How to Remove Stickers from Jars

Buzz

Ngày cập nhật gần nhất: 15/4/2026

Content

Steps

Use White Vinegar

Use nail polish remover

Use oil and baking soda

Use a hair dryer

Use washing soda (sodium carbonate)

Use white vinegar

Use nail polish remover

Use oil and baking soda

Use a hairdryer

Use washing soda

Many people love repurposing glass jars for storing other items or for craft projects. However, these jars often have stubborn stickers that are hard to peel off. They frequently leave behind paper and sticky residue that can’t be cleaned off with water. Removing stickers from glass jars is simple, but you'll need a few tricks to get rid of the paper and stubborn glue stuck on the jar.

Steps

Use White Vinegar

Pour hot water into a bucket or sink. Make sure there’s enough water to fully submerge the jar. If you're removing stickers from several jars, the water should be deep enough to cover the largest jar. The hotter the water, the easier it will be to soften the adhesive beneath the sticker.

Add a bit of dish soap. If you don’t have dish soap, you can use regular hand soap. This will help loosen the adhesive, making it easier to peel off the sticker.

Add a few cups of white vinegar. The acidic nature of white vinegar helps break down the adhesive on the jar, making it easier to remove the label.

Place the jar into the sink. Open the jar lid and lay the jar on its side so that the water flows in and submerges the jar at the bottom of the sink.

Soak the jar for a while. The longer you soak it, the more time the vinegar has to loosen the glue. About 30 minutes should be enough to remove stubborn adhesive, but you can check after 10 minutes.

Remove the jar from the water and peel off the label. At this point, the label should come off easily. If some adhesive remains, you can scrub it off with a scouring sponge.

Rinse the jar with clean water and dry it off. After removing the label, make sure to wash the jar thoroughly and wipe it dry with a towel. Now your jar is ready for use again!

Use nail polish remover

Remove as much of the label as you can. If the label is difficult to peel off, soak the jar in warm soapy water for about 10 minutes, then remove the label. You might find some label residue still stuck to the jar, but that’s no problem.

Avoid using nail polish remover or acetone on plastic jars, as it could damage or discolor them. Rubbing alcohol can be used as a substitute, but it’s not as effective.

Apply some nail polish remover to a paper towel, cloth, or scouring sponge. If there’s just a bit of label left, you can use a paper towel. For more stubborn leftover labels, it’s best to use a scouring sponge. Acetone works very well for this method. Rubbing alcohol might be effective, but it’s less potent than nail polish remover or acetone, and should only be used for small glue areas.

Scrub in small circular motions to remove any remaining adhesive. The chemicals in nail polish remover or acetone will break down the glue, making it easier to clean off the label. You may need to apply more nail polish remover or acetone during the process.

Wash the jar with warm soapy water. This is particularly important if you plan to use the jar for food storage. Once the jar is clean, dry it with a towel, and it’s ready for your intended purpose.

Use oil and baking soda

Remove the label as thoroughly as possible. If the label is still sticking to the jar, soak it in warm soapy water for a few minutes, then peel it off. Don’t worry if there’s a little adhesive or paper left behind.

Mix oil and baking soda in equal amounts. You can use any type of cooking oil, such as canola oil, olive oil, or vegetable oil. Baby oil also works well for this method.

For smaller jars, about one tablespoon of each ingredient should be enough.
Pure olive oil may help clean small bits of glue. However, you’ll need the baking soda to remove any remaining paper residue.

Scrub the mixture onto the jar. Focus on the areas where the label residue is most stubborn. You can use your fingers, a paper towel, or a cloth to scrub it off.

Wait for 10 to 30 minutes. During this time, the oil will soak in and loosen the adhesive, making it easier for you to peel off the label.

Scrub the oil and baking soda mixture onto the jar using a scouring pad or steel wool. Scrub in small circular motions. The baking soda will help lift off any remaining adhesive and paper residue.

Wash the jar with soap and water, then dry it with a towel. If the label is still sticking, you can use a paper towel with a few drops of oil to wipe it clean.

Use a hair dryer

Set the hair dryer to high heat. Keep in mind that the effectiveness of this method can vary. It works best if the hair dryer has a high heat setting and the label isn’t too difficult to peel off.

Direct the hair dryer towards the label for about 45 seconds. The heat from the dryer will dry out and crisp up the adhesive, making it easier for you to peel the label off.

Peel back one corner of the label. If necessary, use your fingernail or a razor blade to lift the label. If it doesn’t come off easily, heat it for another 45 seconds and try again.

Use olive oil to clean off any remaining label, then wash with warm soapy water. Drop a few drops of olive oil onto a paper towel and gently rub away any leftover label residue on the jar. Then, wash off the oil with warm soapy water and dry with a towel.

Use washing soda (sodium carbonate)

Fill the sink with water. The water should be deep enough to submerge the jar completely. If you need to remove labels from several jars, make sure the water covers the largest jar.

Pour ½ cup (90g) of washing soda into the water. Use your hands to dissolve the washing soda.

Open the lid and place the jar into the water, letting it soak for about 30 minutes. Let the water overflow into the jar, ensuring it submerges fully. Although 30 minutes is not a strict requirement, the longer it soaks, the more time the water has to penetrate the label, helping to loosen the adhesive.

Remove the jar from the water and peel off the label. At this point, the label should come off easily. If any sticky residue remains, gently rub it off with your finger. If the label is still difficult to remove, proceed to the next step.

Use additional washing soda to tackle any stubborn adhesive. If any label remains, sprinkle washing soda onto a rough sponge and gently scrub the residue off.

Rinse the jar thoroughly with water and dry it with a towel. While the jar should be clean by now, there may still be some washing soda left. After peeling off the label, wash the jar with water and wipe it dry with a towel.

Advice

If you don't have a rough sponge, a soft brush can be used as an alternative.
For stubborn labels, combining multiple methods may help.
If the jar has an expiration date label, you can remove it using nail polish remover or acetone!
An alternative method, discovered by chance, is to pour hot water into the jar, wait a few minutes, then pour it out and peel off the label. This method works well on labels on the lid as well.