I’ve tried lots of different methods for removing labels from glass jars and other surfaces and most of the time ended up with sticky stuff smeared all over the place! I have found the best eco-friendly way to remove the sticky residue left from labels, making it a simple and straight forward affair that doesn’t require a single chemical!

Just One Tool – A Microfibre Cloth

All you need is a strong damp cloth (preferably a microfibre cloth) and plenty of elbow grease. I find wrapping the cloth around 1 of my fingers and pushing the cloth across the glue the most effective method. This works as the cloth grabs the first bit of glue, and then the glue on the cloth grabs the rest. If you have a large amount to remove try using a new clean part of the cloth to every now and again. This is the greenest method I know as it requires no chemicals what so ever, just one reusable cloth, and also is the lowest risk as you don’t need to risk scratching the surface with a scourer.

Not green enough? – Rather then using a microfibre cloth you could try using a cloth made from bamboo instead. I haven’t tested this myself and the bamboo cloth I was kindly given didn’t stay with me long so can’t guarantee it’ll work but perhaps worth a try.

If you find that a cloth alone isn’t enough to remove the glue, try using pure Eucalyptus oil. Soaking the glue in some Eucalyptus oil for 10-15 minutes and then using a microfibre cloth can remove almost all sticky residue, leaving nothing but a clear surface ready for the next label.

Alternative Methods to Remove Sticky Label Residue

If you’ve got the time and if the glue is on a surface small enough, the least energy-consuming alternative method for loosening up label residue is to simply soak it overnight in hot water and eco friendly washing up soap. After a nights soaking you should find that all sticky residue is easily wiped off with a microfibre cloth.

Label Residue Remover for Non-Water Soluble Glue

You may find you have some non-water soluble glue or perhaps have some glue left on something that can’t be soaked in water so the method above wont work, instead try using a hair dryer. After 30 to 60 seconds of being heated up with a hair dryer, the glue should soften and be wiped away easily. Remember to take care not to burn yourself as the surface may be hot.

Over the years cleaning I have discovered many other ways to remove label glue. If none of the methods above work for you leave a comment below and I can post other methods. The ones listed above are my favourite and work almost every time.

Often the dirtiest place in the kitchen isn’t the worktops or the chopping boards, but the sponges used to “clean” the surfaces. Sponges often are left wet, next to the sink covered in all kinds of germs and dirt. Bacteria thrives in damp locations and as a result can quickly grow to hazardous levels, meaning your sponges need to be chucked far too often if you’re to be safe. One of the best ways to be green is to reduce unnecessary waste; this article will explain methods you can easily use to keep sponges safe and the reduce the need to replace them.

The Easiest Way to Clean a Sponge

This is easily my favourite way to clean a sponge as it requires almost no effort from me; I simply place my dirty sponges (along with any other used cloth) in the top tray of my dishwasher every time that I put a load on. The hot water combined with the soap are powerful enough to remove almost all bacteria, making the sponges ready to clean another load of dirty surfaces.

Soaking the Sponge

For those that don’t have a dishwasher you could try soaking your sponges in the sink to remove as much bacteria as possible. A solution of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water will work the best but it comes with small health risks and can’t be used if you have a septic tank. If you don’t/can’t use bleach try leaving them in anti-bacterial soap overnight. After the sponge has been cleaned allow to air dry completely between uses as a small amount of bacteria will die in a dried sponge. Since soaking is less effective than putting the sponges through a dishwasher, but better than nothing, it should only be used as a last resort.

Cleaning Sponges in the Microwave

You could also try putting your sponges wet in the microwave for a minute or so. This requires a little more effort as you’ll need to keep an eye on them in case they start to burn and you’ll also have to remember to leave them to cool down after they’ve been cleaned as they’ll be hot enough to burn. In my opinion it’s not worth the risk as there’s far safer and easier alternatives to keeping your sponges clean.