Using a dish washing machine to remove beer labels (it's as easy as it sounds)

How to Remove Beer Bottle Labels With a Dishwasher

Removing labels from used beer bottles can take longer than drinking the beer that came in them. Some labels float away after a short soak. Others appear to have been fixed to the glass with an industrial adhesive designed for bridge construction.

Craft breweries are particularly unpredictable. One bottle may use a water-soluble paper label, while the next has a plastic pressure-sensitive label backed by a thick layer of stubborn glue.

I had previously tested several ways to remove labels from beer bottles, but one of the simplest methods was sitting in the kitchen all along.

The dishwasher method at a glance

• Place empty, rinsed bottles in an otherwise clean dishwasher.
• Run the hottest normal wash cycle.
• Remove the bottles while they are still warm.
• Peel the loosened labels away immediately.
• Scrub off any remaining adhesive before it cools.
• Clean and sanitise the bottles separately before filling.

Use the Dishwasher to Loosen Beer Bottle Labels

The combination of hot water, steam, detergent and time softens many common paper labels and water-based adhesives. When the cycle finishes, a cooperative label can often be peeled away in one piece.

The timing matters. Remove the bottles when the cycle has finished and the glass is still warm enough to handle safely. Once the adhesive cools and hardens again, removal becomes more difficult.

Important dishwasher warning: A dishwasher is useful for loosening labels, but it should not automatically be treated as a bottle sanitiser. Dishwasher jets may not direct enough water into the narrow mouth of every bottle. Food residue, rinse aid and detergent can also remain inside. Clean and sanitise each bottle properly before bottling beer.

Before and After: Garage Project and Panhead Bottles

Here are the Panhead and Garage Project bottles before going into the dishwasher. Both labels were firmly attached, with no sign that they were preparing to surrender.

Garage Project and Panhead bottles before the dishwasher cycle.

The Garage Project Bright Side label loosened enough to be lifted cleanly from the warm glass.

The warm label begins to peel away without tearing into small paper fragments.

The Garage Project label removed almost completely intact.

The Panhead Culture Vulture bottle produced a similar result. The label came away with minimal scraping once the adhesive had been heated and softened.

The Panhead label after exposure to the dishwasher's heat and moisture.

A successful one-piece removal, with only minor adhesive cleanup required.

Step-by-Step Dishwasher Method

1. Empty and rinse each bottle immediately. Dried beer sediment and mould are harder to remove than fresh residue.
2. Inspect the bottle. Reject bottles with cracks, chips around the lip, deep scratches or damage near the base.
3. Remove the cap and any foil. Foil around the neck can break apart and collect in the dishwasher filter.
4. Place the bottles securely in the dishwasher. Position them so they cannot fall against one another during the cycle.
5. Keep dirty dishes out. Run the bottles by themselves or with other clean brewing equipment suitable for dishwasher use.
6. Use a hot cycle. Heat is the main advantage. Avoid extreme temperature changes that could shock the glass.
7. Open the dishwasher carefully. Steam can burn. Allow the first blast of heat to escape before reaching inside.
8. Peel while warm. Start at a loosened corner and pull slowly rather than tearing the label into strips.
9. Remove the softened glue. Use hot water, a nylon scrubber or one of the adhesive-removal methods below.
10. Rinse and inspect the interior. The bottle must be visibly clean before sanitising.

Which Labels Will the Dishwasher Remove?

The dishwasher method works well on many traditional paper labels, particularly those attached with water-soluble glue. It is less reliable on laminated, vinyl and pressure-sensitive labels.

Label type	Likely result	Best approach
Standard paper label	Often peels away easily	Dishwasher or hot washing-soda soak
Plastic or vinyl label	May peel, but leaves sticky glue	Warm the label, peel it, then treat the residue
Self-adhesive craft beer label	Highly variable	Dishwasher followed by oil or citrus-based adhesive remover
Painted or screen-printed bottle	Printing may remain permanently	Reuse as-is or choose another bottle
Shrink sleeve	Usually remains attached	Carefully cut the sleeve without scoring the glass
Foil neck wrap	May fragment	Remove manually before washing

How to Remove Glue Left on the Bottle

The label may release while leaving behind a sticky rectangular reminder of where it used to be. Deal with that residue while the bottle is warm.

Hot water and a nylon scrubber Start with the least aggressive method. Hold the bottle under hot water and scrub with a non-metallic pad. Freshly softened adhesive may roll away in small clumps.

Washing soda soak Add washing soda, also sold as sodium carbonate, to a tub of warm water according to the product directions. Soak the bottles for 30 minutes to several hours. Many paper labels will float away, while their glue becomes easier to scrub off.

Oxygen-based brewery cleaner A brewery cleaner such as PBW, or another oxygen-based alkaline cleaner intended for brewing equipment, can remove organic residue and loosen many labels. Follow the manufacturer's dilution and contact-time instructions, wear suitable gloves and rinse the bottles thoroughly.

Baking soda paste Mix baking soda with a small amount of cooking oil to form a paste. Rub it over stubborn external adhesive, leave it briefly, then wipe and wash the bottle with detergent. Keep oily residue away from the inside of the bottle.

Citrus-based adhesive remover This can work on pressure-sensitive glue that survives hot water. Use it only on the outside of the bottle, then wash the glass thoroughly with detergent and rinse it well.

Plastic scraper A plastic card or scraper can lift softened adhesive without scratching the bottle. Metal blades create a greater risk of cuts and can score or weaken the glass.

Brewer's rule: Keep oils, solvents and adhesive removers out of the bottle. Even a small amount of oily residue can damage beer foam and head retention. Any product used on the outside should be followed by a thorough detergent wash and rinse.

Removing Labels Without a Dishwasher

A dishwasher is convenient when you have a small batch of bottles. A soaking tub is usually faster when preparing several dozen bottles for bottling day.

Washing-Soda Soak

1. Fill a large tub with warm water.
2. Add washing soda according to its label instructions.
3. Submerge the bottles completely.
4. Leave them until the paper and adhesive soften.
5. Peel or wipe away the labels.
6. Scrub, rinse and inspect each bottle.

This is one of the best bulk methods because the bottles can be soaked together while you work on something else.

Hot Detergent Soak

Ordinary dishwashing detergent and hot water can remove lightly glued paper labels. It is cheaper than specialist cleaner but less effective against heavy pressure-sensitive adhesive.

Dry Peel Test

Before soaking anything, lift a corner of the label. Some modern plastic labels peel more cleanly when dry. Soaking them first may separate the printed face from the adhesive and leave a larger mess behind.

Cleaning and Sanitising Are Separate Jobs

A clean bottle has no visible dirt, yeast, mould, grease or beer residue. A sanitised bottle has been treated immediately before filling to reduce microorganisms to an acceptable level.

Sanitiser cannot reliably penetrate a layer of dried grime. Every bottle must therefore be cleaned first and sanitised second.

The dishwasher may help with cleaning and label removal, but the narrow opening of a beer bottle makes full internal coverage uncertain. For dependable bottling, use a no-rinse brewing sanitiser at the correct concentration and allow the required contact time.

Read the complete guide to bottling and capping homebrew beer before filling your prepared bottles.