A tip for homebrewers

[Bob C]

I know there are a few fellow brewers here. My least favorite part of the hobby has been stripping the commercial labels off bottles before I "promote" them to hold my brew.

A Google search turned up a tip to use OxyClean. I filled a plastic cooler with bottles, standing up, filled and covered them with hot water, threw in a scoop of OxyClean and closed the cooler overnight. The next morning, the labels had fallen off and the bottles were clean. You still need to rinse the bottles well, but no more so than if you used chlorine bleach to sterilize them.

There was a little bit of glue residue on some of them, but it came off with an easy wipe under running water.

I wish it had occurred to me to look for a better solution years ago. I hope this tip helps some of you.

[AKScott]

Don't remember where I learned it, but I concur. The first time I used Oxy-Clean to delabel bottles I never went back to whatever it was I was using before.

[brewerpaul]

Having been the worst at cleaning bottles I finally broke down and got the 5 gallon soda kegs. They now are made with keg adapters on top but the true soda kegs are nice because you can force carbonate a beer if you need to have it for a party or gathering. Otherwise the bottles kept me from going back to the fridge for another pint.

Cheers \_/\_/

[Bob C]

I considered soda kegs, but they just don't suit my lifestyle. I like to gift sixes of homebrew or take it to gatherings.

[brewerpaul]

I considered soda kegs, but they just don't suit my lifestyle. I like to gift sixes of homebrew or take it to gatherings.

I fully agree, one holiday I gave away about 4 cases of mixed brews to friends. It was well received and 6packs are always convenient for sharing. The kegs are just nice if you have the room or want to share a brew with a party. I know it is alot easier to grab a mixed 6 of home brew than grab a 40 lb keg...

[Bob C]

I can absolutely see the convenience of the kegs for home use, though.

[Cowher]

A good tip for those who haven't already tried it.

I actually used a bit of simple green and some just boiling water. You have to fill the bottles with hot tap water to get them to sink but if you leave them sit for just a hour or more the labels slide right off and if it way really heavy glue you may need a quick wipe with a sponge.

Here is another tip. If you make your own labels apply them with milk.
Just take your label and a wide paint brush. Dip the brush in milk and lightly brush it onto the back of the labels and put them on your bottles. They hold well and are a piece of cake to remove.

[Justin Runyon]

Mix amonia and water in the bath tub, throw in the bottles, come back in a couple of hours and you will fine 95% of the labels floating on their own. This does not work with metalic or foil labels though.

[Mikewood]

I really like the soda kegs also. I have on hand a few 0.5 gal. growlers. That's a large beer bottle with a hinged top gasket cap. Beer will stay fresh for 24 hours and it's what i use to haul the beer to parties or the like. I always hated washing bottles.

[okiwen]

I'm glad to see there are brewers here. I am having terrible time finding the swing top type bottle here in the northwest. I can't find anyone that sells Grolsch or similar. I don't like heavy beer myself but do need a handful of bottles. When I look online they seem to sell for more empty than when there was beer inside.

Suggestions?