How to Remove an Old Paper Label in One Piece

The Chipping Method

• 1

  Lift the corner of the label with tweezers. According to Bottle Books, the high acid content in many papers produced since 1850 cause the paper to become brittle. Many labels are so brittle that nothing but tweezers and a razor blade are needed for removal.

• 2

  Use a razor blade to chip the dried glue away from the label. The glue will sometimes look yellow and crusty and will chip away in chunks or crumble and disintegrate. According to the Rate Beer website, some labels have glue that is so dry that the label comes away with minimal scraping.

• 3

  Continue scraping the glue and peeling the label away from you with the tweezers until the label comes off of the object.

The Soaking Method

• 4

  Place the object into a container. Fill the container with room temperature water. Fill the container so the water is over the label. According to the Rate Beer website, don't use the soaking method for labels that are irreplaceable. Some paper does not stand up well to water immersion.

• 5

  Place a dishtowel on a table while the label on the object soaks for about 1 minute. Remove the object and place it on the dishtowel. Some labels will completely float free from the object. If your label floated from the object, proceed to Step 5. If the label is still on the object, go to the next step.

• 6

  Use tweezers or your fingernail to gently lift the label's corner. Pull the label until you encounter resistance.

• 7

  Slide a razor blade gently beneath the label, scraping the surface of the object breaking the glue. Place the object back into the water for another 30 seconds if the label refuses to budge. Remove the object from the water and gently scrape beneath with the razor again until the label is free.

• 8

  Lift the label with your tweezers. According to the Red Wine Buzz website, don't let the label fold and stick to itself.

• 9

  Press the label onto acid-free paper. If there were any tears during removal, position the paper edges together to conceal the tear. According to the Red Wine Buzz website, the labels will adhere to the paper. Roll a rubber roller across the label to smooth it onto the paper. Allow the label to dry.

The Baking Method

• 10

  Turn the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Place a dishtowel on a table. Place the object made of glass, ceramic or metal into the oven with the label facing up.

• 11

  Set a timer for 7 minutes. Allow the object to remain in the oven until the timer sounds. Use a potholder to remove the object from the oven. Place it on the dishtowel.

• 12

  Hold the object with the potholder. Use a razor to lift a top corner of the label. Scrape and slice beneath the label with the razor in a top-to-bottom movement. According to the Red Wine Buzz website, the heat softens the glue allowing you to easily slice and scrape it away, separating the label from the object.

• 13

  Continue lifting the label with the tweezers and scraping and slicing the adhesive as needed. Peel the label in 1/4-inch increments so the label doesn't curl. If the paper curls, go to the other top corner and start over, working from the other direction.

• 14

  Place the label between two pieces of acid-free paper and stack books or weights on top to flatten it.