As much as I love the aesthetic of matching spice jars, I could never bring myself to shell out £30 or more to replace something I already have. As someone on their zero waste journey, it also seems wasteful and unnecessary. The best part about this project is that it’s using materials that you most likely already have and could potentially cost you nothing.
Sadly, I’m not sponsored by Schwartz (McCormick & Company, Inc) nor am I associated with them in any way (though, very open to it if anyone there is reading). This is simply my way of using what I’ve got and filling the void of the lack of DIY on these specific bottles.
The Supplies
- Schwartz spice containers
- Fine sandpaper around 1500 grit
- Label maker or permanent market
Prepping & Cleaning
Removing The Text From The Tops
The texts printed on the top of the Schwartz spices were tricky. I tried the classic acetone & rubbing alcohol attempts, but it seems like old fashion elbow grease is the way to go here. Using my 1500 grit sandpaper I easily sanded off the text. The only caveat of this is that the tops will have a matte finish instead of the glossy finish it came with. Turns out, I love it more!
Careful with the higher grit sandpapers (smaller numbers) as they’ll most likely leave a bit of texture on the plastic caps as opposed to a smooth finish. Anything smaller (high numbers), and it’ll take you longer to take the text off. The 1500 grit worked best for me, but
Aside from the easy-to-use flip lids, a great feature of these spice jars is that they have a color-coded system already in place:
- Green – herbs & garlic
- Orange – spices
- Red – chilies
- Purple – seasoning blends
While building your collection you can obviously keep the system or use your own. The other detail to keep note of is the opening sizes inside. Most of them have 5 small holes to manage the flow while some others have pie-shaped openings for dispensing larger spices. Don’t make the same mistake of putting one of the large openings on something like chili!
Removing Labels from Glass
There are lots of tutorials for removing labels on bottles already out there, so I won’t subject you to another one. The labels on Schwartz spice bottles are plastic, so the best method for removing these is the hot water method (pour boiling water into the jar and remove once the adhesive is softer) or use your radiators during the winter when they’re hot. You can always remove them cold, but you’ll probably have a bit of residue left.
Removing the adhesive residue is nice and easy! A paste of equal parts baking soda, for scrubbing, and cooking oil, to break down the adhesive, can be applied to the glass and scrubbed off after around 3-5 minutes.