How to remove labels from plastic bottles without damaging them

This post shares how to remove sticker residue from plastic, specifically how to remove sticker residue from plastic bottles and jars. You can actually use this tip to remove sticker residue from glass and number of other surfaces, too.

Table of Contents Show

Instructions
What is the easiest way to remove labels from plastic?
How do I remove a print from a plastic water bottle?
What is the easiest way to remove labels from bottles?

I’m popping in today with another quick tip! A few weeks ago, I decided to start doing some quick tip posts…they can be about anything, just as long as it’s something I think might be useful to someone. And it has to be fast and easy to accomplish.

My first quick tip was about how to create drainage in planters without holes. I needed to do that for this hanging stainless steel bowl planter. Today I’m talking about something we’re all familiar with…how to remove sticker residue from bottles and jars.

Would you believe I walked around with my water bottle like this for a few weeks after buying it? I’m so, so lazy sometimes. I figured that a couple cycles through the washer would remove all of it, but alas, this is as far as my dishwasher got me. This sticker residue was particularly stubborn:

So removing it is pretty simple. Don’t bother with Goo Gone…I mean if you have it on hand you can use it, but it smells nasty. And why use Goo Gone for something olive oil can do? Yeah, no kidding, olive oil. I just poured a little bit onto a paper towel and started scrubbing the spot.

When about half of the sticker residue was off, I rinsed it and started scrubbing again. Sometimes it takes a few rounds for the stubborn ones. When it was all gone, I just thoroughly washed the bottle with soap and water to remove all of the oil. And that’s it, folks.

See? Easy. No more excuses for being lazy and keeping the sticker gunk on your bottles and jars forever. 🙂

Share my tip about how to remove sticker residue from plastic on Pinterest:

Materials

Olive oil
Paper towel

Instructions

Pour a small amount of olive oil onto a paper towel and start scrubbing the sticker residue.
Rinse and repeat. Sometimes it takes a few rounds for the stubborn ones.
Thoroughly wash the bottle with soap and water to remove all of the oil. And that's it, folks.

What is the easiest way to remove labels from plastic?

Try soaking and wiping off with hot soapy water first if you think the label will remove easily. Vinegar or nail polish remover work better for more stubborn stains. Wet a rag with the solution you've chosen and apply it to the glue residue area. Let it soak in for 15 minutes.

How do I remove a print from a plastic water bottle?

Take your cotton ball, and douse it with 100% acetone nail polish remover. In a circular motion, work it over the print on the container. It will take a few seconds to get going, but it will start to come off. Keep working, applying pressure and working your way around.