Plant Label Cleaning

[kathyd]

I find a glass of wine helps a lot

[Moopmoop]

I'm with twosheds, I use a rubber, it also removes biro too. I only discovered it this year but it seems obvious now, especially with the pencil.

[Two_Sheds]

Buy a new pack, ...Must cost as much in materials to clean the old ones.

That's not a sustainable/responsible attitude though *smacks Kirk's hand with a ruler*


We should be reusing, not dumping old stuff in landfill because we're too lazy to clean things

[PyreneesPlot]

Buy a new pack, only £1 for 50, and they give you a new pencil to make a mess on the new ones.
Must cost as much in materials to clean the old ones.

Naughty! Remember your three Rs...

I use water, a (washable) cloth and then a rubber. Cheaper than a new packet although I do snap quite a few with over enthusiastic rubbering.

Yes and little and often, just like pots. She says, looking a pile of pots in a bucket with a load of labels that have been there since November

[sally fran]

I use red chinagraph on the smooth side which I can scrape off with a fingernail - but not if it's on the rough side. Having said that, i don't need to clean off the writing that often because my variety turnover is still quite low so I just reuse them. One day I'm sure I'll be more adventurous and try all sorts, but for now I'm still getting to grips with the basics!

[Rhona]

I'm just putting the plastic ones through the dishwasher. Also use plain wooden ice lolly sticks saved through the year which we then break up and compost/burn.

[PyreneesPlot]

But thanks for the reminder - I have now cleaned all my labels. And I remembered that I don't rub out the pencil until I use them in case I can re-use the same one.

Next time they are going through the dishwasher...

[Alison]

Buy a new pack, only £1 for 50, and they give you a new pencil to make a mess on the new ones.
Must cost as much in materials to clean the old ones.

I'm using the same block of magic rubber that I bought about 5 years ago, can't remember how much it cost but it wasn't that much from the likes of Wilkos and regardless of the fact that I hate to throw away perfectly serviceable goods I get though a few hundred of the things every year so it's amazing how the cost can add up. I use the same chinograph pencil as I've been using for years too so have no need for a new (lower quality) pencil either.

[taff]

I have some smooth plastic ones that I use pencil on, they rub off easily with water and a thumb. The pencil stays on till I rub it off too. I think they were from Wilkos.

[BUFFS]

i found that ASTONISH quick and easy...

[chris]

I just bleach mine - then wipe with a cloth - works well for me..

[Likac66]

I use a rubber. It rubs off pencil marks on the rough side of the label without any problem.

[Speed Gardener]

I find that the white plastic labels go brittle after a year exposed to the elements so many don't last long. However, I've accumulated so many that I've got them sorted into veggie types so it's a bit easier to find the ones you want, plus it saves having to rewrite them every year.
For use out of the allotment, I use large wooden ones I bought from Wikos (10 for a pound) painted with white gloss. These never wear out and get scrubbed or painted over each year. Plus I can't lose them as they're so big!

[Sylvan]

I was about to say Astonish from the pound shop - same principle as Cif/Jif.
But the best idea I've ever seen is chalk pen on the plant pot a la Zazen. So this year I've pinched that idea

Sounds like a good idea. That way they can't go astray. What is chalk pen please?

[Aberdeenplotter]

liquid chalk in a pen. Fleabay have them

1 WHITE NEON FLUORESCENT LIQUID CHALK MARKER BLACKBOARD MENU GLASS WINDOWS PENS | eBay