Removing label glue from bottles

[jhob]

I have been collecting bottles recently which I intend to use for my second ever brew while I'm drinking the first from the pressure barrel. This weekend I have been attempting to remove the labels from the outside of the bottles, and whilst some come off easily in hot water (shepherd neame), others such as Williams Bros is proving very stubborn and all I end up with is a gluey mess. There's other bottles which have metallic sort of labels that leave behind a different tacky mess.

Does anyone have advice for how I might clean these bottles up?

[borischarlton]

Hot soapy water and one of those fake steel scrubbing balls or what in our house we call "greenies" a scotch brite pad, works a treat.

Rob

[Scroogemonster]

Submerge 'em in a spare FV filled with water for a week (put a bit of thin bleach in as well to sterilise them if they're from a dubious source)
Once the week is up, most labels will float off and a gentle rub with a pan scrubber will remove any residue left.
Works for me
Kevin

[WishboneBrewery]

Submerge 'em in a spare FV filled with water for a week (put a bit of thin bleach in as well to sterilise them if they're from a dubious source)
Once the week is up, most? labels will float off and a gentle rub with a pan scrubber will remove any residue left.

Does that really work with even the plastic type labels?
The Lovely paper ones float off in a few mins in warm soapy water but I've given up trying with the more stubborn ones.

[Scroogemonster]

I've given up trying with the more stubborn ones.

I use Magners/Bulmers bottles. If they're really stubborn,score the labels with a sharp knife and put a drop of wallpaper stripper in the bucket. That should help shift 'em

[Aleman]

Acetone Works wonders in removing the gluey mess left behind

Although personally If the label does not come of with a 15 minute soak in a hot bleach/Oxyclean Solution then the bottle hits the recycling bin

[SMASH3R]

I have seen quite a few that require an overnight soak to remove the labels.
Hardly any cannot be removed this way, although I have tried a Marstons Old Empire bottle, and this has clear plastic film for the label. It would not shift, so it will be the recycling for those. That was the only one though.

[chris_reboot]

summer lightning are to be avoided.
took ages to get a batch of those cleaned off.
would have been better buying some new ones!
scotch brite green pads and Orange oil (sticky stuff remover) did well though for stubborn glue.

[Deebee]

Is the stubborn label syndrome the same on the proper job bottles?
Has anyone tried?

[jhob]

I have decided to abandon bottling and am just going to get a second pressure barrel, much less faff!

[EliteEvil]

Is the stubborn label syndrome the same on the proper job bottles?
Has anyone tried?

Not ideal but I got mine sorted. I make a sink full of really hot, really soapy water and dump all my labeled bottles in there until it has cooled down to a non-scolding temperature (about an hour maybe?). Depending on your boiler to do the same thing you might even have to use a kettle . Most labels are found just floating in the water but really stubborn ones like proper job need to be peeled, then given more time to soak, then scrub the glue off with a washing up brush.

[Titanium Tone]

White spirit and wire wool works for me.TT.

[chris_reboot]

Is the stubborn label syndrome the same on the proper job bottles?
Has anyone tried?

soak them in boiling water (scale up the temp so you dont crack the glass), then the labels will peel more easily, then if needed, orange oil to get remainder off.

trying to pull the label off cold will result in much glue

[Minimasher]

I've used butter on the glue before and it worked really well.

[JayM72]

Got all my hopes up when I saw this post, but were dashed when i saw the replies! God I hate those plastic labels! St Peters and St Austell are the worst!