Good recycleable jars

[Pepper Pig]

I think it was Seatallan who was complaining about being unable to get labels off commercially filled jam jars these days because they are so sticky. My youngest son is being a vegan at the moment and getting through mountains of this:

https://www.ocado.com/products/meridian ... r-32162011

The labels wash off beautifully.

[scullion]

has he tried any of ?

[Seatallan]

[scullion]

have you tried ?

[Pepper Pig]

I think we had this discussion somewhere and the sticky stuff remover just wasn’t up to the job.

[Pepper Pig]

[scullion]

i wouldn't know - i'm not sure if occado deliver west of bristol but i think you can pick the meridian one up at lidl, too.

[Pepper Pig]

Because he works long hours in the city he has a regular Ocado delivery Scully. He’s given up his car so Lidl 3 miles away wouldn’t be an option. Ocado’s vegan range is pretty good,

[StokeySue]

I found in WikiHow or somewhere that if the glue is not water soluble the label will usually come off if you fill the jar with really hot water (keeping the label dry) then the glue softens and the label usually comes off quite easily. If it needs scraping use an old plastic card

The last bits come off with Sticky Stuff remover, which I discovered recently also removes the sticky deposits from the cooker hood.

[aero280]

This will get your labels off!! It's used for removing tar and badges from cars without damaging the paint. Does pong a bit of petrol if you use a lot!!

https://www.halfords.com/motoring/car-c ... over-325ml

[scullion]

[Herbidacious]

I have had success with the Sticky Stuff Remover that Lakeland sells, but you might need a lot of it. There are several cheaper methods here.

https://www.wikihow.com/Remove-a-Jar-Label

I shall try one next time I need to. My go-to jam is Bonne Maman and the labels float of nicely in the dishwasher, but I don't often need jars anyway...

[Pepper Pig]

Thanks. I’ll pass that on,

[StokeySue]

Sticky stuff remover only works on the residual adhesive after you have removed at least the bulk of the paper

[Herbidacious]

True.

[earthmaiden]

I find that unless they are the sort that will come off easily with soaking, running them through the dishwasher with labels on (which I tend to) seems to make them adhere even more. We did have this conversation a while back. I really resent the thought of buying something special to remove labels - it defeats the whole object of making things with a free glut of produce! Some of the Sainsburys jam labels are made of clear plastic and won't budge. Maybe they'll be changing that soon.

I love peanut butter, don't dare keep it in the house.

[StokeySue]

[Herbidacious]

It may be worth trying the methods on the wiki page above, then?

I actually don't really mind if labels stay on for re-use.

Mind you, I saw someone selling (or trying to sell) used Bonne Maman jars on eBay a while back, so might be worth doing

(Ditto La Fermiere ceramic yoghurt pots...)

[StokeySue]

The problem with Bonne Maman jars is those wide lids, which can't easily be replaced

[Herbidacious]

I am pretty sure le Parfait ones fit. You probably have to buy these from Amazon, Ebay or France though. I suppose it depends on what you are doing with the jars. When you make jam they advise buying new lids

[Seatallan]

[suffolk]

Interestingly enough, you can remove the sticky residue, or even the whole label, with peanut butter ... often used by antique dealers to remove Lot Numbers from ceramics bought at auction

"...Peanut butter. If you want to get sticker residue off wood, glass, or plastic, dab peanut butter on the spot and let it sit until the sticker residue softens. Use a clean rag to lift off the peanut butter as well as the residue." https://www.bhg.com/homekeeping/house-c ... 979530492/

[scullion]

that seems fitting considering the original post.
no good for earthmaiden, though.

[earthmaiden]

No, I'd eat the peanut butter before it got to the sticky jar . Good tip though.

[scullion]

i have just been in to aldi - who do a similar, 100% peanut, peanut butter, in a glass jar that looks just like the meridian one, for £1.25. i've bought a jar to try (i'll also have a go at peeling the label when i've unpacked all the shopping).

[Herbidacious]

I don't want to start another thread so... does one really need to get new lids for Le Parfait-type (Bonne Maman) jars each time one resuses the jars? Looks like I am going to have to re-boil my marmalade this weekend.

[suffolk]

I don't ... I give them a good wash and dry with a clean tea towel ... have done so for years ... we're still here I carry on using them until they're embarrassingly rusty

[earthmaiden]

I don't either, as long as they haven't got holes in the top from when originally opened and are not too battered they should be fine.

[Seatallan]

Me neither. Jar lids will go on for ages. I only get shot of them if (as sometimes happens) I've used them for chutney or pickle and the vinegar has started to corrode them.

[Herbidacious]

Good. I thought it might be something to do with the seal. It galls me to throw something so apparently serviceable away.

[Lokelani]

I've always re-used the lids once from jam, marmalade etc. I don't if the original product had vinegar in. Something to do with the vinegar affecting the thin plastic lining the inside of lids have. I've no idea where I read that though and if it still applies.
I re-use the rubbers from the clip top jars once or twice too if they still look and feel fine. I seem to remember the instructions saying you should only use those once too.
I loathe hard to remove labels, its such a simple joy when one just peels off easily!

[PatsyMFagan]

[earthmaiden]

Talking of pickles and relishes, I find that reuseable plastic pots with airtight lids (Tupperware sort of thing) work well. Obviously I can't suggest anyone buys new plastic but if you have any already ....

[scullion]

I always use old jars and lids (until they start to corrode).
Lidl's olive jars are one of my favourites - a good size as long as you don't mind a.picture.of olives on the lid.

[StokeySue]

This thread caused me to look up and find I can get replacement lids for the English Provender Company I use in my spice cupboard, the lids don't last well as the original contents are packed in quite strong vinegar which eats away at them

Replacement lids are surprisingly expensive

[suffolk]

In the past I've found replacement jar lids of various sizes at Hobbycraft.

[scullion]

I've never bought only lids - they always come with the glass bit and original contents

[Pepper Pig]

Over Christmas I had to buy a jar of marmalade for the OH as we'd run out - apparently my fault for giving 4 jars of mine away even though I usually give at least a dozen to friends. I happened to be in M&S food at the time of the order (!) and picked on their normal brand. The jar has just come through the dishwasher and is absolutely flawless. Not a trace of sticky!

[StokeySue]

My cherished and much used jars are M&S marmalade jars, some must be over 10 years old