Easy Ways to Remove Wine Labels Using Household Cleaning Supplies

There are two approaches to removing a wine label from its bottle: heated and wet methods. Which one to use depends on your purpose for taking the label off.

If you want to preserve the label itself, then the former is your best choice. However, if you intend to repurpose the bottle or replace the label, the latter would do the trick. That is, of course, if you do not mind the original label getting torn into pieces.

Bet it or that, both of the methods are simple. You can use supplies and equipment readily available in your kitchen to do them. Here is how.

Heated Method

The very first thing to do for this method is empty the bottle and remove the foil cap and bottle cover. Next, set the oven to 350°F and place the bottle for five minutes.

After heating the bottle, take it out (be sure to wear your cooking gloves) and test if it’s ready using a knife. Slip the blade under the label to separate it from the bottle. Do it slowly to avoid tearing or creasing the label.

If it does not come off easily, place the bottle again in the oven for another five minutes. Repeat the steps until the label gets totally removed from the bottle.

Wet Method

Water and soap

This method is so easy that you can sleep on them. By all means, you only need to have a bucket of water and soap.

Put all the wine bottles into the bucket with water and soap mixture and soak overnight. The following day, you can peel them off with no fuss at all!

If you are still having a hard time peeling it off on the first try, you can repeat the process until there’s no trace of adhesive in the bottle.

Baking soda and water

Don’t have enough time to wait throughout the night? Water and baking soda are the right combinations for you.

To get things started, you need 16 tablespoons of baking soda and 32 cups of water (this measurement is only good for three bottles).

Mix the baking soda and water in a bucket and put the bottles in. Set the timer for 30 minutes to let the adhesives dissolve. After that, peel the label and wipe a clean cloth until all the sticky residue gets removed. You can now proceed with your DIY wine label project.

Ammonia

This compound consists of nitrogen and hydrogen and is commonly used as agricultural fertilizer. But did you know it is also an effective product in removing stubborn labels?

You only need a ¼ cup or a small bucket with water to seal the deal. When done mixing the bucket with ammonia, you can put the wine bottle in and wait for 30 minutes.

When it’s time to get it off, you need to wear protective gloves in order to peel the label. Let the clean bottles dry in a ventilated area to get rid of the unpleasant odor.

Steaming

Lastly, steaming is one of the easiest ways to remove wine bottle labels. To begin this method, you have to wear oven gloves and hold the empty bottle directly above the boiling water. Make sure that it doesn’t touch the boiling water.

Slowly rotate the bottle every few minutes to have a proper distribution of steam that will melt the wine label’s adhesive backing. Take note that the longer the steaming process, the easier it is to remove the label.

Final Thoughts

Labels for wines are manufactured to last long on the bottle and keep intact even when exposed to low temperatures and moisture. That is why removing them can be tricky.

On the other hand, wine bottles are durable, making them perfect for repurposing. They can be creatively reused to store condiments like soy sauce, vinegar, and more. Additionally, some wine bottles boast unique shapes, which opens up exciting possibilities for home decorations and other creative endeavors.