BS: Removing Truculent Labels

Subject: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: GUEST,pattyclink
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 10:54 AM

I found the perfect little bottles to use for my sand collection, the miniature wine bottles. I have soaked them, in plain water, with hot water, with soap, for hours, and still most of the labels won't budge.

What is the next solvent to try, or should I got straight to the blowtorch?

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: Rapparee
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 11:03 AM

Go to the store and get a thing called "Undo". If that doesn't work, scraping will, only it's tedious.

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: Peace
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 11:05 AM

1) Scrape with a knife until you are down to the glue.
2) Use an oil--Mazolla works--to then get rid of the glue.
3) Wash in warm soapy water to get rid of the oil.
4) If you have an anaconda . . . .

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: GUEST,neovo
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 11:12 AM

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: GUEST,neovo
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 11:13 AM

Will I ever learn how this thing works? Try spraying with cheap perfume or any other solvent (not the Dior or Channel).

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: Les from Hull
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 11:38 AM

It depends what was used to stick the labels on in the first place, obviously not something that was water-soluble, like in the good old days. Alcohol and petrol are both good choices, but both flammable and should be used in the open air to avoid being affected by fumes. Depending on where you are alcohol = methylated spirits or denatured alcohol, and, if you can get them, those little plastic 'lighter fluid' containers for the petrol (petroleum, gasoline). You may have to scrape at some of the label to allow the solvent to get to the glue.

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: Bill D
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 11:41 AM

the scraping technique will work. They probably have those slick, water resistant labels. Getting that upper layer off will allow water to help, then a standard rough scrubber with maybe some cleanser (I use Bon Ami) will do it. (a single-edged razor blade in a holder, used carefully, will help a lot)

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: jeffp
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 11:44 AM

WD40 sometimes works.

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: Amos
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 11:47 AM

A product called Goo-Gone or similar can be had inexpensively, and works very well onmost stickums. I believe it is based on orange oil.

A

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: GUEST,pattyClink
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 06:04 PM

Thanks all!

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: Peace
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 06:11 PM

pC: Let us know what worked, please . . . .

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: Nessie
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 06:16 PM

Eucalyptus oil is magic at removing normal sticky labels..

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: frogprince
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 06:27 PM

Where do you buy a bottle of truculent, anyhow, and what is it for?

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 06:40 PM

I've had this problem with honey jars, when I've wanted to use them for making jam.

I've found White Spirit will generally do the trick. Just dampen a cloth with the White Spirit and rub the label. (If there's a shiny top layer that would stop the spirit getting through that needs to be peeled off, and that is normally easy enough to do.)

I think, in the States, White Spirit is called "Stoddard solvent". What a drab name. Useful stuff.

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 07:47 PM

I discovered that with large glass jars - over 100 ml size - some types of plasticised labels can be peeled off if you heat the glass with hot water inside - it seems to soften the glue and it lets go completely.

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 07:57 PM

If you need to heat the glass a hair drier is a good option. But I'd advise trying with the White Spirit first. It seems to shift most things.

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 08:16 PM

The hot water stuff also works on things like plastic peanut butter jars too - if the plastic won't take the heat and shrivels, well, don't do that again... :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: JennyO
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 08:22 PM

What Nessie said - Eucalyptus Oil is very good at dissolving the glue that is often used for labels. It's also one of the few things that will melt chewing gum.

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 08:46 PM

I'm sure I've said here before that Mentholatum is my universal remover for adhesives. I discovered it when faced with lots of old masking tape and other such gunk on furniture "brought out of storage" at offices where I worked, and have yet to find anything - including chewing gum - that it won't soften sufficiently for easy removal. It seems to have just the right mix of light mineral oil with menthol and eucalypus oils.

Stoddard solvent was a replacement decades ago for the "dry cleaning" fluids previously used, because it was less toxic than older materials. It wasn't sufficiently non-toxic to remain in widespread use and has been replaced by other stuff. Even the later replacements are subject to US EPA mandates that "recovery systems" be used to prevent venting to the ouside world. Use caution and good ventilation if you choose to try it.

Of course that caution applies to lots of solvents, including several other substances suggested above.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 08:56 PM

You don't use White Spirit in the States on account of it being dangerous? In a country where people can buy guns over the counter...

You wouldn't find a DIY shop or an ironmongers here which didn't have shelves full of bottles of the stuff. I wouldn't be without it.

No doubt in time the Health and Safety people will get round to banning it, and make us use more expensive substitutes with a much bigger profit margin, which won't do the job as well; and a few years down the line it'll turn out they're more dangerous.

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 09:03 PM

Eucalypt and Tea-tree oils funbction as very good solvents, but are very nasty if ingested.

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: GUEST,memyself
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 09:18 PM

I've been trying to get rid of some truculent labels myself for quite awhile now, and I've tried everything, but I'm still labelled as "troublesome", "slothful", "lustful", "imbibious", "truculent", "tone deaf", and even "unpunctual". I've gone so far as to try ingesting Eucalypt and Tea-tree oils, but they didn't funbunction at all. Help!

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 09:23 PM

A nice cup of Tea might do the trick, memyself.

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: Gurney
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 10:14 PM

Kerosine/paraffin or Turpentine or De-Solv-It. Try any essential oil that you have before buying something, though.

Plastic labels can be even more difficult than MeMyself.

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: GUEST,pattyClink
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 10:53 PM

I will report back when I have gotten somewhere.   I was going to ask what is White Spirit, but apparently it's contraband.   I have no 'essential oils' lying around the house.   I'll try seeing if the top layer will start to peel with a knife, then may give it a go with mineral spirits or acetone and a scrubber. I know goo-gone works with enough rubbing but I'm afraid I'll have to get the paper layer off first. So, I'll work through the list above until something gives.

Anyway, be patient, it may be a few days before I can report back. Again, thanks, and thanks for not making fun of the sand collection!

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: Rapparee
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 11:04 PM

We used to wash the adhesive from the stencils used when we sandblasted tombstones with first, gasoline, and then hot soapy water. This was done in a special room in the shop -- the room with windows you could open. The gasoline worked really well, too. Of course, we ALWAYS opened the windows when we used the gasoline to wash the granite.....

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 14 Nov 06 - 12:04 AM

... and NEVER smoked...

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: Nessie
Date: 14 Nov 06 - 05:36 AM

Nothing wrong with collecting sand pattyClink, I can't walk away from a pebble beach with light pockets, and I'm sure many homes in the UK have a souvenir of Alum Bay coloured sands from an Isle of Wight holiday...

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: GUEST,Geoff the Duck
Date: 14 Nov 06 - 05:58 AM

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: GUEST,Geoff the Duck
Date: 14 Nov 06 - 06:02 AM

Whoops! I think it removed my posting?

I have found Windscreen De-Icer spray sold in the UK to be pretty good at removing sticky label without damaging the underlying surface. I suspect it is based on Isopropyl Alcohol, but it may not be.
It sprays easily in a controlled amount onto a tissue which canthen be used to clean the gunk off the surface.
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: The Shambles
Date: 14 Nov 06 - 09:09 PM

It is always easier to stick on labels than it is to remove them.

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: Bonecruncher
Date: 14 Nov 06 - 09:21 PM

According to information I have White Spirit in the UK is known as Mineral Spirit in USA.
My system is firstly the hot water in the container, then white spirit to remove the final residue.
The hot water treatment needs water that is nearly boiling. Put a metal spoon in the jar before pouring in the water to prevent cracking. If the neck of the vessel is too small for a spoon, try a metal meat or kebab skewer.

Colyn.

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 14 Nov 06 - 09:54 PM

G'day Bonecruncher (& pattyclink),

I've use heat to remove many recalcitrant lables / tags / stickers. In the case of bottles, with wraparound, glossy (probably waterproof...) labels, the boiling water trick is very efficacious. I would avoid shattering (from too sudden a temperature rise) by first filling the bottles with hot water from the (~ kitchen) tap to start them up the temperature scale.

While that 'soaked in', I would boil water in an electric jug ... tip out the hot tap water ... carefully refill with boiled water - avoiding wetting the label, since that might weaken the paper and make it harder to pull it off the bottle as the adhesive softens. A small slit at the edge might be necessary to lift a clean-edged corner ... and you ought to be able to carefully peel label off - complete with most of its adhesive.

Hang onto the removed label ... once the bottle cools down, any residual adhesive may be lifted off by pressing the sticky side of the removed label over the errant adhesive. If that doesn't work, a solvent is needed ... I would start with one of the essential oils mentioned, rather than spirits - but all should work.

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Nov 06 - 11:35 PM

Soak and scrape, then use LIGHTER FLUID, maybe steel wool or plastic scrubber pad -- whatever the glass will handle. But lighter fluid is what I use on everything with glue. Even removes price tags from paper items without leaving a stain. Amazing stuff.

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: Rowan
Date: 15 Nov 06 - 04:47 PM

I had always thought White Spirits was just petrol without the additives, often called lighter fluid; at least it worked in my choofer that way. But I'm aware that many of us speakers of English are divided by our common language because different localities have different names for the same stuffs.

I've found that most waterproof labels come away intact if you're careful but the hot water trick almost always catches the recalcitrants. For really ornery ones (rare, thankfully) I take them to work and use some things in the fume cupboard that you don't want to know about.

And be careful with Eucalypt and Tea Tree oils. While working in the tropics I stayed overnight in a camp that hadn't been used for a few months; my padding around hatched all the fleas in creation and their attacks left my ankles quite raw. Various helpful locals who were into alternative approaches to medicine offered such oils, Being something of a sceptic (yes, I know...) I tried the oils on different areas of one leg and left the other leg untreated as a control; the treated leg got rather more problematic than the control. So I went off to the local Bush Nurse who healed up both legs with some BFI. That's the topical antiseptic version.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: Mo the caller
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 02:16 AM

Go easy with the solvents please. They will end up in the air we breathe, or the water we drink.
A bit of what my mother called "elbow grease" should be tried first.

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: Paul Burke
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 03:46 AM

"About that lorry I borrowed from you.." said Tom truculently.

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: Bunnahabhain
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 09:01 PM

Get minitures of whiskey, they generally use paper labels which are easy to remove with a little hot water. Problem solved.

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: khandu
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 09:21 PM

HEY! PATTYCLINK!!! HOW ARE YE??

Just soak the bottles in the Pearl River for a few hous and the labels and a lot of the glass will dissolve!

ken

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: Bert
Date: 17 Nov 06 - 12:25 AM

Goof Off or Oops! works fine here in the States. You could try any proprietory dry cleaning fluid or Carbon Tetrachloride if you can get it. Or cellulose paint thinner or paint remover or acetone.

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Nov 06 - 01:02 AM

Break bottle, remove bits of glass from label.

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: Bunnahabhain
Date: 17 Nov 06 - 01:38 AM

Steam will shift anything. Sometimes it will take high pressure steam, admittly, but it's clean, easy and fume free.

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: Schantieman
Date: 17 Nov 06 - 11:01 AM

Er.... why not stick the new labels over the top of the old ones?

Steve

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: GUEST,pattyClink
Date: 17 Nov 06 - 04:28 PM

Okay, I did get most of the labels off, many looked like paper but were actually that mylary stuff. Hot water plus peel with a knife got those except for residue. Now there's one persistent eyetalian paper label that will require some elbow work. Then it's on to the fumy stuff for the residue, tomorrow after all the other dang chores get done.

Khandu, no lie about the Pearl! One time we did some inadvertent swimming off a raft on a lovely summers day, before we knew about the animal rendering plant upstream. Got sick for a few days. So maybe I should just dangle the bottles off the Swingin' Bridge!

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: Rowan
Date: 17 Nov 06 - 05:37 PM

Good for you pC.
If you ever visit Australia, make sure you visit Squeaky Beach at Wilson's Promontory and add to your collection.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: GUEST,Peter Woodruff
Date: 17 Nov 06 - 08:10 PM

ACETONE! Works real good on glass and fiberglas but not on plastic.

Peter

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: pattyClink
Date: 17 Nov 06 - 09:44 PM

Squeaky Beach sounds tantalizing. I can't imagine how many great beaches you must have there.   Do the sands actually make sounds, like the 'singing sands'?   

All right Peter, I'll try the nail polish remover before I go on to the scary stuff in the garage. Tune in tomorrow for the exciting conclusion.... I cannot believe this thread has survived this long!

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: JennyO
Date: 17 Nov 06 - 11:08 PM

Maybe it's called Squeaky Beach because the sand squeaks when you walk on it. We have very fine sand on a lot of our beaches and when it's hot and dry, that's what happens (she said, drifting the thread away...)

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: Mo the caller
Date: 18 Nov 06 - 03:19 AM

So tell us about your sand, do you display it for it's colour, like the sand we collected at Alum Bay on my childhood holidays on the Isle of Wight, or as a memory of places visited.

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 18 Nov 06 - 07:05 AM

We do have "The Coloured Sands" on fraser Island - but you aren't supposed to take sample any more - they used to mine it once.

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: JennyO
Date: 18 Nov 06 - 07:51 AM

I have seen amazing displays of coloured sand in bottles, but I've never thought of doing it myself.

The place that claims to have the whitest sand in the world is Jervis Bay - Hyams Beach sand being officially the whitest - here. I've stayed in that area a number of times, mainly at Huskisson, and all of the beaches in the area have beautiful dazzling white sand. It's a lovely area to have a holiday, but actually one of the main things I like about Huskisson is the place with home-made jams, marmalades and chutneys - but you have to be lucky to spot them - on a fine day they have a stand set up in front of a house on the main road - or at least they did the last time I was there. Marmalades to die for!!

Which sorta brings us back to getting labels off. I've been having to remove quite a few on the jars I am intending to use when I finally get around to making that lemon curd I keep saying I'm gonna make - not to mention the mint sauce. Very soon, I hope.

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: Bunnahabhain
Date: 18 Nov 06 - 08:40 AM

I have to do a batch of bottles as well, about 40 pints worth. Home brewed beer is a luxury, but not an easily portable one in a keg.

So I have to drink enough beer to have enough empties to fill up with beer....

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: JennyO
Date: 18 Nov 06 - 08:51 AM

You poor thing - I feel your pain ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 18 Nov 06 - 07:24 PM

They seem to have stopped importing Grolsch in those swing top bottles - and where can you get replacement seals - in Oz?

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: pattyClink
Date: 18 Nov 06 - 08:12 PM

Okay here's your weekend update: acetone and rubbing alcohol do not work.   It's too dark and cold right now to pursue the stuff in the garage, hope I'll get to that tomorrow.

Schantieman, there are no new labels to slap over, I'll either tie a card to the neck or write the place name with a Sharpie. That way you can see the sample no matter how the bottle is turned. Though your way would have been simpler were I not already way too into my plan!!

Mo, I am just getting started with this, and they are from places to remember, of sentimental and geological interest, not so much for color--one is from the beach where my ancestors set sail when they were evicted. I do admire the color collections, the pink sands I've seen people collect though, and hope to get to a pink or blue beach one day. I have however been warned off the black sands of Hawaii, the curse really does seem to bring accidents to people who haul it away from the volcano Gods until you mail it back.

And a closing note. This thread on label removal is up to a robust 54 posts. Last night I posted (above the line) with great pride an announcement, the start of a new folk club "Jackson Traditional Singers Club". Zippo posts!   To use a phrase from across the water, 'bejasus, ye's are a queer lot!'

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: Rowan
Date: 19 Nov 06 - 12:08 AM

The sand at Squeaky Beach squeaks distinctively when you walk along the beach. It's the only beach along the western coast of the Prom with sand that is almost exclusively siliceous rather than calcareous like the others. There's been some debate about whether that's the cause. It's pretty while too.

Have fun with your labels.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: BS: Removing labels
From: pattyClink
Date: 24 Nov 06 - 03:38 PM

Sorry to start a new thread on this, I couldn't retrieve the old one.

Final chapter in the continuing saga today.
Mineral spirits didn't touch the goo.
Here's what did:
Smeared the residue with stuff from an ancient bottle of Turtle Wax Bug, Tar, & Tree Sap Remover. (an ancestor of Goo-Gone?) Let it sit a few minutes. Rub until some of it moves around.
Soak a rag with lots of kerosene (lamp oil). Wipe the goo away. Repeat the drill if some of it won't come up.

transferred from new thread. New thread closed. Mudelf

Subject: RE: BS: Removing Truculent Labels
From: pattyClink
Date: 24 Nov 06 - 07:13 PM

And in conclusion: until the !@#!@$^% wine companies start using reuse/recycle friendly labels, it's way too much trouble to fool with them. Buy some nice fresh bottles from "ebottles".