Whether you’ve bought some new glass canisters or plan to upcycle a glass food container, the first task is to get rid of the label. But even when that’s gone, there’s usually some sticky residue still clinging to the glass. It’s not a good look.

Here are five different ways to remove the goo from your glasses with almost no hassle.

Rubbing Alcohol

My go-to residue remover is rubbing alcohol. Once I peel off as much of the sticker or label as possible, I saturate a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol and place it on the sticky residue; the alcohol acts as a solvent to dissolve the glue. Be sure to let it sit for about 10 minutes and then wipe away the glue.

If some residue remains, repeat the steps with a fresh cotton ball. The added benefit of using rubbing alcohol is there is not need to wash the glass—it leaves nothing behind except a streak-free, residue-free shine.

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Distilled White Vinegar

The acidic nature of vinegar acts as a solvent to remove some types of glue. Heat a small amount of undiluted distilled white vinegar in the microwave. Dip a sponge or old cloth in the warm vinegar, and place it over the residue. Wait at least 5 minutes. Once the adhesive is loose, use a plastic spatula or the edge of an old credit card to scrape it away. Repeat until all of the residue is removed.

Baking Soda and Hot Water

Fill a sink or container with hot water (boiling water is best) and submerge the glass vessel. Allow it to soak until the water is cool. Remove the glass and sprinkle the sticky residue with baking soda. Use a damp microfiber cloth to gently scrub the sticky area. Wash the glass in hot, soapy water, rinse well, and dry with a lint-free microfiber cloth.

For this method, the hot water softens the glue and the baking soda acts as a gentle abrasive to scrub it away. You can substitute Bar Keepers Friend, Bon Ami, or The Pink Stuff for baking soda—they all contain a gentle abrasive to help remove the residue.

Hair Dryer Heat

The heat from a hair dryer will soften some adhesives so you can scrape them away with the edge of an old credit card or a plastic spatula. Set the hair dryer on medium-high heat and hold it a couple of inches away from the residue for 1 to 2 minutes. Scrape and repeat until the residue is gone.

Peanut Butter or Vegetable Oil

Oil will loosen some types of glue. Saturate the residue with vegetable oil, butter, margarine, or peanut butter. Cover the residue with plastic wrap and let the oil work for at least 30 minutes. Remove the plastic wrap and use a plastic scraper or the edge of an old credit card to remove the glue. Clean the glass in hot, soapy water, rinse, and dry with a lint-free microfiber towel.

Additional Tips to Remove Sticky Residue From Glass

• Use nail polish remover. Follow the steps recommended for using rubbing alcohol, but substitute nail polish remover (acetone) as the solvent to dissolve the glue.
• Try WD-4O. WD-40 contains hydrocarbon solvents that can loosen some glues. Spray the label with WD-40, cover it with plastic wrap, and wait at least 20 minutes. Scrape away the label with a plastic scraper and wash the jar well in hot, soapy water.
• Use a glass cleaner: Window cleaners like Windex contain solvents that can help dissolve sticker residue.