Just experienced some seriously satisfying label removal. I'm a dedicated collector of heavy Belgian bombers which possess the most frustratingly venerable adhesives. The labels peel intact, but leave a nasty surface that is nearly impossible to mechanically remove. Ive tried soaps, PBW, etc, with no effect. Talk about a PITA.
Well, today I did a quick Google search and found a simple solution: 1/2 baking soda and 1/2 oil. That solution made me able to pull off the adhesive with my fingers (not even the nails). A simple soak in dish detergent removed any oily detritus afterwards (just the exterior!). Simple, elegant and easy label removal.
I'm kicking myself now, because I actually tossed a few bottles simply because they had those plastic labels on them. No harsh chemicals, no messy cleanup...this changes everything.