Removing labels from 500ml Bottles

[IrishBeerSnob]

Hey Guys

I recycle the 500ml bottles i buy to keep for homebrew, i was bottling a batch last night and was a few short so had to delabel some of them, do you have a foolproof successful technique for making this task easier?

Was thinking of buying an Oxy Cleaner and soaking the bottles in this with warm water.

Any other tips?

[delzep]

Bottles in the basin, fill with warm water and a squirt of fairy liquid then leave to soak for a while

[imark]

Depends on the label material (plastic or paper) and the adhesive used. If the labels are plastic, like porterhouse bottles are, forget soaking. Peel off when dry.

[lampie]

every bottle is different i use grolsh bottles and the need a 10 minute soak and can pull off the little label

Also have some russian and polish bottles that i realy need to soak and then i use a plastic handbrush and rubbing off the label goes quite good and it also removes the left over glue..

but most of the labels just need a long soak and the labels float around ..

i use a brush like this with quite hard hairs

[Shanna]

Personally I find the dishwasher is a great way to remove labels. I would advise you to remove the bottles straight away after the cycle finishes as the bottles will be still warm (roasting actually ;-). If you leave them to cool the glue from the labels can re-harden making them even harder to remove. All bottles are not equal also. O'Hara bottles in particular I prize highly over others because the glue holding the labels melts right off.

Shanna

[brian_c]

Peel off slowly. If lots of glue left on bottle, wash off with cooking oil, then wash cooking oil off with fairy liquid.

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[RichC]

Lately I've been using Shannas method. If they don't come off easy I recycle them.

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[Damien M]

On bottles that are well stuck or plastic labels I use a Stanley Knife and whittle off the label in strips. Works a treat even on the glue.   

[Bogwoppit]

For the ones with the really sticky labels I use some white spirits. Works a treat but of course you then have to wash the bottles again and the missus might freak out a but with the smell.

Be

[Bzfeale80]

I have also tried the oxy & water soak but some labels just would not come off. They were left to soak for 12 -24 hrs in about 20L water to 1.5 scoops of Lidl w5 oxy. I had a batch of 15 bottles or so.

I had particular trouble taking the labels off of bottles by Fyne Ales. I ended up attacking it with a filling knife/paint scraper and no way could I get the label to peel off & after was left with a lot of sticky stuff. Maybe I can try the white spirits method.

I also saw a post on JBK where they cap the bottle and clean the outside with carb cleaner - probably a good idea to do same when using white spirits

http://www.jimsbeerkit.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=66558

[sub82]

If you can get some isopropanol it's a pretty good solvent for some of the glues. Just make sure to wear rubber gloves as it will dry out your hands.

[Andrew]

Only buy Hooker and Carlow bottles- The labels float right off 

[jawalemon]

I only keep o'hara's bottles theses days as the labels come off after a few min soak in warm water. I'd be more inclined to buy their beers over others when running low on bottles.

[Bzfeale80]

@Sub82 what common shop products have isopropanol?

[Chris]

I also just keep OHaras and recycle the rest. Too much like hard work getting the other labels off