Monday’s Simple Cleverness…Getting Out of a Sticky Situation

On my Easter Spring tablescape, I showed you some bottles that we picked up at the recycling center to use for candle holders. As I was taking the labels off, it dawned on me that what I was doing to get the sticky residue off is a “Simple Cleverness” that deserved its own post! Well, actually it dawned on me after I finished those two exact bottles, so I’m showing you with another bottle I worked on just for this post.

Here’s the bottle after I soaked it in water to remove the sticker, however only the paper part of the label came off. You can see it’s still really wet, but that sticky part is not budging. So out comes a little trick my mom showed me…

Cooking oil! Depending on how ‘sticky’ the sticker is, it may take a couple minutes extra of the oil sitting on the sticker to complete the removal.

Typically, though, I just pour some oil on a folded paper towel and rub it on the sticker. Within a couple minutes and a little bit of elbow grease, the residue comes completely off.

This sticker was super tough, so I had to soak it a couple extra minutes to ‘soften’ the sticker, then using the paper towel as the abrasive to rub off the sticker worked great.

Once the sticky stuff was off, I just washed it with plenty of soap to remove the oil and the bottle’s good to go, all ready to be ‘repurposed’.

Here’s the close up…sticker completely off!

I always feel so much better about using cooking oil instead of some chemical for this task. I’m not sure if this was just something my mom figured out, (very likely!) or read it somewhere, but I have sure used this simple, but clever approach several times, and think of her every time!

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Posted on April 9, 2012, in Monday's Simple Cleverness, Re-purposing, Uncategorized and tagged bottle, label, oil, residue, sticker. Bookmark the permalink. 9 Comments.

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Comments (9)

Dru | June 1, 2012 at 5:10 pm

I’m doing this right now! I have a bottle that I did not want to throw away but could not figure out how to clean..thanks!

Reply
Tammy | April 17, 2012 at 9:22 pm

I’ve been removing the labels from several dozen wine bottles (to use for wedding reception centerpieces…) by soaking the bottles in a warm water/vinegar solution, then when softened, using a razor scraper to peel off the label and most of the adhesive. There always is some glue residue, though, and I’ve been using rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab to remove the last of it. I’m going to try the canola oil, though, and see if it’s easier. I still have a couple dozen bottles to go.

Reply
debbiedoos | April 17, 2012 at 5:11 pm

Very cool idea. Thanks so much for sharing with the newbie party.

Reply
Amy Osborn | April 16, 2012 at 9:54 pm

What a great idea! Hope it works on stickers too-I will try anything at this point! Thank You

Reply
casteb | April 16, 2012 at 9:37 am

Great idea! I’ve used WD40 before, but don’t like the smell of that stuff. I cook with canola oil (but I guess any oil would work), so it’s always handy & available. Thanks for sharing!
CAS

Reply
Rose | April 15, 2012 at 10:35 pm

Wow so cool. I will give it a try. Thanks for sharing at the Sunday Round Up. can’t wait to see what you share next week.
Rose @ http://www.arosiesweethome.com/

Reply
KCoake | April 14, 2012 at 9:06 pm

Love that idea…rather than the other stuff my hubby likes to use. Much better for the Earth!

Reply
Pinky | April 9, 2012 at 3:28 pm

Thanks!!! You should put this on Pinterest too! Much better to use something natural for this task. XO, Pinky

Reply
Cloches & Lavender | April 9, 2012 at 8:34 am

Great tip and idea.

Reply