[newbeerpig]

Originally Posted by PhlyanPan

What's not "food safe" about oxiclean? It's a standard oxygenated cleanser isn't it? From what I understand this type of cleaner is very commonly used to clean food prep items in industrial settings.

I don't necessarily know that it's not food safe, and I've never heard it used for anything but laundry until now, so it's just my assumption/opinion. I have to admit, that I really don't even know for sure that the cleanser referred to in homebrewing is the same as the Oxiclean you see Billy Blanks selling so enthusiastically on television... I am just very pleased with how well the baking soda/water combo worked!

[PhlyanPan]

Well, it's basic active ingredient is sodium percarbonate which I believe is the same as certain beer-specific cleaners. It does have some additional stuff like perfumes and whatnot for laundry so you'd want to rinse it off well but I see no reason why you couldn't feel perfectly safe using it to clean bottles.

[BrianP]

"Oxyclean Free" doesn't have the fragerance. That's what I use.

[TerapinChef]

As an update, the muriatic acid soak on the coke bottles did not remove the paint. It did, however, soften it up enought that with a lot of elbow grease and a stainless steel scrubby, they came mostly clean. It was a lot more work than I was hoping for, but I've got a bunch of (mostly) clean 8 oz botttles.

[Zul'jin]

A Dremel on High with a fine to medium wire wheel makes short work of painted on, printed on or screened on labels. You may want to run it lightly over the whole image first and then get to business. It doesn't take more than light pressure really. Comes off ezee pzee.

You can even remove only the parts of the image you want to and keep the rest.

Just did this to a Rogue Dead Guy Ale bottle. Mere minutes. No damage to the glass.

A dust mask. Wear one.

[SCARYLARRY]

I soak them in hot water, peel label and hit it with some 00 steel wool. Works great for me.

[Zul'jin]

A Dremel and wire brush wheel also works on aluminum bottles, I learned today. It takes a while to do though. The same technique works on paper labels and glue but, damn, it takes forever. Hot water, Simple Green and 00 steel wool is a better option for that.

[TerapinChef]

All of you steel wool people need to try a stainless steel scrubbie. Same results, less scrubbing, 20x the shelf life. Will outlast your steel wool like it's nobody's buisness. And it doesn't rust/stain your countertop/sink/table.

[Bluelinebrewer]

Made the mistake of buying labels at Staples and putting them on my bottles. They stick, VERY WELL!!! Had a hell of a time getting em off. Bought some of this at Wally World:



Sprayed on for about 15 minutes, label slid right off! Smells nice and orangy too!! Did leave a little "greasy" residue on the outside, but took care of that with a little soapy water on the outside of the bottle. Just my 2 cents.

[anderj]

A freakin dremel for paper labels!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

read the rest of the tread and get some OXYCLEAN (or other percloride product)

not to mention people getting out steel wool or something

jeeze

-Ander