Putting Baking Soda in the Kitchen Sink: What It’s For When You’re Not Cleaning the Drain
Pouring baking soda into the kitchen sink may look like the start of a drain-cleaning job, but there’s another reason to use it with water. Empty glass bottles often have paper labels that tear apart when peeled, leaving patches of adhesive stuck to the surface. Soaking them in baking soda water can help loosen both.
A Homedit DIY tutorial demonstrates the method with glass bottles submerged in a sink filled halfway with water and half a cup to one cup of baking soda. After about 30 minutes, the paper labels began coming off, and the remaining glue could be rubbed away with a paper towel.
The trick works for preparing wine bottles, jars, and other glass containers for reuse, though labels with water-resistant coatings or strong adhesives may need more work.
Why Add Baking Soda to the Sink Water?
Fill the sink about halfway with water, add half a cup to one cup of baking soda, and stir until the powder disperses. The mixture helps loosen some label adhesives as water penetrates the paper.
“Popular Mechanics” tested baking soda and water for label removal. After a 30-minute soak, two labels floated off their bottles, while a third still required scraping. [1]
Soak the Bottles With Their Labels Underwater
Place the bottles in the sink with their labels beneath the waterline and leave them for about 30 minutes. If the paper remains attached, extend the soak before attempting removal.
Water must reach the label and adhesive for the method to work, so bottles floating above the waterline may need to be repositioned.
Remove the Paper and Leftover Glue
After soaking, peel or rub off the softened paper, then wipe away adhesive residue with a paper towel or cloth. Rinse the glass and check for sticky areas before reusing the container.
The “University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension” also recommends baking soda in hot, soapy water to soften adhesive on reusable jars. [2]
Plastic-coated labels and adhesives that resist water may need a separate removal product.
Sources: [1] Popular Mechanics — How to Remove a Bottle Label, [2] University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension — Gifts in a Jar