Cleaning Adhesive from Plastic Labels

[Thunder_Chicken]

I've got 2 Rodenbach Grand Cru bottles that I'd like to use for future bottling. The problem, these guys have thin transparent plastic labels. These labels peel off easily enough, but they leave a thick rubbery adhesive layer that doesn't appear to be water soluable.

Any ideas how I can get this adhesive off and still be able to use the bottle?

 

[Rockn_M]

Try soaking in Oxyclean Free and hot water.

 

[NewBrewB]

Yep. There is an orange/citrus air freshener that I used to clean my kegs that worked like a champ. (Use outdoors)

I will try to remember to post a picture of the bottle when I get home.

 

[Magic8Ball]

I used goof off Pro Strength. Works on most adhesives. http://www.goofoffproducts.com/product/pro-strength-remover

 

[rideincircles]

Two main options using your normal brewing supplies.

Soak in hot PBW mixture and leave for a day or 2 and scrub off.

If that doesn't work, then soak in a 2x normal starsan solution for a few days or more. Scrub off using a scouring pad and don't hot water rinse it off until you have scrubbed it off (the hot water can reactivate its stickiness). May need a couple attempts at soaking to get it completely off.

I did a bit of research since I had to clean off the sticky labels from old heineken bottles. Those were a pain to get off. I ended up letting them soak for a month or 2 and they scrubbed right off. If that doesn't work, then I just chunk the bottles for being too much of a pain.

Also, the 2x starsan solution will remove the ink from Stone bottles also given enough time.

Just rinse the bottles really well since it can tend to get a film after soaking for that long.

 

[Thunder_Chicken]

Try soaking in Oxyclean Free and hot water.

Tried Oxyclean - doesn't touch it.

 

[MrFoodScientist]

de-solv-it or goo gone.

I always try to peel labels like that slowly and evenly to remove as much of the adhesive as possible with the label itself.

 

[idtapthat]

Might sound odd but brakekleen and a rag. spray the rag with some brakekleen then the adhesive then it should almost rub right off.
have used this on a number of different things, I always keep a can of it around.
works great for removing grease stains from clothes/fabrics too

 

[Rockn_M]

Tried Oxyclean - doesn't touch it.

Probably the next best thing is something like Goo Gone or some other citrus cleaner and a little elbow grease.

 

[broadbill]

goo gone

 

[Misplaced_Canuck]

Plain old acetone (aka "nail polish remover") will take that right off. Cheap, too.

MC

 

[Thunder_Chicken]

Thanks for the help folks. I've tried some brake cleaner and goof off and the stuff was still there. I finally said eff it and tossed them in recycling.

I think it's easier and more fun to go buy some good beer in a Belgian bottle with a paper label that soaks off easily.

 

[TNGabe]

Boiling water, oxyclean, and a green scrubbie. Maybe not worth the time, but it can be done. You think those Belgian plastic labels are bad, try getting a Brooklyn 750 clean.

 

[nobeerinheaven]

I've had good success with ammonia and if that failed, there is a solution that is used for easily dissolving the adhesive part of wallpaper that you can find in hardware stores (I forget the name). It is more expensive than ammonia, so I use that only as backup. (Plus I've always got ammonia on hand as an all-purpose cleaner and laundry additive.) I've also never noticed oxiclean to do much to most labels, despite being a popular option.

 

[NewBrewB]

Finally got around to snapping that picture. This stuff is awesome.

Outside, spray the area and let it sit for a min, then scrape off the goo with a piece of plastic. (Back of a plastic knife, plastic paint scraper, etc?)