Soaking
The most commonly employed regimens involve some soaking. Immersing bottles in a soapy solution for as little as half an hour can loosen many labels, although more stubborn examples may require several days in the bubble bath. Soaking also loosens stuck-on residue that may lie at the bottom of the bottles. Common soaking media include
- OxiClean
- PBW
- Ammonia
- Star San
- Baking soda
OxiClean and PBW should work for most labels, while an ammonia solution can encourage more troublesome ones. But take extra care when working with ammonia: Use gloves, work in a well-ventilated area, and never, ever combine ammonia with bleach (they produce a toxic gas when mixed).
Star San can usually remove those pesky screen-printed labels that are fused directly to the glass. Baking soda, while gentler than other options, works with some of the less stubborn labels out there.
On a related note, European beer bottles often employ less stubborn adhesives than their American counterparts. In many cases, the labels will lift right off and float to the top of the soaking solution in a matter of minutes.