How to clean a stamp ON the MISTI

[Oddesigns]

I know there's a ton of discussions about how to clean a MISTI. I'm curious how everyone cleans a stamp on the MISTI when you are switching ink colors but don't want to move the stamp.

I usually clean my stamps with a scrubbing pad, and when I'm using the MISTI I transfer the stamps to a block before cleaning them. Clearly that won't work.

[UnderstandBlue]

Oh I just clean them with an Absorber right on the lid.

[Oddesigns]

Is the Absorber an accessory I was supposed to buy with the MISTI? Oops.

[UnderstandBlue]

Oh my gosh no! I got mine on Amazon - and I love the Lawn Fawn one the most!!

[bjeans]

Mostly I use a Stamp Shammy, sometimes a Costco baby wipe (no bits left, can purchase on line; Amazon carries them). I clean them on the lid too.

If the ink is tough I might spritz on a little Hero Arts Ultra Clean. I haven't read whether it's safe, but so far no damage, fogging, etc.


Sometimes I dry it and/or the stamps with a small micro fiber towel, or just wait to put the stamp in its pocket until dry, sticking the stamp on top of the pocket or on it's index sheet without the cover sheet.

[Oddesigns]

I take a year or so off and next thing I know - there's all sorts of new products. MISTI! Shammy! What else?

Seriously, I kinda hate the scrubbing pads anyway, and they don't work on the MISTI so I'll try a shammy.

[Mrs Noofy]

I use a baby wipe. If it is gentle enough for a baby's behind...it's good enough for my Misti. LOL

[buggainok]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrs Noofy

I use a baby wipe. If it is gentle enough for a baby's behind...it's good enough for my Misti. LOL

Me, too. That's how I clean all my stamps, on or off the Misti. I am not fussy about having pristine stamps. I don't care how they look, if they stamp well.


Most of my stamps are clear, and if they are a little stained, it's easier to see what they are when I'm picking them out.

[UnderstandBlue]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oddesigns

I take a year or so off and next thing I know - there's all sorts of new products. MISTI! Shammy! What else?

Seriously, I kinda hate the scrubbing pads anyway, and they don't work on the MISTI so I'll try a shammy.

The great thing about the shammys is they don't transfer lint (baby wipes do to photopolymer) and they remove existing lint really well so you get a cleaner image. Photopolymer is a cat hair/dust/lint magnet.

[UnderstandBlue]

Quote:

Originally Posted by buggainok

Me, too. That's how I clean all my stamps, on or off the Misti. I am not fussy about having pristine stamps. I don't care how they look, if they stamp well.


Most of my stamps are clear, and if they are a little stained, it's easier to see what they are when I'm picking them out.

AMEN

[bjeans]

Quote:

Originally Posted by UnderstandBlue

The great thing about the shammys is they don't transfer lint (baby wipes do to photopolymer) and they remove existing lint really well so you get a cleaner image. Photopolymer is a cat hair/dust/lint magnet.

If you mean lint from baby wipes, Kirkland (Costco) babywipes are lint free - not to encourage use of disposable products.

Three cats here, one who sheds enough to make another cat every third day. But fur and lint don't jump onto my stamps, maybe because the sheddingist cat rarely is in the craft room. They also are all quite senior so can't jump up onto my tables. (Don't worry, we bought steps so they can get onto the bed and higher up in other parts of the house.)

Stamps are in pockets and aren't left out for more than a the time it takes them to dry after being wiped or shammied. (But I bet dollars to donuts when I go to my craft room next I'll find cat hair on a stamp.)

[muscrat]

I use baby wipes, but they've changed something in the brand I used to buy and I get too much lint. Where can I buy a shammy and what brand should I look for? I shop brick and mortar stores. I've seen some in automotive but I want to be sure I get the right thing

[bjeans]

Quote:

Originally Posted by muscrat

I use baby wipes, but they've changed something in the brand I used to buy and I get too much lint. Where can I buy a shammy and what brand should I look for? I shop brick and mortar stores. I've seen some in automotive but I want to be sure I get the right thing

Kathy, the one to look for in automotive departments is The Absorber. It's large but you can cut it to the size you want.


And if you do want to occasionally use baby wipes, Kirklands (Costco's brand) doesn't leave lint, in case you're near a Costco.


(In case someone else wants them, they are available on line, including through Amazon.)

[muscrat]

Thanks! I'll look for the absorber. We don't have a Costco.

[lynkim]

I found the Absorber in Walmart and they also had a cheaper type, which I bought, but haven't tried yet!

[amysings]

I bought the generic Absorber at Walmart and cut it into smallish pieces. Works great. I started out using microfiber cloths that I have cut into quarters, and I now use both. I keep them (damp) in one of my old stamp containers, and they are always ready for me! When they are dirty, I just toss them in with the laundry.

I use Costco wipes first if I've been stamping with a lot of red family inks, because they sometimes spread to other stamps from my cleaning cloths.

[mshatzma]

Baby wipes stopped working for me when they all went alcohol free. I picked up a Wet Ones "big ones" tub of hand wipes, they are extra large and extra thick. Wow, gets everything off, including the dried up bits of tack on my blotter. I clean stamp right on misti

[vestamc]

Need to get to Wally World for an absorber. Close to My heart has a nice small stamp scrubber for stubborn ink too.

[floridaperson]

I use the baby wipes from BJ's and have no problem with lint. I also use a chamois. Cat hair doesn't affect my stamps, but I do occasionally get it in my stamp pad. I wonder what would happen if you cut up SU's scrubber?

[gramkar5]

When using the absorber to clean the stamps on the misti do you just use water or put a stamp cleaner on the absorber?

[floridaperson]

water

[amysings]

Just water.

[susie718]

I love the Lawn Fawn Shammy! I've been using a Stampin' Up stamp scrubber since I began stamping about 15 years ago, and I can't believe how much better I like the Shammy. It's soft and leaves the stamps cleaner. I still use the scrubber if I have ink clinging deep in the stamp.

[lharnish]

I spray a squirt of my homemade stamp cleaner right on the stamp on the Misti (but I have the layer of clear acrylic cling film on mine so it isn't touching the actual Misti). If it is a detailed stamp, I will give it a quick wipe with my CTMH brush and then stamp the stamp on a wet piece of the Absorber until it is stamping clear. Works great.

[ShariW]

I use Kirkland baby wipes and then I use a dry stamp scrubber that I've cut into 4 pieces to clean my stamps if I'm not taking them off of the MISTI. I also use a microfiber cloth sometimes to dry off the stamp before reining. When I do take them off, I clean them with the baby wipe, transfer to a block and finish cleaning them under water with a stamp cleaner and a tooth brush.

[TexasGrammy]

I unabashedly adore the Absorber!
No chemicals required, keep it at hand for all stampin' action.
SO reusable for a very long time. Mine are stained & ugly, but it's a stampy-crafty "ugly" that a stamper can appreciate. ;)

[ilinacrouse]

I use Costco baby wipes (Kirkland), but now I am switching to the Absorber and thanks to Lydia to the ColorBox cleaning pad that is sold actually on the My Sweet Petunia website.

[TexasGrammy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilinacrouse

I use Costco baby wipes (Kirkland), but now I am switching to the Absorber and thanks to Lydia to the ColorBox cleaning pad that is sold actually on the My Sweet Petunia website.

I love the Absorber for cleaning stamps on the Misti! If you want to change colors, or if the stamp got over-inked (as happens in classes), it's a snap to clean it & go again! Sure wish I had thought of that! LOL

[Oddesigns]

I've been using an absorber (chamois) since shortly after I posted this thread, and I'm absolutely thrilled with it. I had my husband cut it into 4 pieces, but I've only been using one of those so far.

My stamps come clean - no problem. My scrubber never really seemed to clean the stamp completely, even if I cleaned the scrubber regularly. The absorber cleans it so much better. I'm glad I started this topic.