Bottle label removal

[danorocks17]

I generally fill up the bathtub half way with hot water and add half a scoop of green lid oxyclean (fragrance free!) I leave it over night, they'll fall right off

 

[iaefebs]

Different Breweries use different methods to label bottles. So you really have to learn by experience. I once contacted a Brewery because the labels they used were impossible to remove the glue. This was the response from them..

"Please don't try to take the labels off unless you have a high power angle grinder with a wire wheel attachment, leather gloves and a face mask. Spend more time brewing.
Our labeler uses "pressure sensitive" labels which are essentially really good stickers. The "cold glue" labels come off real easy after soaking them in warm water usually because the glue is water soluble. The pressure sensitive labels are not. That's why they suck to remove."

 

[BrewMedic]

"Please don't try to take the labels off unless you have a high power angle grinder with a wire wheel attachment, leather gloves and a face mask"

BAHAHAHA!!! You know that they repied with that because some fool actually tried it!!

 

[941MxVet]

+1 on running the bottles in the dishwasher. The hot rinse usually gets the labels off, and a machine dose the work for you, wonderful!

BTW my personal favs are the Deschutes Brewery bottles, slim, and a bit of raised hop design on the rim. Of course the lables are easy to get off too!:rockin:

 

[unionrdr]

That's why I had my wife pick up the label paper she saw at the LHBS when her & my son had some errands to run one day. It's label "sticky paper" that you moisten to apply. Says it's easily removable too. If they're as easily removable as Paulaner & Sam Adams,I'll be using them often. We're making two dif brews at a time now,so it'd be way cool in the summer with folks over for bbq or something.

 

[kyle6286]

I use the racks in my dishwasher. Pull them out, they fit about 60 bottles.

I found this is the best use for my dishwasher! No need for a bottle tree. Simply let the bottles dry upside down. Depending on the size of your dishwasher, you should be able to fit at least two cases worth.

I just went through this pain in the ass a couple of days ago. I had to remove 50+ labels so I mixed up some oxyclean free in two 5 gallon buckets of water and let the bottles sit overnight. Hoegaarden and Sam Adams labels come off easily while some others were very resilient even after a full day of soaking.

 

[Beezy]

X3 dishwasher. The bottle tree is a waste. I think they are too expensive for what they are anyway.

 

[jsweet]

The bottle tree is a waste. I think they are too expensive for what they are anyway.

I was thinking about trying to make one... seems simple enough. I'm sure there are plans on-line, but it seems so simple I'm not even sure I need any. Seems like you just need a base, a thick dowel, and a bunch of thin dowels...

 

[Toga]

+ another with the oxycleen free. I just buy the sun brand stuff. 1 scoop per gallon of hot water. Labels fall off and most glues dissolved within 15 minutes. Works like a champ. There are a few labels that it does not cut through well for example any with a metallic finish or plastic coating. With those just peel the outer label off then drop it back in and it will come off easy.

 

[unionrdr]

I was taught to use the right tool for the right job. That way,it'll get done right,& won't come back to bite you in the shorts later. Like toxic chemicals & jury rigging things. Do it right the first time. But hey,whatever works....

 

[Brewmiser]

I use Oxiclean too but I don't let them sit too long. once I left them in there for a day or so & got a film on my bottles, I think from the labels/glue & that was a pain to get out. I also try to fill my cooler up to the neck of the bottle but not over the top to keep the dirty label water out of the insides of my bottles. after that I run mine thru the dishwasher without soap on the hottest cycle.

 

[asidrane]

Just buy beer where they paint on the bottle instead of using glue to apply the label. A soak in a bucket of sanitizer will start to dissolve the paint. Then finish it off with a sponge and a rinse of tap water.

 

[Melnyk]

oxy clean or star san does the trick. i buy guiness extra stout in the short bottles. the labels come off after 5 minutes in hot water and they take up less room.

 

[NWMushroom]

I'm a PBW guy. 2 tablespoons per gallon of hot water. After 30 minutes, the labels peel right off. Sometimes the glue needs a tiny scrub, but it's pretty easy.

I make up about 2 or 3 gallons and find that it holds enough power to clean a whole batch of bottles (48-50).