Has any one got a good way of getting labels off of bottles?

I make sloe gin and find that dark screw-top wine bottles are ideal for storing the stuff but have the devils own trouble getting the labels off.

Any ideas?

Have you tried soaking on warm soapy water?

Ditto and I use nail polish remover for the sticky bits left.

The dishwasher is a very effective way of getting labels off bottles and jars...I'm far too lazy busy to do it manually :-D

> Have you tried soaking on warm soapy water?

Yep tried that and even put boiling water in to melt the glue..... nothing!

Thanks I'll give the dishwasher a go... :-)

I put all my empty jars in and it's great for them but I have a feeling these Hardys laels are made of stronger stuff.... nothing seems to budge them.

White spirit may work, or Brush Restorer - as a last resort, Nitromors paint stripper.

Foam cleaner?

I would try leaving them in some (Initially) hot soapy (Use washing powder) water overnight, works for me!!
Aileen

I have managed with some stubborn ones by soak till label is waterlogged, scrape it off with old knife then acetone based nail-varnish remover for the glue.
You used to be able to buy label/glue remover some years ago but never tried it and don't know if it worked.
Chris

I wonder if WD40 would work?

I had this problem today when attempting to glaze an interior door. The info labels had been left on the glass (all 9 panes). I found a box of degreaser/washing powder called Deepio in the shed & used that with a soft scourer. Worked a treat. I imagine any bio washing powder would work.

My husband always uses lighter fuel and then polishes it in small circles on anything that we have that has sticky stuff on. I would put them in the dishwasher before and after treatment. I've been saving jars to make "his lordship" blackberry jam and the labels are not causing as much as a problem as last year.

Thanks everyone.

After the dishwater attempt ( tonight) I will try the detergent/scourer followed by the solvent tactic.

Jars seem to come through the dishwasher sparklingly clean but I have a feeling :-(  about these little devils.

I would second the dishwasher method but if it doesn't work then try label remover like this - I think B&Q or homebase sell it too

I use something called sticky stuff remover. I think it was Lakeland or Kleeneze I got the last bottle from (sorry it last ages so I've had a while and the memory isn't what it used to be lol). That works a treat. I have also used a good old fashioned brillo pad. The wire wool makes short work of it - cheap too!!!
Hope you find something that works.

Thanks,
The dishwasher softened most of it but one stubborn bit needs some of your suggestions tomorrow.

Some labels have a plastic probably not actual plastic shiny coating on them which makes it more difficult for the water to penetrate.  Try sanding them down lightly with sand paper first before the dishwasher, or soaking options.

Lakeland sell Sticky Stuff Remover and I think there was something called Goo Gone too which does the same job.

Apparently, baby/cooking oil is meant to be good for lifting sticky labels off glass or metal.

I have still got some of that label remover - sort of thing that I might have bought from Lakeland.  It is OK - doubt it is any better than nail varnish remover and a razor blade type scraper. 

> Lakeland sell Sticky Stuff Remover

Whoops should have read the rest of the posts properly - sorry.  Now can anyone tell me how I can get some of that awful label glue.  We have internal blinds on our kitchen doors and the ropes are supposed to held in place by some clear tacky stuff.  Unfortunately the ropes are a magnet for the grandchildren and they are getting pulled off.  Will have to go back to the manufacturers sometime - just too busy trying to sort out slow internet problems at mo. 

Lighter fuel is what graphics people use to remove sticky labels, etc.

I assume you're planning ahead for your sloe gin?  I'm watching the damson trees in readiness .... little while off yet though :-(

I've got my 'special' patch and its looking good so far.

Neat fairy liquid always works to get sticky lables of all sorts of things.

Sheila

> Lighter fuel is what graphics people use to remove sticky labels, etc.

Now that takes me back to a shop I once worked in when I was a teenager. If anyone bought a box of chocolates and asked for the price label to be removed, the shop owner got out a can of lighter fuel and wiped it off. The expression on the customers' faces was priceless.
(myself and the other women who worked there tended to peel it off carefully with our nails and then try to scratch the residual glue off... lighter fuel and chocolates don't really go.....).

isopropyl alcohol