[header] How to make a message in a bottle [title] Remove the label (optional). [step] Most bottles will be covered by a label and you may want to remove that label so that your message in a bottle is not mistaken for trash. [substeps] To remove the label, place the bottle in hot water and let it sit for at least one hour. 
The hot water will loosen the glue on the label and make it easy for you to peel the label off. You may need to scrape some of the glue off of the bottle.