[Bert]

I like to reuse jars for my jam/ chutney making. But getting the old labels off takes me ages. How do you get the sticky residue off the jar after labels come off. My thumb nail is half the length it was this morning, with all the scraping  . Any advice would be great, because the way I do it drives me nuts   

[darkbrowneggs]

Good soak in the left over washing up water, then scrape with veg knife and follow up with stainless steel scrubbing ball


I would guess you could use acetone/nail varnish remover instead if you wanted to 

[HappyHippy]

I usually soak in boiling hot water for a bit, scrape off what I can then get stuck into the acetone for the really stubborn bits 

[Bionic]

Leave in the washing up water overnight, then scrape where necessary.


Cheap jars i.e. economy supermarket brands are the worst and I don't bother with them

[JulieWall]

I have two methods depending on the glue used. The shiny labels with the evil glue come clean off if you pour fairly hot water into the jar, doesn't need to be boiling, leave for a couple of mins to soften the glue and then voila! peel it clean off - very, very gratifying if you're easily amused like me.
Some have water soluble glue labels so a soak will do them easily.

Rule of thumb; try the hot water in jar first and you'll find out if the glue is softened by heat or not. Once you make the labels soggy they're harder to get off and you can still use the soak method if the water inside the jar doesn't work.

[Bert]

Thank everyone  .

[northfifeduckling]

there is something you can buy for the really stubborn sticky stuff some jars are blessed with - it's called "Sticky stuff remover"  - honestly! I only use that if there is no other option, of soaking, soap and scrubbing didn't do it (or I recycle the jars with the other glass....) A good friend told me that lamp oil is basically the same as the rather expensive ss remover, worth a go!

[JulieWall]

Do try the hot water in the jar it is so quick and easy I promise you. It's so much greener than using chemicals and cheaper too.

[northfifeduckling]

doesn't work for all I find. My organic Olive jars from Greece are the worst. What on Earth do they use as glue I wonder?  - but of course you're right, Julie. 

[Clarebelle]

I find WD40 works quite well at getting the really stubborn bits off

[HesterF]

I don't bother - just stick the new label over the top. Mind you, it's only for our own consumption at the moment. Can't really give a second hand pickle jar, still labelled, as a present of strawberry jam or whatever.

H

[JulieWall]

speaking of pickle vs jam, has anyone got a good method for removing the vinegar or onion smells from the metal lids? It's defeated me so far, I just keep the ones that I have used for pickle for the next batch.

[cans]

Hi Bert,
Having made two batches of chutney this morning I use "brillo pad and elbow grease" and if need be plenty washing up liquid, to get any remaining residue/label off the jars.
If I'm not happy with the end result then the contents are mine.  (Yummy at Christmas time).

[cloddopper]

I find soaking in soapy water over night and using one of the heavy duty knitted  stainless steel pan scrubbers fair rips off the labels .

Any awkward bits  found after rinsing off ...use a drop of neat washing up liquid and one of the micro fibre cloths that's been well used & again the  knitted wire pan scrubber .. the glue will not adhere to the soapy surface as you loosen it .

 Re the vinegar smell.. vinegar  ....being acetic acid  ought to be neutralized by an alkali so have a look and see what you have in the cupboards .
Sodium bi carb Unscented chlorine bleach . Ammonia ?

It could be worth a punt  making a solution up and soaking the seals/ lids  for a wee while in it and then rinsing them off in rather hot water .
Same with the jars , some jars still carry the vinegar taint  even after they have been through the dishwasher on the hot cycle.


Brand new lids on their own for various euro standard size jars tops are available  on line .. just can't remember where at present .

[JulieWall]

I tend to keep vinegar jars for pickling - pickled onions are the smelliest, aren't they?
Something I read about once, and have used successfully several times to remove strong smells from plastic containers, is to bury the offending item in soil and leave it there for a few days - hubby usually shoves it into a bag of compost for me. Aside from me tending to forget and leaving it there for a few weeks, it is very effective at removing smells, even oily fish taint which really clings. I think the lids are the worst when it comes to holding smells, don't you?