Removing Labels

[p.d.]

What are the best ways to remove labels from used bottles? Thanks,p.d.

[b3s]

i soak them in hot soapy water for about an hour or two. if the labels aren't just floating on the surface by then they usually peel right off. then a quick scrub removes the paste and into the dishwasher they go.

[p.d.]

Thanks b3s! No dishwasher but can do the rest. Sounds easy! Thanks much!;)

[b3s]

been using that for years for bottles i wanted to save. never thought it would be practical until now :D

[mbritojr]

I'm not a big fan of soap on my bottles, I just boil them & scrub with a brush....

[b3s]

i know what you are saying...however, there is something about soap that loosens the paste. in fact, one way to remove bumper stickers is to coat the sticker with liquid dish soap and let stand for a while.

dunno what it is, but liquid dish soap goes right through the paper and loosens the paste.

:shrug:

[BucksBrew]

I used TSP (Trisodium Phosphate) on my first couple of cases of bottles. An overnite, 24-36 hours, and you can lift the bottles out with no labels or glue attached. Even the Foil comes off.

NO SCRUBBING WAS NECESSARY!!!!!!!!

I then tried Hot Soapy Water over nite. Not the same for me. Even after 2-3 days, I'm still pulling labels and scrubbing. Takes alot more time.

Next Time I will use the TSP. But I have 6-8 cases of clean bottles now, so I don't know when I will need to use TSP again!

My two cents! Joe

[paul84043]

I just keep a 5 gallon bucket in the garage with a pretty strong concentration of bleach and water. I throw them in, sink them to the bottom, forget them for a day or two and the labels come right off..

[BucksBrew]

Now that the labels are off I need to think about keeping bottles as clean as possible until next cleaning and sanitizing.

Right now I drink, rinse, store. I've yet to go full circle on this yet being a new brewer.

I'm thinking a bleach soaking 30 minutes or so to clean, then I put in holders or case wrapped in a dark plastic bag. Then when ready to bottle, inspect, bleach rinse:30 sec., rinse, bottle tree, then bottle. I guess this is a good process. I'm still experimenting with this!

[b3s]

i don't know about the plastic bag, buck. dark, lack of air movement, moist...sounds like a breeding ground for bacteria, mold, and fungus to me! just add warmth.

i'd just clean them, put them back in the case, and worry about sanitization bottling day.

[paul84043]

THat's what I do, I just leave them in the box until I want to use them again.

[BluesHarp]

Originally posted by paul84043
I just keep a 5 gallon bucket in the garage with a pretty strong concentration of bleach and water. I throw them in, sink them to the bottom, forget them for a day or two and the labels come right off..

This is the best way, the bleach will dissolve the glue, and kill anything else that may be living in the bottles. Be sure to really wash and rinse well after this process, you don't want any bleach residue left when you bottle.

[JCA]

Unfortunately, at least one company has recently improved their adhesive to the point that the old standby of soap and bleach doesn't work. I just finished trying to remove the labels from a couple of cases of Sam Adams bottles, with no luck at all. I filled a barrel with bottles and water, added dish soap and bleach, then let it all sit for two weeks. The one John Martin's ale bottle that was in there gave its label up without a fuss, but the 47 Sam Adams didn't budge. I even scraped part of the label off one bottle after a week, but the solution wouldn't lift the rest. Good luck!

[BucksBrew]

TSP wasn't as bad as I intially thought. Just keep it away from the family! It pulls everything off the bottles after 24-36 hours.

Bleach I haven't tried yet. But I use bleach to sanitize my bottles with a 30-60 sec. soak and rinse. I stage the bottles 4 at a time in a 2 gallon flat tuperware container. I load from the left and pull from the right. I make sure the bottle submerges and spins a couple times. Then it gets rinsed in a bucket in the sink, then with a bottle jet washer on faucet. Then put on the tree rack befor getting filled.

Question: Do you guys physically wash every bottle with bottle brush or just soak in a bleach solution? I've been rinsing after drinking then I plan on a visual inspection before a bleach soak.

[b3s]

i have only used my bottle brush a few times...but any bottle that i am saving is immediately (after pouring) rinsed and shaken with hot water several times and then if there is a lable, soaked until it comes off...then put in the dishwasher.

the couple of times i have had to use my bottle brush has been with one of my home brews (even fullers 1845 doesn't have a lot of sediment). but that was at the time of rinsing/shaking.

[scamborn]

if you're just getting the labels off to reuse the bottles bleach is your best bet, however if you are a label collector the bleach often affects the color of the print. Sollution: Amonia. Works like a charm and doesn't affect the colors. I've used it for years and I've never had a problem
cheers, scamborn

[paul84043]

I inspect every "new" bottle and use a brush if it looks like it needs it. After that, I thoroughly rinse each bottle as soon as I pour it, the yeast and sediment comes out much faster and better that way.

On bottling day, I fill a 5 gallon bucket with water and the appropriate amount or StarSan, I submerge the bottles and let them sit until they have soaked for at least a minute or so, then its into the dishwasher for a hot wash and a hot dry.

[mic]

Has anyone used green bottles for their homebrew? I will be bottling this weekend and I have a case of green bottles but I was told to use only the brown ones for homebrew. I thought as long as I keep them out of the light while they are conditioning there should not be a problem.

[BucksBrew]

Just protect from light. My first batch was a Pilsner Urquell and I used green bottles. The batch didn't last the full fermentation time! I should have aged it 6-10 weeks in the bottle, it only lasted 4-6 weeks! I protected from the light the entire time.

I have a Brown Ale kit from Midwest Supplies that is ready to drink as of 5-9-03. I killed a 6 pack last nite! It was good! That batch is in a brown bottle.

I just ordered a kit from Annapolis today, an Ultimate Pale Ale. I can't wait to make it up this weekend.

[paul84043]

Keep them out of the light as much as possible, not only during conditioning.
I keep mine in boxes on shelves in the basement, they never see the light of day until I am ready to drink them.
I use brown, blue, green, and clear bottles. The beer all tastes great!

Bucks,
I have made several Annapolis kits, they are really good, they seem to be put together very well. I just wish they offered faster shipping.
Maybe they do if you call an order in...I haven't tried that yet.

I made up thier Raspberrry RML Wheat last night. It ought to be a real good beer. 8 pounds of fermentables!

[BucksBrew]

8 POUNDS!!! wow! That ought to put you in the High Alcohol Content Department!

On a sadder note, I think I killed a Bass Ale batch. It is bottled. I thought it was a lager! I may dump it or drink the syrupy, flat beer at a 1.5%-2% Alc. content. It just never reached full attenuation at the colder ferment temp I had it at. It is very sweet to me and nonalcoholic in flavor.

The only way to save it would be to dump all the bottles out into a fermenter and add yeast. But somehow I don't see this working either.

[ray m]

I have had great success soaking bottles in a utility tub full of water with about 1 cup of ammonia added. I wait a day or two, and usually all the labels are at the bottom of the tub, except for the labels on the Sam Adams bottles.

[Daren]

I picked up some cleaner from my local brew shop. It was called "Straight-A." If you use double the amount they suggest and soak in hot water, it takes off labels and glue in about 10 minutes. I used it on some old Bud bottles, some Fat Tire bottles and a few Boulevard bottles. It seemed to work fine on all of them. It also loosened up and took off the mold growing in the bottom of the bottles.

[Solstice]

In 10 minutes or less. I put boiling water from a tea kettle into the bottle and put the bottle in a small bucket with warm water and OxyClean. Enough to cover the label. It loosen in less than 10 minutes. I am starting to collect labels and this is the easiest way that I have found. WARNING: This does not work on foil labels. If anyone could give me a tip, I would appreciate it.


Cheers!
Mike

[BucksBrew]

Foil Label removal: I used TSP overnite and it took them right off, if not 2 nites for sure.

Cheers!

I patiently await my Keg, tank, and regulator! No more Bottles!

[JBOE]

Below is some information I gathered just recently by attempting to remove lables of the bottles I purchased from the Wine and Barrel. I used a solution of 1/4 cup TSP to 2 gallons of warm water, and let the bottles soke for at least 30min. The rating system is simple:
VERY GOOD means that label should just peel off, almost falling off with just water.
GOOD means that the label comes off with relative ease and sometimes just peels off. MODERATE means that you can if you really want to.
BAD means that it's best if you leave the lable on.

Czechvar
VERY GOOD

Thomas Creek
BAD

Harpoon
VERY GOOD

Highland Brewing Co. (HBC)
MODERATE, boarding on BAD

Saranac
VERY GOOD

Black Hawk
BAD

Staropramen
Good

Pilsner Urquell
MODERATE: Would have been GOOD if it wasn't for the foil on the neck.

Palmetto
GOOD

Ohara's
MODERATE

Yebisu
BAD

Old Devil
MODERATE

French Country
MODERATE

I know letting them soak overnight would help, but this is what I did when I first started brewing. I rarely remove lables anymore.

[BucksBrew]

I am not bottling anymore! I bought a corny keg, reg. and CO2 tank. Just got it yesterday.

I need to research on prepping for racking though. I guess that is another thread.