re-use of old bottles
 

I like to re-use my old bottles from the store bought wine that I have and
that others give me, but I have the hardest time removing the labels from
these bottles. Is there an easy and effective method that I can use to
accomplish this?
Any and all suggestions will be helpful!
Thanks in advance -
Dan
Chattanooga, TN

> these bottles. Is there an easy and effective method that I can use to
> accomplish this?

Soak them in water with some bleach in a large container. After a few hours
you can practically wipe them off. Use a scrub brush for the stubborn ones,
but not too much scrubbing is needed. Then I rinse and soak them in plain
water, a couple of times to get rid of the bleach smell.

I have tried this method and it does work . . . however, I still have the
glue residue that doesn't want to come off the bottle. On some of the
bottles, this method produces a very poor result and I end up using a putty
knife and plenty of elbow grease to scrape off the lable.
Any suggestions?
Dan

"Jeffrey Hallett" > wrote in message
...
>> these bottles. Is there an easy and effective method that I can use to
>> accomplish this?
>
> Soak them in water with some bleach in a large container. After a few
> hours you can practically wipe them off. Use a scrub brush for the
> stubborn ones, but not too much scrubbing is needed. Then I rinse and
> soak them in plain water, a couple of times to get rid of the bleach
> smell.
>

I get the bottle wet then pull off the outer part of the label. I put the
bottle in soapy water for about 10 minutes, take a knife and scrape the
label off, out it back in the water for about 10 more minutes. I can then
use a wash rag to remove the rest of the label and the glue.

It seems the outer part of the label keeps the water from getting down to
the glue.


"Elmer H. Fuddd" > wrote in message
...
>I have tried this method and it does work . . . however, I still have the
>glue residue that doesn't want to come off the bottle. On some of the
>bottles, this method produces a very poor result and I end up using a putty
>knife and plenty of elbow grease to scrape off the lable.
> Any suggestions?
> Dan
>
> "Jeffrey Hallett" > wrote in message
> ...
>>> these bottles. Is there an easy and effective method that I can use to
>>> accomplish this?
>>
>> Soak them in water with some bleach in a large container. After a few
>> hours you can practically wipe them off. Use a scrub brush for the
>> stubborn ones, but not too much scrubbing is needed. Then I rinse and
>> soak them in plain water, a couple of times to get rid of the bleach
>> smell.
>>
>
>

I give them to my wife and they are returned to me spotlessly clean.

Dick

I did leave out the part where I have a 6 year old daughter who loves to
play in water - cleaning up the wine bottles gives her endless joy for some
reason.


"Dick Adams" > wrote in message
...
>I give them to my wife and they are returned to me spotlessly clean.
>
> Dick

On Sun, 25 Sep 2005 14:42:16 -0000, (Dick Adams)
wrote:

>I give them to my wife and they are returned to me spotlessly clean.
>
>Dick

Damn, I wish that method worked for me.

Dick:

Don't give out your address, we'll all be lining up with our
bottles!!!!! <g>

Steve

>Is there an easy and effective method that I can use to
>accomplish this?

Dan:

The short answer is NO!!!! And as a result, I have stopped removing
commercial labels in quantity. If I need a bunch of bottles, I buy
them new. That way they are all the same, and only cost about $1
(Canadian). I figure it's more than a $1 of my time collecting,
cleaning, scraping, etc. I could have picked up about 20 bottles at a
recycling depot a couple of days ago. I took a quick look, and left
them for somebody else.

Some labels come off very easily. If you find one of these wineries,
please let us know, and be specific to variety and year, because
labels change.

Some of the plastic labels (eg Arbor Mist) come off quite easily. Use
a razor blade or similar to peel up one corner, and the label usually
peels off.

Otherwise, you need a selection of tools that includes razor blade
scrapers (yes that produced the scar on my finger), steel wool,
scrubbies, various cleaners/chemicals, etc etc.

The residual glue on the bottle can be removed with many things, eg
WD-40, Goo-B-Gone (and similar), or vegetable oils. But my fave is
peanut butter. Press the peanut butter into the glue, leave for a
couple of hours (overnight works for me), then remove with a nail
brush.

Steve

I use the soaking method. what doesn't come off easily, I spray with
GOOF OFF or GOO GONE and let soak for 10 minutes, then take a rag and
wipe clean. then into dishwasher, then upside down into empty wine case.
DAve
p.s. although I like the "give to wife" suggestion.

Elmer H. Fuddd wrote:
> I like to re-use my old bottles from the store bought wine that I have and
> that others give me, but I have the hardest time removing the labels from
> these bottles. Is there an easy and effective method that I can use to
> accomplish this?
> Any and all suggestions will be helpful!
> Thanks in advance -
> Dan
> Chattanooga, TN
>
>

I soak in very hot water for a few hours, scrape off the main paper part of
the label, then scrub the rest of the label and glue off with an SOS pad.
This works for me.

"Elmer H. Fuddd" > wrote in message
...
>I have tried this method and it does work . . . however, I still have the
>glue residue that doesn't want to come off the bottle. On some of the
>bottles, this method produces a very poor result and I end up using a putty
>knife and plenty of elbow grease to scrape off the lable.
> Any suggestions?
> Dan
>
> "Jeffrey Hallett" > wrote in message
> ...
>>> these bottles. Is there an easy and effective method that I can use to
>>> accomplish this?
>>
>> Soak them in water with some bleach in a large container. After a few
>> hours you can practically wipe them off. Use a scrub brush for the
>> stubborn ones, but not too much scrubbing is needed. Then I rinse and
>> soak them in plain water, a couple of times to get rid of the bleach
>> smell.
>>
>
>

Thanks to all for such great ideas!! ( I still want to employ Dave's wife)
With all of this info - I should have plenty of tools to be rid of the pesky
lables once and for all- with minimal effort. I'm all about minimal effort.
Now; on to begin the removal . . . .
Dan


"Elmer H. Fuddd" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> I like to re-use my old bottles from the store bought wine that I have and
> that others give me, but I have the hardest time removing the labels from
> these bottles. Is there an easy and effective method that I can use to
> accomplish this?
> Any and all suggestions will be helpful!
> Thanks in advance -
> Dan
> Chattanooga, TN
>

I get glue residue (when i actually have it) pretty easy with a copper
or stainless steel scrubbie.

Except when it is that tacky rubber cement type. In the past I took
that off using goo gone.

That water insuluble glue comes right off with acetone too, goo gone
works but seems to rleave it's own resudue...

Joe

The goo gone washes off with soap and water though.

Butr yeah, you could also use baby oil or fingernail polish remover
(ethyl acetate or acetone)

Baby oil? I have 5 gallons of mineral oil I may have a use for now...

Thanks,
Joe

Since we started this thread, I have used the razor scraper and Goo Gone
method and I am pleasantly surprised by the results! I still think that we
should be able to hire Dave's wife.
Much thanks to all who have contributed to this quest!
I think I have a new and improved method for removal of the offending sticky
lables! Yea!
Dan

"Elmer H. Fuddd" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> I like to re-use my old bottles from the store bought wine that I have and
> that others give me, but I have the hardest time removing the labels from
> these bottles. Is there an easy and effective method that I can use to
> accomplish this?
> Any and all suggestions will be helpful!
> Thanks in advance -
> Dan
> Chattanooga, TN
>

for anybody in or near Cincinatti. Checkout this ebay auction.
Shipping costs are too much but if your local it might work out well
for you. 90 bottles.

http://cgi.ebay.com/c-L-O-O-K-GLASS-...QQcmdZViewItem

Hap

hap wrote:
> for anybody in or near Cincinatti. Checkout this ebay auction.
> Shipping costs are too much but if your local it might work out well
> for you. 90 bottles.
>
> http://cgi.ebay.com/c-L-O-O-K-GLASS-...QQcmdZViewItem
>
> Hap
>
Its a couple stage process for me: All bottles go into hot water with
Ammonia in the kitchen sink for a good soak. Uncoated paper labels with
water soluble adhesive slip right off. Coated paper bottles get the
scotchbrite treatment, abrading the coating allows the water to soak
right in.

Bottles with paper labels and a rubbery based glue get most of the paper
peeled off in the sink, and sometimes a combination of Scotchbrite and
hot water is enough to soften things up enough. Tougher cases go to the
garage, where I wet the glue with Mineral Spirits, or use something like
Goo Gone or WD-40 to soften up the glue. For thick deposits I have a
small air-powered die grinder with a scotchbrite disk on it. Rough it up
with that, and whatever was left cleans right up with Mineral Spirits or
Lacquer Thinner. Bottles with plastic labels, if you can't peel up a
corner get trashed.