A nice jam, sauce or coffee jar is worth reusing for grains, spices or home preserving. But the label often tears, the glossy top layer peels off, and a sticky layer of glue stays on the glass and collects dust.
A knife and a scouring pad scratch the glass and take ages. It is much easier to soften the glue with a penetrating product, lift the paper in one go and wash the jar until it shines. Here is how, step by step, from the simplest method to the most stubborn labels.
What you will need
Important: Apply WD-40 to the outside of the jar only. After removing the label, always wash the jar in hot water with washing-up liquid before putting food in it. Work in a ventilated room away from the hob and naked flames.
Step 1
Peel off as much as you can by hand
Lift a corner of the label with your fingernail and pull it slowly at a sharp angle, almost parallel to the glass. Sometimes the paper comes off completely and only traces of glue remain.
If only the glossy top layer tears away and the paper underneath stays firmly stuck, do not scrape at it. Move on to the next step.
Step 2
Soften the glue with WD-40
Shake the can and spray WD-40 Multi-Use evenly over the whole label. With WD-40 Smart Straw you can flip up the straw and target the edges, where the glue holds hardest.
Wait 3-5 minutes. The product soaks through the paper and under the adhesive, and the label starts to lift away from the glass on its own.
Step 3
Remove stubborn labels
Lift the softened paper with a fingernail or plastic scraper and peel it off. Keep any knife almost flat to avoid scratching the glass.
For thick film labels and very old glue, spray again and give it longer, up to 10 minutes. Wipe the remaining glue off with a microfibre cloth dampened with the same product: it rolls up and comes away easily.
Step 4
Wash and dry the jar
Wipe the jar with a dry paper towel to pick up leftover product and glue. Then wash it inside and out in hot water with washing-up liquid.
Rinse and dry it with a clean cloth. The glass is now ready for a new label or a marker pen.
Tip: If you are clearing labels from a dozen preserving jars, spray them all one after another, then peel them in the same order. By the time you reach the last jar, the product has already done its work and the job goes twice as fast.
What next
The same method works for price stickers on glass and crockery, labels on plastic containers and tape marks on metal. On plastic, test the product on a hidden area first. A can of WD-40 200 ml in the kitchen cupboard is handy for small household jobs like these.
These uses come from the experience of WD-40 users in many countries. Always follow the instructions and warnings on the product label.
More guides in «How to use».