I have read in The National Begonia Society bulletin that bleach will clean up labels. Never tried it myself, but it might be worth a go?

If you have written the labels yourself, hijuju, then the lettering will be at the top end of the label. I now wash my old labels and then cut the top off. This leaves a shorter, but still useable label. [If anyone wants to buy some secondhand labels i have loads of them :-(].

Could you try nail varnish remover, it removes anything!!??

I use either nail varnish remover or meths. Meths if hubby isnt looking!

Funny you should say that Seabg. I often rake around OH's shed for the things I need.!!

It depends on what they have been written on with. I find Wire wool removes almost everything from the stiff white plastic labels. Bleach, makes them very brittle and Nail varnish remover melts them. Pencil rubs off with a bit of spit and a very rough thumb side.

If you have used a indelible/waterproof pen,you used to be able to buy a similar one in White,which erases or cover's over the black writing.Mine is now finished,so after washing the labels,I go over the writing with Tippex..either way,you can rewrite on them,or sometimes,I cross out the writing and do the other side..at least they last another year.

I dont find the nail varnish remover ruins the labels perhaps they are a different plastic to the ones you have Owd :o)

When I cant find either solvent i have just used a kitchen scourer pad, the green ones.

I use nail varnish remover to remove names on my labels and it works fine, Owd. As you say Sbg. it depends on the plastic. I suppose we all have our different methods.

Lots of interesting comments ..
I'm adding this question to
GoYpedia Plant Labels
... thanks to all who have contributed... :o)))

Have you tried astonish it's a paste it's for ovens and ceramic hobs but i use it for anything that is proving hard to move, try in the pound shops if not john lewis sell it just use a cloth no abrasive pads needed. Good luck

If you have indelible ink i scrape the surface top to bottom with a stanley knife,its easy but watch your fingers untill you get used to doing it, they come up like new,and it only takes seconds

Tell you something, those wooden stirers that you find in coffee shops are great, but you can only use them a couple of times, after all they only get thrown away by the shop.

I forgot I had bought some of that,Freddie,will give it a try..I got mine at the pound shop too.:o))

why not go to wilkos and spend 99p and buy some new ones

thanks for the ideas

Steveg. you have stolen all our fun!!! Lol.

but you dont get many for your money and it is much more fun to recycle :o)

I have a lot of fairly rigid 6" labels that I have just had the idea of painting with a coat of masonry paint. I washed and dried them first then gave a coat of paint on each side. The paint is hard and I can write on it in pencil or pen. I don't know how long the paint will last, but expect to get more than a years life out of them. The paint on the house wall lasts for years.