How to Remove Stickers from Mason Jars and Relabel Them for Your Homemade Products

Two methods work. Nail polish remover is the faster option for glass, followed by a full wash. Dish soap and white vinegar are the gentler option if you'd rather skip the solvent.

Nail polish remover: Peel off what you can. Soak in warm soapy water first if it's stuck. Pour nail polish remover onto a cloth and scrub the leftover adhesive off in circles. Wash with warm soapy water after. Use this only on glass, because it can discolour plastic.

Dish soap and vinegar: Submerge the jar in hot water with dish soap and a few cups of white vinegar. Let it sit for at least 30 minutes. Scrub off anything left with a sponge, then rinse.

Whichever method you use, a full wash is the last step before the jar goes back into use, not the removal itself.

Why Label Material Matters When Reusing Mason Jars

Store-bought jars for jam, sauces, and pickles use a permanent adhesive built for shipping and storage, not for coming off later. That's fine while it holds the original product. It turns into a chore the moment you reuse the jar for your own candles, soap, food, or bath products, and Bernardin jars are common enough to end up in that pile of reused glass.

Getting the old label off is a one-time job. The label you put on next decides whether you're back here scrubbing again.

Choosing the Right Label for Your Product

Homemade Jams, Sauces, and Pickles

A jar going back into the fridge with jam, pickles, or a homemade sauce faces the same condensation that can cause a weaker label to lift. Paper absorbs that moisture and curls. A waterproof vinyl sticker doesn't, so the print stays sharp through weeks of cold storage.

If you're canning at home, Health Canada's home canning safety guidance covers safe preparation, cleaning, and storage.

• Permanent adhesive works if the jar isn't getting reused right away
• Round labels for the lid, rectangle, square, or oval for the body
• Standard waterproof vinyl is the safer pick anywhere the label meets condensation or wet hands

Frozen Products

Repeated freeze and thaw cycles can cause a standard label to lift at the edges over time. Freezer-safe stickers are designed for low temperatures and repeated freeze-thaw cycles, which makes them a better fit for frozen sauces, soups, or prepared meals.

Gifting or Selling at Farmers Markets

Jam, honey, or preserves headed out as a gift or sold at a market table need to look good the moment someone picks them up, and stay flat doing it.

• Matte or kraft-look vinyl holds the curve without lifting
• Glossy vinyl suits a more polished, retail look
• Use permanent adhesive since the jar isn't coming back for a refill

Soap, Candles, and Bath Products

A lot of reused jars end up holding candles, soap, or bath salts instead of whatever they originally contained. The label needs to fit that new product, not the one you just peeled off.

Paper has less flexibility on a curved jar, and the humidity or damp shelf that comes with candles and bath products makes that worse.

Vinyl stickers hold the curve and take that wear without lifting. Since the label is doing a branding job for a homemade business too, material, finish, shape, and size should match what's in the jar.

Which Label Material Fits Your Jar?

Waterproof vinyl stickers handle moisture, condensation, and wet environments. The film itself resists water rather than absorbing it.

Freezer-safe stickers are built for repeated freeze-thaw cycles and low temperatures, specifically, a step beyond general waterproofing.

Paper stickers can work fine for dry, indoor use. On a curved jar, paper has less give than vinyl, and any added moisture makes that worse.

What you're putting in the jar next decides the material, not what used to be in it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the removal method above work on Bernardin jars specifically?

Yes. Bernardin jars use the same glass and standard mason jar shape as other canning jars. The method matters more than the brand.

What's the real difference between waterproof and freezer-safe labels?

Waterproof describes resistance to water and moisture. Freezer-safe describes suitability for low temperatures and repeated freeze-thaw cycles specifically. A label can be waterproof without being rated for the freezer, so check the material's application specifications before using it on frozen products.

Does the type of adhesive affect how hard a label is to remove, or is it mostly about how long it's been on the jar?

Both. A strong or permanent adhesive resists coming off regardless of time. But the longer it sits, the more it can bond to the glass, especially if your jar label has been stored somewhere warm. A label removed within a few weeks is easier to work with than the one that's been on for months.

Does the sticker finish matter for something like candles or soap versus jam?

Somewhat. Matte and kraft-looking vinyl stickers tend to suit candles, soap, and bath products because they read as handmade. Gloss holds up well for jam and preserves headed to a market table where a more polished look matters. Either finish works on vinyl, so it comes down to what fits the product rather than durability.

Can the same jar be relabelled more than once as the product inside changes?

Yes. A jar can be relabelled repeatedly as long as the old label and adhesive are removed cleanly first. The material choice each time just needs to match whatever's going in it next.

Final Thoughts

Removing an old sticker is a one-time job. Choosing the right label for what the jar holds next is what keeps you from doing it again. Food jars need moisture resistance, frozen products need a label built for low temperatures, and gift or market jars need to look good and stay flat. From there, shape, finish, and size come down to what's going in the jar.

If you're labelling more than just reused jars for your homemade products, this guide to custom stickers for small businesses in Canada covers material and format choices beyond jars.