Removing Labels and Adhesive

The most challenging part of working with recycled glass materials will always be completely removing the labels and adhesive residue. Chunks of time spent scrubbing and peeling before you can even begin a project put many off from using this resource entirely. While we can't guarantee the methods we suggest will make label removal instantaneous, it will definitely be successful and less cumbersome.

Scrubbers and scrapers. Before beginning any clean off, make sure you have the right tools for the job. Sharp, metallic products like steel wool and razors, can do more harm than good by damaging the glass surface during the cleaning process. Choose items made of plastic or rubbery material that will not make scrapes and abrasions with their use.

Commercial Products. Commercial label removers, oils, solvents and spray gels, are easily found in supermarkets, hardware stores and online. These generally give reliably good results and tend to work rather quickly. Available in toxic and non-toxic varieties, choose a product that best suits your needs and follow the manufacturers instructions. Be sure to completely remove all reside from these products before beginning your project as it can interfere with stencil adhesion and ability of the cream to make contact with the glass.

Hot, Soapy Water. Soaking in hot, soapy water is the old standby. Submerge the piece completely in very hot water containing a larger that usual concentration of dish soap. Soaking times will vary from 10 minutes to a few hours. Test at different intervals for readiness by rubbing or pulling up on a corner. Paper based labels will ball up and pull away while plastic will lift up from the adhesive or surface when ready to be removed.

Toothpaste and Toothbrush. For tacky surfaces and thinner adhesive layers stuck on the glass, circular scrubbing with a firm bristled toothbrush and some toothpaste can be very effective.

Nail polisher remover and rubbing alcohol. Both of these common household items are a great go-to for removing paper based labels. Saturate the label surface and allow time for it to reach the adhesive underneath and dissolve it. The downside of these are the quick drying times, caustic smell and need for multiple applications. Polish remover and rubbing alcohol have a very limited effect on labels made with plastic as they cannot penetrate the plastic and only reach to dissolve the adhesive around the edges of the label.

Dishwasher. Always worth a shot. The high temperature and jet spray inside a dishwasher can be very useful for removing all or just the stubborn parts of a label. Having label bits and pieces thrown about inside the machine so they can crust onto other items inside is not an ideal situation so this method should be used sparingly.

Article Posted: 12/20/2016 02:09:29 PM