Removing labels from beer bottles.

[bluehouse]

AirRageous, I have the same isue with the cervesa bottles & basically with all the bottles that have the foil type label. I like the Modelo bottles size & shape but that foil neck cover is terrible.

BTW your wife is a great woman, great minds think alike.

(Quote from SWMBO)
"We have been married for 35 years and I figured out the other day that if I had shot him when we first met ..... I'd be out of prison by now!"

 

[camiller]

I leave the bottles with labels to the left of the kitchen sink. Within a day or two I find them draining in the dish rack.... I kiss my wife frequently

 

[AirRageous]

AirRageous, I have the same isue with the cervesa bottles & basically with all the bottles that have the foil type label. I like the Modelo bottles size & shape but that foil neck cover is terrible.

BTW your wife is a great woman, great minds think alike.

(Quote from SWMBO)
"We have been married for 35 years and I figured out the other day that if I had shot him when we first met ..... I'd be out of prison by now!"

Janet, I'm sure you and my wife would get along just fine .... I can just picture the plots that would arise........

And she lies about her age also. She has a twin brother who is 55 but she is only 39 ?????

 

[DakotaSchmidty]

No need to waste oxyclean if you have Sam Adams bottles. Just soak for 30-45 mins. in warm water and they slide right off and bring most of the glue with. Sometimes the label on the neck leaves a lot of glue behind, but you can rub it off very easily with your fingers while holding it under running water. Just tried some Breckenridge bottles today, and no such luck. The glue is much tougher to get off, even after several hours of soaking.

 

[imaguitargod]

No need to waste oxyclean if you have Sam Adams bottles. Just soak for 30-45 mins. in warm water and they slide right off and bring most of the glue with. Sometimes the label on the neck leaves a lot of glue behind, but you can rub it off very easily with your fingers while holding it under running water. Just tried some Breckenridge bottles today, and no such luck. The glue is much tougher to get off, even after several hours of soaking.

I've said it once, and I'll say it again. A 45 minute soak in 1-Step Clenser takes off even the hardest lables. Breckenridge labels just fall right off.

I used to do Sam Adams bottles because I could get them in 12-packs for cheap. Then I started to think about entering contests (they won't accept bottles stamped with logos) and about handing people a unlabled bottle stamped with someone's logo. "What did you do, just take the lable off of a Sam Adams and say it's your beer?". Don't want that question ever coming up, so I stopped using those bottles.

 

[Marsdude]

I use the Walmart Oxyclean knockoff, Sun. It works great. I never have a film left on the bottles, but then I only use a small amount.

 

[JefeTheVol]

Bridgeport labels, IMO, are the most difficult to remove. Ive soaked them overnight in oxyclean and they still are a pain in the @ss. So now, if I buy a 6 pack of bridgeport I just recycle the bottles instead.
-Jefe-

 

[barleyhole]

Smuttynose bottles are a nightmare. I bought a case of pumpkin ale last fall 1. because I really like it and 2. I could use the bottles. THREE DAYS of an oxyclean bath later, the labels were still dried on pretty good. Fortunately I had bought this utility knife with a curved blade to help wittle off the label and got them cleaned eventually. Everyone should use the Sam Adams glue...they come off after 20 minutes in a cooler of ice water!

 

[kyleobie]

+1 on Oxyclean.

I have had issues with labels from Great Lakes and Bells bottles more than any other brand I consume regularly. Bells labels are such a PITA that I usually recycle.

Easiest bottles to scrub? New Belgium, Sam Adams, Schlafly come to mind. I'm eager to claim those at parties for my homebrewing. Fat Tire 22 oz bombers are great to reuse!

 

[fineexampl]

I've said it once, and I'll say it again. A 45 minute soak in 1-Step Clenser takes off even the hardest lables. Breckenridge labels just fall right off.

I used to do Sam Adams bottles because I could get them in 12-packs for cheap. Then I started to think about entering contests (they won't accept bottles stamped with logos) and about handing people a unlabled bottle stamped with someone's logo. "What did you do, just take the lable off of a Sam Adams and say it's your beer?". Don't want that question ever coming up, so I stopped using those bottles.

You are probably right here, man.

My own method, tested yesterday over 2-3 hours. I cleaned, delabeled and sanitized 3 cases of bottles in hot water and StarSan. Most of the labels came right off. The rest of them i used a curved metal scraper. To remove the glue i used a square of blue aquarium filter sponge media (same stuff i used to scrub my bottling bucket, etc.). The labels i had the worst time with were labels that used vinyl stickets and foil necks. All were clean. Some glue residue, but nothing to be concerned about.

 

[imaguitargod]

You are probably right here, man.

My own method, tested yesterday over 2-3 hours. I cleaned, delabeled and sanitized 3 cases of bottles in hot water and StarSan. Most of the labels came right off. The rest of them i used a curved metal scraper. To remove the glue i used a square of blue aquarium filter sponge media (same stuff i used to scrub my bottling bucket, etc.). The labels i had the worst time with were labels that used vinyl stickets and foil necks. All were clean. Some glue residue, but nothing to be concerned about.

Ya, UV coated labels really don't come off and neither do foil (well, easly that is). I always just skip those. Unfortunitly alot of bombers have UV coated lables...if you can pull the label off by hand, the 1-Step with get the residual glue off the bottle.

 

[AirBronto]

Oxyclean and hot water is the only way to go.

 

[Mischief_Brewing]

I had about 2 cases of bottles in an oxy/water soak that I forgot about last fall. Unfortunately it was in my garage. I now have 2 cases of broken bottles due to the freeze/thaw that happened all winter. Ugh. At least I'm kegging now so they aren't as needed...

 

[Hummer]

Most beer bottle labels use water soluble glue that disolves off in warm water. Sometimes I'll get several cases of recycle 22 oz. Sapporo bottles from a local sushi restaurant--they're great for homebrews and the labels slide off in warm water.

If I get a big batch of recycle bottles, I start them in the dishwasher then open it before it drains to pick out the labels that have come off. With mixed wine and beer bottles I use oxy-clean or dishwasher detergent and hot water soak in 5 gal buckets.

For labels that use sticky glue, I warm the bottles (in the microwave if they have non metalic labels) and slice them off with a razor blade scraper. The toughest glue comes off easily with a paper towel and a little mineral spirits.

One-Step is more expense and it won't work well on many sticky glue labels.

 

[Gats]

Regardless of the method used, I can tell you that Samuel Adams labels are very easy to remove. I do it with just warm water and a sponge for the glue, which comes off very easily.

 

[Rahahb]

I tried bleach and water the first go around. It did alright but could have been improved.

Second time, I used ammonia and water and it did a much better job. Many floated to the surface in a day. Even the foil around ***** modela bottles was super easy to remove.

 

[eastoak]

european brands have been the easiest for me, plain hot water and they give it up. domestic brands really glue them on tight.

 

[geneb]

I just keep one of those big plastic bins (About 18 gallons) filled with a few gallons of water and some Oxyclean. Finish a bottle, rinse it out, and drop it in. When I get some time I grab a handful and rinse them under the sink really well and set them out to dry then box them up for later use. Still working off of the same water and Oxyclean after about 2 weeks and never had a bottle with even glue remaining on it.

 

[Zamial]

I just keep one of those big plastic bins (About 18 gallons) filled with a few gallons of water and some Oxyclean. Finish a bottle, rinse it out, and drop it in. When I get some time I grab a handful and rinse them under the sink really well and set them out to dry then box them up for later use. Still working off of the same water and Oxyclean after about 2 weeks and never had a bottle with even glue remaining on it.

Same here.

Now, I have been told by my future FIL that the wire wheel on his bench grinder removes labels fast, easy and completely, without soaking. I have not tried this and if someone else wants to try it, please wear eye protection...

 

[ellicit]

I've had good luck with soaking my bottles in the bath tub in warm water overnight, then for the tough ones scrape the label off with a butter knife and get a scotch brite pad to scrub off the glue.

 

[JRL]

I have found that Sapporo labels come off very easy. There is a local brewery here that I save a lot of bottles from that are a pain. Use a little steel wool after a soak and they are good to go. I am using almost all 22oz bottles now.

 

[Native302]

Try elbow grease, I've heard that works wonders.

 

[Slurm]

Soak in a sink full of OxyClean and hot water, peel labels off, scrub any remaining residue, rinse well.

 

[unionrdr]

I boil a 6 pack at a time for about 10 mintues. If the label doesn't fall off in the water I use a semi rigid piece of plastic like a gift card and scrape off the rest. But then you still need to remove the glue from the bottle. For that use a copper pan scrubbie. After a few good shakes with the scrubbie wipe it clean with a towel and it is ready.

BTW- The bottles will be hot-hot-hot when you take them from the water so use tongs to remove them and a thick towel to hold them. Try not to get the towel to wet or the heat will transfer quickly to your hands.

I boiled 2.5G of water in a 3G stock pot,dunking 3-4 bottles at a time. Within 8-12 seconds,the Paulaner labels come right off! The Michelob amber bock labels take a couple of mins max. I did some 39 bottles in 30 mins before having to stop & top off the boiling pot.
I sit on a stool at the stove with tongs in hand,bottle tree on a chair on my left,& let the boiling water do all the work. I not only get label free bottles in seconds,but clean as a whistle too! And didn't have to scrape a single one. No chemicals either! Thanx for the perfect solution,rad!!!

 

[rico567]

Well, this is one of those threads where I say "I use PBW," and then someone chimes in and says "PBW is too expensive, you should use Oxi-Clean" and I say "My water is too hard, Oxi-Clean will leave a white film on the bottle, so I'm gonna keep on using PBW." There. That should save some posts.

Also- all bottles are not created equal. Saranac bottles are a bitch, Sam Adams are (as detailed in earlier posts) easy. I think there may be a post somewhere with a list of hard & easy labels. Easiest bottles are those that have peel-off or shrink-on labels. Guinness bottles are a dream. Just slice off the shrink-on label, and use a pair of needle-nose pliers to pull out the plastic spaceship inside. Two Brothers are peel-off, also easy.

 

[Hang Glider]

Some of these methods require TOO MUCH WORK!
(however, to each his own. Perhaps some LIKE scrubbing....)

go easy. PBW or Oxyclean. toss 'em into a bucket, dishpan, whatever.
walk away.

later, when so inclined, pick them up and discard the floating labels.
Rinse.


done.

 

[unionrdr]

I've noticed the US micro brew labels are a PITA to cook loose. They've been cookin for about 15mins now. gunna go check'em...Well,they've cooked for 15-18 mins now,& I still had to scrape & curse to get the US micro brew labels off. But,I guess an hour to go through some 4 cases isn't too bad. Most were easy peasy!
I think this way is the easiest,quickest way. The boiling water does all the work. And I get to do something connected with brewing.

 

[Naz]

I know it sounds completely mad, but a bench grinder with a wire wheel works wonders on stubborn labels. Soak them for about a day to minimize paper "dust" and put just enough pressure on the bottle to take the label off - not much. I'll try to do a quick vid in the near future.

 

[iX_Xi]

I soak them in bath tub w/ a scoop of Oxy. I do 50 bottles at a crack. Let them sit in the solution for 2hrs. Some labels fall off w/o any help (New Glarus), other lables need some finger nail help, some need a flat razor scraper.

Last phase is to rub them down with a scotch-brite scrubbie. No glue residue.

--james

 

[freflyr]

I know people gonna laugh...but ... I rinse as i drink any bottles and then.. when about a 12 pack, fill bottles with hot water as I fill the sink..then cap and no hassels about cleaning the inside of glue and oxiclean...soak in oxiclean for a few hours and it is the easiest thing ever... steel wool uncap..drain.. like new and so easy..