Asked on Feb 18, 2016

How to remove glitter decorations from mason jars?

Marlo Jacobs
by Marlo Jacobs
I was gifted mason jars from a friends wedding that decorated with glitter. I would like to remove the glitter from the jars so that I can reuse them for table decor etc for a bridal shower I'm hosting and other crafts! I'm sure they used modpodge to adhere the glitter. I have over 200 mason jars & 100 votives covered in glitter. I couldn't pass up these freebies even covered in glitter...HELP!
This is one of two storage tubs holding glitter striped mason jars.
  13 answers
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Feb 18, 2016
    Try Goo gone,WD40,Krud Kutter even maybe Nail Polish Remover.
  • Melody McSweeney Melody McSweeney on Feb 18, 2016
    Soak jars in warm/hot water - a bus pan is perfect size. You'll have to weigh them down - kinda messy but the water will eventually dissolve the modpodge - please dispose of responsibly. . .
  • Mikki Mikki on Feb 18, 2016
    My daughter-in-law did this to several items for her wedding including the base of several wine glasses- my teenager put a few in the dishwasher and poof! Not a trace was left, there was no glitter residue left in the dishwasher either so I went ahead and washed several others- worked like a charm!
    • See 1 previous
    • Jean Quinones Jean Quinones on Jul 07, 2019

      This didnā€™t mess up your dishwasher?

  • Yaffa Yaffa on Feb 18, 2016
    baby oil
  • Annadele Annadele on Feb 18, 2016
    I I agree with Melody. put into pan of hot soapy water. It will soften up the glue and the glitter/glue can be easily scraped off with a single edge blade (with holder, of course). If there is any residue left after scraping, Goo Gone will do wonders, and make your kitchen smell like lemon. A couple of items in the dishwasher not so bad - for 300 pieces, it could create a drain problem. Glitter, as far as I know, does not decompose. Have fun deconstructing!!
    • Marlo Jacobs Marlo Jacobs on Feb 18, 2016
      Thank you...I'm going to try this a few at time. Hopeful I can achieve success because a plain mason jar is full options!
  • Marci Spell Marci Spell on Feb 18, 2016
    Acetone, perhaps...
  • Marlo Jacobs Marlo Jacobs on Feb 18, 2016
    I'm going to try all of these until I have successfully removed the glitter, I'll let you what methods worked best.
  • Kcama Kcama on Feb 18, 2016
    I had applied glitter with "temporary" spray glue to glass - only it wouldn't all come off, no matter what I used or tried. Gave the stuff away before I ran across a "This Old House" hint. Soak on low overnight in a crockpot with water to cover and a couple TBS liquid laundry soap. This worked perfectly on heavily painted cast iron door knockers, the paint all just peeled off, so am sure it will work with mason jars.
  • MN Mom MN Mom on Feb 18, 2016
    Try hot, soapy water. Let them soak overnight and whatever glue was used should be soft enough to scrape off. When they are free of glitter, put them through the dishwasher.
  • Marlo Jacobs Marlo Jacobs on Feb 19, 2016
    After reading the various solutions I came up with this method: I used 2 aluminum roasting pans and put 8 small jars inside laying on their side, next I placed the pans on my stove top and filled the pan with hot water and couple squirts of dish soap and turned the burners on low, I added 1 cup of white vinegar to the approximately 8-12 cups of water added already and I covered the pan with another roasting pan. After about 30-40 minutes I came back with an old toothbrush and started gently scrubbing and the glitter/glue started flaking off so gently rolled over the jars to get the other side soak in and covered the pan again 30 minutes later I repeated the toothbrush scrubbing and the rest of the glitter glob came right off! Cost was $4.00 for the roasting pans at the dollar tree and I already had the vinegar. Time was approximately 2 hours of letting the jars soak in the steam bath and scrubbing off the globs of glitter glue. The jars are spotless and after I rinse under water and a cycle in dishwasher they'll be ready to craft for the decor for the bridal shower! Thank you for all of your wonderful ideas and inspiration for my effortless method to remove glitter glue from the jars! Easy job!
  • Arlis Arlis on Feb 19, 2016
    with that many jars stay away from toxic remover --try soaking them in OxyClean and hot water. I use that to clean quite a few things.
    • Marlo Jacobs Marlo Jacobs on Feb 19, 2016
      I was concerned about chemicals especially since I working in the kitchen, hot water, dish soap & vinegar wash all I used and simmer them on the stove top with an aluminum roasting created a steam bath and the glue just scrubbed off with an old toothbrush. I just finished the last of the small jar and didn't add the vinegar and the glitter globs scrubbed riight off. No chemicals needed. I'll finish the big jars tomorrow and then start with next storage tore of more jars...I did have goo gone better didn't need to use it for this project. I have to cautious with chemical odor with my asthma so I don't aggravate my respiratory issues.
  • Fiddledd224 Fiddledd224 on Jan 18, 2018

    Soak in hot water overnight.

  • Carol Lander Carol Lander on Nov 14, 2022

    Try the Mod Podge website. You may be able to start by soaking the jars in a sink of water or a tub of water.