Labelling preserves

[Waffler]

I had an idea (doesn't happen often! ) and I thought I'd share it with you in case it was any use to any of you.
Don't know about you, but I find it a b***er to get most sticky labels off the jars and bottles I intend to use for preserving ; sometimes they come off when given a good soaking in water, other times they don't and I end up resorting to chemicals - usually Brasso - which works very well (but stinks to high heaven! )
Anyway, I've decided to make like the posh producers and make my own labels and attach them to jars using elastic bands around the neck of the jar. In doing this I a) make it look dead posh! and b) don't use chemicals, which I'm trying to cut down on in the house (started using Ecover for cleaning the bathrooms and kitchen).
So it's only a little idea, but I'm on a crusade to save the planet, and I thought this might go the teensiest way towards doing this.
Thank you for listening. Goodnight!

[Mrs Dobby]

Good idea Waffler! Think I'll follow suit next year when hopefully we'll be pickling onions and making lots of jam!

[Alice]

Hello Waffler, if its the sticky, gooey stuff you can't get off, nail polish remover does it.

[Mrs Dobby]

WD40 works well too, or so Mr D tells me!

[nick the grief]

WD40 works well too, or so Mr D tells me!

What for removing his nail polish

[Lesley Jay]

Nick you are so funny!!

[Waffler]

Yeah, I realise it's any solvents that will do it really, but I HATE the job of removing sticky labels by any means, and whilst I shall still have to do it with the ones I'm recycling, once they're in 'my system' hopefully I won't need to bother quite so frequently. (Didn't know about the WD40 though).

[dexterdoglancashire]

All my jars/cans etc for re-use or recycling have a soak in soapy water for at least 24hrs! know what you mean about some of the labels though! As Kim & Aggie would say "scrub it dear, don't tickle!" does the trick for me! DDL

[martini]

Neat washing up liquid and a scourer work quite well on the sticky bits

[Mrs Dobby]

Actually cheap harispray also works well to remove any sticky stuff, its something we found works really well at work for unsticking handlebar grips (I worked as a cycle specialist for Halfords for 16 years before they realised I was having too much fun and promoted me into management!) and for sticking them back on again! The solvent lifts the sticky stuff, but when you put it back on it sticks it fairly well too!

[Alison]

OH nicked my can of hairspray years ago to use on bike grips - never got it back but then again never used it either so not much of a loss and he does service my bike for me regularly so can't complain.

[yoanbob]

good for you waffler, ecovers great, you can get stuff for your washer and dish washer too, then you can use waste the water on your garden no worries about being organic!
try veg oil on your scrubber after a soak for chem free removal.
try using natural string instead of rubber bands, looks posher and is more eco friendly.

[Nicos]

That's a great idea Waffler!
I have just bottled 14 bottles of Rhubarb Schnapps!!!!! (Fantastic!!)so will label with raffia and luggage type labels.
Bought the bottles in Lakeland and at the counter they started wrapping them individually with bubble wrap. I asked them to leave them unwrapped as it is not biodegradeable and felt quite pleased with myself until I picked up the bags of bottles and cluncked my way to the carpark!!

[Waffler]

Thanks Nicos and Yoanbob - I will use the string or raffia - a much better idea! I also thought I'd use the luggage type labels. Great minds eh!

[roitelet]

I print the labels for preserves etc. on the computer and stick them on the jars/bottles with PVA adhesive, the sort that the kids use. They stay put well and come off easily in the washing up. I like the idea of luggage lables though.