sticky Adhesive From a Jar


Some of my the jar labels are easy to peel off but leave the sticky glue behind. I used to deal with semi sticky jars until I found three ways to remove label glue from a jar.

Sometimes using one of these methods works. Other times, I have to use a combination of one or more of these methods.

1. Rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball or towel and some elbow grease. Nail polish remover doesn’t work and it discolors plastic bottles.

2. Vinegar. Some people soak the jar in vinegar and let the acid work on the sticky stuff enough to rub it off with a towel. I keep a spray bottle of vinegar for cleaning, and spray it on the label instead.

3. Peanut butter! I would not have believed this one if I hadn’t tried it yesterday. I spread a thin layer of peanut butter on the adhesive and allowed it to sit. I scrubbed the peanut butter with a damp towel to remove the glue. It was a little messy but it worked!

If you do not want to DIY it, try buying one of the options below!


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Comments

Unknown said…
WD-40 will remove the left on glue under labels. Spray on old cloth and rub over the glue, it will rub it off. Then wash in hot water to clean off the WD-40 left behind. The other thing that works is the artificial flower clean in spray can that is sold at Michaels. Spray it on the glue and rub off.
sdlepal said…
I just used the hair dryer method and the label came right off! Then I used goo gone to remove the sticky that was left. Perfect and thank you so much!
Unknown said…
I use tree tree oil to get of my labels. Small amount on rag
Unknown said…
Sometimes a little vegetable oil works just with the same premise as the PB issue. It is the oil in the PB that makes it work. Kirkland plastic nut containers are the best when they are empty!
Tia said…
I've always used oil too- usually cooking spray because it's a fast, easy way to coat the area. Then I use a plastic card (a used-up gift card or similar) to scrape away the adhesive. I've also used my garment steamer to loosen labels from glass and sturdier plastics.
Unknown said…
I was successful using hand lotion to remove sticker adhesive from a glass. Goo Gone would have been faster, but the lotion smells a lot better and did my fingers some good.