How to Take Labels Off Wine Bottles

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: January 13, 2021 Tested

Wine bottles make beautiful vases, ornaments, and water bottles. To remove the labels, loosen the adhesive with hot water or a baking powder and vinegar solution, and then scrape off any remaining adhesive with a sponge. If you want to preserve the label, use a wine bottle removal sticker to remove the label from the bottle. Each of these methods are quick and easy, and will leave you with sparkling clean wine bottles.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using Hot Water

1
Heat a large pot of water on the stove top. Fill your pot half-way with water and place it onto the heat. Turn off the heat as soon as you see small bubbles beginning to form in the bottom of the pot. Don’t allow the water to boil, as this can cause the wine bottle crack.^{[1]
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- Choose a pot that can hold at least 2 litres (0.53 US gal).
2
Fill up your wine bottle with the hot water. Use a heat-proof jug with a narrow spout to transfer the hot water from the pot into the wine bottle. Fill the bottles to the top of the labels.^{[2]
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- Hold the wine bottle with oven mitts to avoid burning yourself.
- Avoid using a plastic pouring jug, as the hot water may melt the plastic.
- If you don’t have a jug with a narrow spout, use a funnel to help transfer the water into the wine bottle.
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3
Leave the wine bottle to heat up for 2 minutes. Place the bottle on a kitchen bench where it won’t be knocked over. This allows the adhesive to heat up, which makes the label easier to remove.^{[3]
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4
Use your fingernails to peel back the label at a 45-degree angle. This angle encourages the label to come off in 1 piece. If the label tears or rips, stop pulling it and try peeling from another corner.^{[4]
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- If you have trouble lifting the corner of the label off the bottle, use a thin, sharp knife to pry it up.
5
Scrub off any remaining adhesive with soapy water and a sponge. Mix 2 drops of dishwashing liquid into the sink water.. Dunk the sponge into the water and then use it to agitate off any remaining label glue.^{[5]
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- Avoid using a steel sponge, as this may scratch the glass.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Vinegar and Baking Powder

1
Fill your sink with 3 inches (7.6 cm) of near boiling water. Fill your kettle with water and then remove it from the heat once it shows signs of small bubbles forming. Alternatively, heat a saucepan of water on the stovetop and wait for tiny bubbles to appear in the bottom of the pan. Put the plug in your sink and then pour in the hot water.
- Don’t let the water boil, as the heat can cause the glass to shatter.
- Ensure that the sink is clean before you fill it with water.
2
Add hot tap water into each bottle and place it in the sink. Run the water from your tap as hot as it can go, and then fill up each wine bottle. Fill each bottle right to the top and then gently place it into the hot water in the sink. Ensure that the labels are fully submerged in the water.
- Hold the bottles with an oven mitt so that you don’t burn yourself.
- Don’t put the lid on the bottles.
3
Add baking powder, dish soap, and white vinegar into the sink. Measure ½ cup (90 grams) of baking powder, 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of dishwashing liquid, and 2 cups (470 mL) of white vinegar into the sink. The ingredients will react together and the water will begin to fizz.
- If you don’t have white vinegar, use malt vinegar instead.
4
Leave the bottles to soak in the sink for 1 hour. Over time, the reaction between the water, baking powder, dishwashing liquid, and vinegar will help to loosen the adhesive from the bottles and will make the labels easier to remove.
5
Peel the labels off with your fingernails. Lift 1 of the corners up with your nails and then gently peel the rest of the label off. The labels should be easy to remove after they have been soaked.
- If you have difficulty lifting the label off, try pulling it up from a different corner.
6
Use a sponge to scrub off any remaining glue residue. Dunk a sponge into the water solution in the sink and use it to agitate any residue off the bottle. Continue to scrub the bottles under they are completely clean.
- Don’t use a steel sponge, as this can damage the surface of the glass.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Keeping the Label Intact

1
Place a wine label removal sticker over the label. Peel the back of the sticker off and place the sticky side over the label. If your label is very large, use 2 stickers to completely cover the label.^{[6]
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- Purchase a wine label removal sticker from a winery or online.
2
Rub the sticker onto the label until all the bubbles are gone. Use your thumb to firmly press the sticker down onto the label. Push your thumb from 1 end of the sticker all the way to the other end. This helps to push out all of the trapped air.^{[7]
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- Ensure that your fingers are clean so that they don’t leave smudges on the laminate surface.
3
Leave the label on the bottle for 24 hours. This gives time for the adhesive on the sticker to firmly adhere to the wine bottle label. Keep the wine bottle in a safe place where it won’t be knocked over.^{[8]
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4
Use a razor to peel off the first 1 cm (0.4 in) and then pull the sticker up. Slide a razor underneath the sticker and label to loosen them from the bottle. Pull the laminated edges of the sticker up to remove the rest of the label. The sticker will stick to the label, giving it a laminated finish. This helps to keep the label in good condition.^{[9]
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- If the sticker is unable to pull up the label, use the razor to help pry the label away from the bottle.