Glass Jar, Don't Label Me

I have cleaned labels from hundreds of jars and bottles but sometimes I had someone to help. Select glass bottles have been reclaimed as the foundation for my glass etching and gone to live in homes around the world. Other glass jars have been reclaimed as the perfect vessel for holding assortments of one thing or another from around my home. So, my first eco living tip is my tried and true method for removing labels and glue residue from glass bottles and jars to reclaim them for a new use.

1. Consider buying something in glass over plastic. Eat or use up whatever you had in said jar. Or in my case at times, let others do so and pass along their interesting bottles to you!

2. Clean out the residue and soak in hot water. After a few minutes, take the back of a table knife and scrape the label off. If you are lucky most of it will come off at this point, but it depends on the glue under the label.

3. Mix a thick paste of any cooking oil and baking soda and smear a thick layer over any glue residue. Walk away and let this sit for a few hours or overnight. Did you notice the reclaimed maple syrup bottle filled with oil from a larger container?

4. Once the paste has had time to sit, remove the paste and residue under hot water. If it was really dense, you may want that table knife again or a little scrubby. If any residue still remains, put on another layer of oil/soda paste.

5. Clean with soap and water and fill with this and that. Or do your own creative project. You can add macramé for hanging plant jars, use to package goodies for friends, or anything else you can think of.