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How to Remove Print from Plastic Containers

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We’ve all been there.  And by “there” I mean standing in front of an open fridge trying to decide which of the eight different containers of “butter” actually contain butter spread.

Wouldn’t it be awesome if we could remove the print from the tubs, making it obvious which are leftovers and which still contain said butter spread?  Oh yeah, we did it, and it is much easier than you think!

How to Remove Print from Plastic Containers

How to Remove Print from Containers

What you’ll need:

*100% acetone nail polish remover
*gloves
*cotton balls

There are two ways you can go about this.  Either submerge the container in the acetone and let it soak for a minute (in a glass dish) or apply the acetone nail polish remover with a cotton ball in a circular motion.

Doesn’t that just sound waaaay too easy?  It really is!

I personally used the cotton ball method because it only takes as much nail polish remover as it does to remove your toe nail polish.  With the soaking-in-a-glass-dish method, you’re looking at at least half of the bottle.  It takes a bit more elbow grease, but I’d rather use less, myself (and tone my biceps).

What you’ll do:

Wear gloves if you like, your fingers will get dried out if you do not  (but no more or less than when actually taking off your nail polish).

Take your cotton ball, and douse it with 100% acetone nail polish remover. In a circular motion, work it over the print on the container.  It will take a few seconds to get going, but it will start to come off.  Keep working, applying gentle pressure and work your way around.

I did notice that the lid took a little bit extra elbow grease, but I just kept on going and voila! I have no more print whatsoever on my cottage cheese tub.

How to Remove Print from Plastic Containers

How cool is that?!

Now, I wouldn’t go through this process every single time I empty a tub of butter spead BUT you could save them up and do several of them at a time.  Throw them in the dishwasher and BOOM! You’re done.

These can now be used for leftovers, for planting seeds for your garden, for organizing the pantry or the hall closet, the medicine closet and just about anything else you can think of.

How to Remove Print from Plastic Containers

Love DIY and upcycling? You’ll want to check out these posts: 

Clean Your Microwave Using NO Chemicals {or scrubbing}
How to Make a Wax Melt Warmer for Your Car (GENIUS!)
How to Make a Floating Cooler {for less than $5}
Make Homemade Baby Wipes
How to Create Personalized Wall Art {Using Only an Old Pallet/Fence Board, Screws and Yarn}
How to Remove Wax from Yarn
Clean Jewelry at Home – Using just ONE or TWO Household Items!

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Comments

  1. I really need to use something that does not cost a lot. I want to remove print from gallon ice cream container and then use them for easter basket for the children in our town.
    Reply

  2. I tried this method on some black plastic plant pots in order to remove the lettering so that they could be re-used at a plant sale. Yes, it does work, but too expensive. I use white spirit to remove sticky label residues, it works faster and is cheap - unfortunately it doesn't work with printed lettering. If only there was something as efficient as Acetone but cheaper.
    Reply

  3. Ashlea, Thanks for the clear tutorial and for taking the time to share! I was determined to re-use a number of containers, but remove the print first. I'm so happy it isn't any harder than removing old fingernail polish (which I don't wear but have tried).
    Reply

  5. I wonder if it would take less acetone (and maybe less elbow grease) if I sprayed it from a bottle to soak? Has anyone tried it?
    Reply

  6. Have you ever thought how much and what it takes to produce acetone? Also you need to buy rags and gloves that you need trash after using them once. Better for the environment is to recykle that plastic container and use it as energy source.
    Reply

    • LOL! as if "recycled" items are actually 'used as an energy source.' They end up on huge barges headed for China where the poorest of the poor pick through and look for anything they can turn in for a tiny bit of money. Do a little research on how much of our recycling actually gets recycled and how much just becomes someone else's problem.
      Reply

      • Well Said, Better to recycle them into seed pots in this country than exploit the poor of other countries, If we all did that little bit more recycling rather that just dumping it in the trash, there would be less going to landfill and less plastic ending up in our oceans. It seems to me that them that moan about having to recycle should seriously think what sort of planet we are leaving behind for our children and grandchildren and indeed for generations to come, I personally would like to see a more sustainable planet being left behind that it was when I was born due to advances made during my lifetime, we call it progress but is it really better if we have a more throw away attitude to things instead of forcing manufacturers to make better and longer lasting products which can be 109% recycled. This in my opinion is the way to go n stop telling people lies about the destruction that is happening on a global level to our planet as once it’s gone it’s gone & there will be no return from the awful destruction we are causing to our world on a daily basis, we must reverse the decline in so many things like forests, lakes, animals, birds and other resources exploited to the point of irreversible destruction. Rant over, Thanks for reading..
        Reply

  7. After cleaning the print off, I wonder if a dry erase marker could be used to label it, then the marker could then be washed off to re-label.
    Reply

  8. This is a great DIY! I've been using my Greek yogurt tubs for sewing notions for a while now and it will be great to clean those off. Also, we're hosting Thanksgiving this year for my extended family, and I've been thinking about buying some inexpensive containers, making cute labels, and sending everyone home with leftovers in personalized containers, i.e. "We Loved Sharing Thanksgiving with You & Yours, Lezlee!"(my sister). It would be so great to send love (food) home with my family, and declutter my stash of dairy tubs (margarine, cream cheese, cottage cheese, feta, yogurt, etc.), and save a little money.
    Reply

  10. LOVE this idea, & will definitely try the technique. HOWEVER, I highly recommend doing this outdoors. Be VERY careful that you are away from any fire or open flame, i.e. candles or pilot lights. Acetone is EXTREMELY flammable/ combustible. Word to the wise from a fireman's daughter!!
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  11. I think it's a great idea. I have been saving and reusing my empty ones for a while now (with the print on them) my husband will forever be grateful for your tip on how to remove the ink. He just said he is so tired of going for the cottage cheese only to find half of an onion. Also a great way to reduce waste in the landfills. Thanks!
    Reply

    • Haha sounds like me... I store my half onions in those plastic containers too and my family are expecting to see butter/spread in there instead too :-)
      Reply

  14. Good FYI, I've been using cheap address labels on my good Rubbermaid lids, this hack will work for the food I want to send home with my Dad cuz never takes the labels off b4 running thru the dishwasher & they get really stuck on!
    Reply

  15. It's a nice hack, but I'd rather go to the dollar store and spend a dollar for 4 containers of that size than spend the time salvaging margarine containers.
    Reply

      • Saving money is better than spending it. I have a question I reuse my spice bottles in my craft classes for anything from jewelry supplies to glitter etc.... My problem is some labels come off so nice but others i have to soak n scrape but end up with sticky left on. Any suggestions for removing that??? P. S. If Carol wants to spend instead of saving I'll take the miney. Lol
        Reply

        • for the residue from the labels, methylated spirits often works, or paste made with bicarb soda + cooking oil, or goo gone. By reusing/repurposing containers you often find great size & shape ones perfect for your needs ;-)
          Reply

        • Any cooking oil (coconut, olive, sunflower...) will work for the sticky ones. To remove stickers: Day 1- soak over night in water. Rinse and wash. Day 2- apply little bit of oil and leave it overnight. All the sticky glue can be wiped out with a tissue paper the next day.
          Reply

    • By doing that you add to the amount of plastic, something which the world has far too much of already. Recycling is the way to go if we want our oceans and soil unpolluted. What happens to plastic when you bin it? Where does it go really? How does this affect the planet we depend on to survive? Do check it out!
      Reply

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