Removing Labels From Bottles

[rtichota]

WD-40 actually works really well for removing any glue residue. Just give a solid spray after peeling the label off and take a washcloth or sponge and wipe, usually comes right off.

 

[Lucasdog]

B-Brite!!!! Soak bottles. I've NEVER had a problem. Labels float to the top and glue washes right off!

 

[TacoGuthrie]

Get Oxi-Clean.

At first I tried hot water and dish soap overnight. Got some but not all labels off. Then I tried hot water and bleach/ ammonia overnight in a cooler. Still didn't get everything and I sucked in too many bad fumes.

In the end I tried oxi clean and it got everything off in a couple hrs.

 

[spitfire]

Actually nuking them is the way to go. I really like Sierra Nevada beer, and their bottles but the labels are a bisitch to remove. So this is what I do:

Soak them in warm water at least a few minutes, longer is better. Then pour out any water and pop them in the microwave for about 20 seconds or so. Quickly remove them and the label should come right off. Let the bottles cool a little then use a scrubby pad to remove the remaining gum -it comes right off. DONE!

It sounds like a PIA but its not so bad really and its a lot better then using a razor blade or wire brush IMO.

Sierra Nevada has been the easiest labels for me to remove. They fall off an hour after being in the oxyclean. Glue wipes right off, Not sure why you are having a hard time with this bottles.

 

[HangLoose]

Sierra Nevada has been the easiest labels for me to remove. They fall off an hour after being in the oxyclean. Glue wipes right off, Not sure why you are having a hard time with this bottles.

Maybe I'm impatient.

 

[ghostbrewer]

Over the last few months, the trend I see is that import labels come off with little to no trouble and the domestics are a real PIA. In general, the imports accept the cap I get from my LHBS. The exceptions so far are Dos Equis and Bitburger.

So far, the following labels come off very easily with a short oxyclean soak and take the caps I get at my LHBS (Homebrew USA, Virginia Beach, VA):

• Warsteiner
• Paulaner
• Aventinus
• Sam Smith's
• Kona Brewing *
• Grolsch
• Moylan's

* a little troublesome, but worth the effort.

The following, while taking the standard cap, are a real PIA to de-label:

• Brooklyn Brewery
• Saranac
• Magic Hat

Hope the data is useful. Suppose I'll update this as I learn more. For everyone who has contributed to this thread, thank you.

 

[rico567]

I'm not a candidate for Oxi-Clean. Our well water has minerals in it that will leave a film on the bottles if they're in an Oxi-Clean soak more than a half-hour. The film must then be removed with an acid wash.....too much bother. I just use PBW, run some hot tap water in the sink and throw in a couple of tablespoons. I can then submerge about 24 bottles at a time. I do this on a day when I can multitask and walk away and do something else for an hour. After that time, most labels remove quite well.

As mentioned in a previous post, Magic Hat is bad (& 3 labels?!?!?!?)/....... and Saranac is hell.

My favorite? Schlafly's (St. Louis Brewing). A half-hour soak and the labels just slip off. Too bad their beer's not better.....

 

[Jlvw]

I am not sure if anyone has mentioned this- but Mr. Clean magic erasers work AMAZINGLY well to remove the goop that's hard to get off after soaking. Well, so my wife says!

 

[Ferrousity]

Oxy Clean worked well for me....maybe too well...once the glue dissolved I ended up with glue particles on the INSIDE of the bottles which was a huge PITA to clean. I may cap my clean bottles before soaking next time to prevent this.

 

[ghostbrewer]

Found some U.S. bomber-size (22 oz / 650 ml) bottles that are very easy to de-label. I was only planning to sterilize the bottles using my LHBS no-rinse sanitizing powder in v. hot water, but found an extra perk after about 20-30 minutes of soaking:

• Heavy Seas
• Great Divide
• Lagunitas
• Southern Tier

The Heavy Seas labels peeled right off with almost no residue after about 10 minutes and in one piece. Lagunitas came off in pieces and left residue, but come off it did. Southern Tier took a bit more effort to lift the first corner up, but once started, it came off in one piece with little residue. Great Divide floated off after 45 minutes.

 

[MBasile]

I've been delabeling a lot of 12 ouncers lately. I put a small amount of generic oxy clean in a pint glass, a little bit of water, and the 12 ouncers slide right in. The good thing about the tight fit is that it insures that the oxy clean will come into complete contact with the label. I let it sit there for a while and forget about it (usually until the next morning) and then rinse off any residual adhesive.

I've also removed and saved many labels this way, you just have to take them out of the water as soon as they release themselves from the bottle.

 

[Peterlovesbrew]

When you say " oxyclean" are you referring to "Oxiclean", the branded product used for laundery stains? Or something else?

 

[Pubwilson]

If you want save water and remove labels for bottle reusage, try putting your bottles in the freezer(empty) for 1 or 2 hours. Remove them and let them sweat in a warm area of the house or garage. After they have accumalated a good amount of dew, the labels will peel right off glue and all.

 

[camiller]

When you say " oxyclean" are you referring to "Oxiclean", the branded product used for laundery stains? Or something else?

Yes. Oxiclean or any of it's generic equivalents like Sun oxygen cleaner etc.