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how do you get the glue from the label off?

I reuse jars for everything in my kitchen. I keep a china marker handy so that I can label the jar with the contents and the date. It's easy to wipe off too when the jar is empty again.

A hair dryer and nail polish remover work fairly well to get the label and glue off.

The National Association of Letters Carriers annual food drive is Saturday May 9. Place all those cans that you aren't going to eat in a bag on your mailbox. You post man will pick it up and drop it off at a food bank. More information at their website: http://www.helpstampouthunger.com/

How do you prevent odors from the jar lids leaching into what you put in the jars? I've had a few experiences with peanut butter scented jasmine rice, and tea that smelled suspiciously like jam. I have an olive jar that's the perfect size for cinnamon sticks, but I don't really want to find out what might happen.

I've never needed to use nail polish remover to get a label off! just soak it and peel/rub the glue off with the label.

We use jars for everything - grain, pasta, spices, legumes, sugar. I love that everything looks coordinated without having to be perfectly uniform.

We also use wide mouthed quart jars for storing leftovers in the fridge. There's no chance of the container getting flipped on its side and leaking everywhere, plus the fact that it's clear means we see leftovers and eat them before they can get yucky.

Tip - Container Store sells LabelOnce Labels that you can write on and then wipe off - I use them and they withstand everything from freezing to the dishwasher -- you just can't boil them (when canning) because they'll come off...they restick, but it's not as clean. I

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Squidlette - Try filling the jars with a mixture of baking soda and hot water, close the lid and let it soak overnight. I do this to clean/deodorize the jars.

I like using the jars for left over sauces. For example, left over gravy, curry sauce, the half can of coconut milk I didn't use.

Its also a great way to take snacks (mix nuts, pretzels) to work.

I like Goo Gone, which I've found at Bed Bath and Beyond and the hardware store for removing the sticky from labels.

I always intend to re-use jars this way, but by the time I remember to clean them out, they're too close to science experiments to trust with anything I plan to eat.

we reuse a lot of jars too. my favorites are from bonne maman preserves. they are wide mouthed and they have an attractive red gingham top. they hold spices or single servings of leftovers.

When I was growing up, my dad had a Bee's Spun Honey tub in the fridge filled with abalone guts to use as bait for fishing. Proper labeling is so important, people.

Luxeport- I have the same problem as Squidlette, and I've tried your solution to no avail. I've even dumped baking soda right on the stinky lid and let it sit for a week with little to no difference. :(

"Look for old, expired, unused, unhealthy foods...If they aren't expired, donate them to a food bank." I'm sure that wasn't necessarily your intention, but I couldn't let it go by without comment.

I just want to point out that food banks need more than the stuff you don't want or deem "unhealthy." Most are desperate for items like tuna and peanut butter. If you find yourself giving a lot of "interesting" items like pickled beats and cranberry sauce, maybe make a special trip to the store and supplement your donation with some more needed items.

vegetable oil works really well at getting glue from the labels off :)

My mother has always been a jar hoarder and their uses are unending...my favourite however is to use it as an excuse to make jams and chutneys. Such a pleasure to do, lovely to see on your shelves and brilliant presents if you're staying with someone. This book http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jams-Pickles-Chutneys-Secrets-Institute/dp/0743221133 is quite simply the best. I've made gallons of mango chutney(using bargain ripe mangoes from the market rather than green ones) which people seem to ooh and ahh over!
If you want to remove labels perfectly 'Sticky Stuff'
http://www.lakeland.co.uk/F/keyword/sticky stuff/product/8976 is fantastic.

I've started collecting different sized jars and using them to hold flowers, it makes a semi-coordinated display which I like (especially if you put in on a tray). I think that I read about it somewhere here or on Martha Stewart...

Squirrely, thanks for the comment about foodbanks- it made me search out more information about how foodbanks operate. I've definitely made too many "interesting" donations over the years.

I salvaged four good sized jars out of my fridge last night (except the bad salsa jar. I didn't even open that one.). I've always hated throwing away/recycling big glass jars but for some reason never quite made the connection to re-use. Duh!

Apart from my collection of jelly and other small jars, I find the use spaghetti sauce jars the most. One brand uses a Mason/Atlas type jar. Since, like others I frequently can't get the odors out of the lids, I buy the two-part Ball canning lids. I store all my dry goods this way.

Apparently they also sell plastic lids that provide a better seal.

We actually use those plastic lids. Not only do they provide a tight seal, but since they’re non-reactive, they work well for acidic foods.

putting some newspaper in the jar will usually get rid of any smells.

I use olive oil to remove the adhesive from the jars. Adhesive removers can be purchased also. As far as odour, I haven't had a problem -- I wash out the jars then fill them again with hot soapy water, then rinse them out a few days later.

I re-use my Hellmann's mayonnaise jars for baking ingredients, rices, snacks and bread crumbs. The mouth of the bottles is large enough to get a measure cup or large spoon inside. Plus, the identical jars and lids make the pantry look extra organized. I print clear labels on my computer to identify the contents.

I do keep a few small jars to use for homemade jam and chutney, but I don't have space to store lots of empty glass jars while waiting for the next round of jam-making. I recycle the rest.