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I use both rubber and clear stamps, and since I use baby wipes most of the time to clean the rubber ones, I also use them for clear stamps. However, I'm finding I don't much like the way the stamps feel when they're cleaned. They have an unpleasant gummy or tacky feel to them and don't seem as clear as when they were new.
Are baby wipes just a bad idea for these stamps, and should I wash the ones I've already cleaned that way off with soap and water? How do you clean yours and keep them nice? Thanks!
__________________ Diana B
-We're all pretty bizarre. Some of us are just better at hiding it, that's all. ~John Hughes
I've been using baby wipes on my clear stamps for many years now and haven't had any issues. Most clear stamps will stain and you won't get them clear again. Every once in a while I'll wash my clear stamps in warm sudsy water, then let them air dry on a lint free piece of fabric (my old camera lens cloth).
I use Simple Green watered down on a cotton rag. If that doesnt work I up it to Judikins stamp cleaner or ultra clean. If yours feel tacky, I would do a gentle liquid soap and water and see if it helps. Is is multiple brands or just one? What ink? Stazon ink has it's own cleaner. To me, it's the strongest I have. I might use one of the others after as it feels oily to me.
I read all the time that the best quality clear stamps stain with use so that's a good thing.
Staz-On is not normally recommended for use on clear stamps! UltraClean is OK on them, and I think does just as good a job on pretty much everything.
Baby wipes are fine so long as they are alcohol free.
Some inks will stain no matter what cleaner you use; I see that as a bonus, makes them easier to see!
I started using the Absorber, a synthetic chamois, just moistened with water,and find it great. It doesn't leave any fibres as my baby wipes sometimes did, and feels more environmentally friendly; I just pop it in the wash each week.
Quote:
Originally Posted by wavejumper
I use Simple Green watered down on a cotton rag. If that doesnt work I up it to Judikins stamp cleaner or ultra clean. If yours feel tacky, I would do a gentle liquid soap and water and see if it helps. Is is multiple brands or just one? What ink? Stazon ink has it's own cleaner. To me, it's the strongest I have. I might use one of the others after as it feels oily to me.
I read all the time that the best quality clear stamps stain with use so that's a good thing.
Thank you for that correction about the Stazon! Yikes. Ignore what I said! Sorry!
I keep hearing experienced people recommend about the Absorber. If I wasnt recycling DHs old white tshirts as rags I would definitely look at that! Hmm..Maybe I will get one for my travel bag!
I believe it isn't the Staz On ink that isn't recommended, but rather the Staz On remover. I've used Staz On ink on my clear stamps with no issues. Actually, I've also used the remover with no issues either.
I stamp my stamps off on a wet wipe I get from WalMart. They are the WalMart brand and come in a 3 pack. I never had an issue and they are cheaper then baby wipes, and smaller.
I only use stamp cleaner if I'm useing a color that tends to really stain. I do keep a spritzer bottle of water handy if I need a little extra wetness.
Rubber Stamper's Bible (by Francoise Read) recommends having a small bowl of soapy water to drop them into after use. I've always used a few drops of dish soap in a cereal sized bowl, drop them in, clean them all up at the end. It keeps the cling happy, too.
__________________ If you don't want your tax dollars to help the poor, then stop saying you want a country based on Christian values, because you don't. ~ Jimmy Carter
I believe it isn't the Staz On ink that isn't recommended, but rather the Staz On remover. I've used Staz On ink on my clear stamps with no issues. Actually, I've also used the remover with no issues either.
Well yes, in the context of quoting wavejumper I was meaning StazOn cleaner which she referred to. Sorry, maybe if I'd been on the PC instead of my phone I'd have typed at a little more length.
I suspect it (the cleaner) probably isn't the best for stamps over time- when I first started stamping the ink - and consequently the cleaner - were what I most used (remember you're talking about virtually pre-internet days, we only had dial-up back then, so I had good reason to be ignorant), and some of my early clear stamps are definitely in poor condition. Maybe they would be anyway, 12 years later and more, but the same brand that I have only ever used baby wipes on are in significantly better condition.
Thank you all for your input. AlteNew's are the ones I'm having the most trouble with. I'm going to try washing the stamps in soapy water, and then use UltraClean in the future if I continue to have a problem. I really appreciate your input!
__________________ Diana B
-We're all pretty bizarre. Some of us are just better at hiding it, that's all. ~John Hughes
Don't worry jukie, you're amongst friends, lol. I rarely clean mine, just stamp them off. Figure if that's good enough for Tim & his stamps, it's good enough for me too.
I use an Absorber and water - it really cleans them well. I know everyone says UltraClean is okay on Photopolymer stamps, but I have my doubts long term because it has solvent qualities and solvents and PP don't mix.
But the absorber is my cleaner of choice on PP - baby wipes are too fuzzy and have gunk in them that isn't really ideal for rubber or pp, IMHO.
hmm...i have heard about staz on cleaner not being so good for clear stamps but, staz on is the only one that cleans off staz on ink!so...there's a dilemma!also wanted to say that altenew, as well a several other clear stamps have even when new, a sort of "sticky" feel, even with no ink. i just assumed it was the kind of stamp.
;
Thanks, Michelle, for the comparison of stamp cleaning methods - that was very helpful. Winzer, good to know it may just be the type of photopolymer that Altenew uses. It sounds like The Absorber is like the Lawn Faun shammy - I notice amazon even sells small Absorbers, so that might be a plan. Thanks again, ladies!
__________________ Diana B
-We're all pretty bizarre. Some of us are just better at hiding it, that's all. ~John Hughes
I usually stamp off, then use alcohol free baby wipe. Then if there are still little bits of ink in tiny crevices, I use a toothbrush with some Dawn detergent. I use this method on all stamps, more importantly I clean after using and don't leave them for ink to dry on the stamp. I guess that is why my stamps are all looking really good..I think I am one of those fussbudgets that likes to keep my tools clean.lol
I use the Absorber unless I'm using pigment ink; then I use a baby wipe and follow up with a toothbrush to get rid of the lint.
Ever so often, I will put my clear stamps in a colander and wash them with Dawn.
__________________ Linda E
Caution: You are entering an artistic zone. This is not clutter - this is creating. These are not pajamas - it's my work uniform.
Just got my hot pink Absorber from the auto department at WalMart. Less than $10. It's really big so I cut of a 10 x 10 piece.
I'm stamping samples for my sentiment catalog and using Tuxedo black dye ink. It gets that stuff off with one swipe...Very clean.
I expect that pigment inks will require a bit more, so I have the big SU scrubbing pad and Recollections liquid cleaner from Michaels.
Different brands of stamps will just feel different.
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I also use alcohol free baby wipes. I've noticed my SU pp become gummy and less clear. I'm never thought about the wipes doing this. I just thought it was
the SU pp. I have not noticed Lawn Fawn or even cheap $ pp doing this. I'm 90% SU and love the company. My newer SU pp don't seem to do this.
__________________ All I want is the chance to prove money won't make me happy!
Last edited by Allistamps123; 04-10-2016 at 06:30 PM..
A few years ago someone posted these recipes for cleaning stamps and they seem to work for me: Rubber - combine 1 part Simple Green and 9 parts water. Clear - combine 1 teaspoon baby shampoo, 3 teaspoons glycerin, and 8 ounces of distilled water. I put both in spray bottles.
Love the Stamp Shammy by Lawn Fawn. I use the back side for cleaning and scrub the stamps on a wet shammy backside AFTER I have used my awesome Stampin' Up stamp scrubber with the appropriate stamp cleaner for the right ink. I keep the shammy in a plastic open box slightly larger than the shammy so it can dry flat. You want to rinse it out with soap and water after you finish stamping and lay it flat. It is awesome and lint-free! I never use baby wipes now. Will look into the Absorber which sounds cheaper over the long haul!
Lawn Fawn Stamp Shammy. That thing is fabulous, awesome, everything good. I've all but been able to eliminate using baby wipes and stamp scrub and cleaners freeing up my crafting space and saving money. My photopolymer stamps do not stain anymore, even when using Versafine Black Onyx, which is some pretty powerful ink. The Stamp Shammy is very inexpensive, cost effective, I can't say enough good things about this great new product.
Love the Stamp Shammy by Lawn Fawn. I use the back side for cleaning and scrub the stamps on a wet shammy backside AFTER I have used my awesome Stampin' Up stamp scrubber with the appropriate stamp cleaner for the right ink. I keep the shammy in a plastic open box slightly larger than the shammy so it can dry flat. You want to rinse it out with soap and water after you finish stamping and lay it flat. It is awesome and lint-free! I never use baby wipes now. Will look into the Absorber which sounds cheaper over the long haul!
I didn't know that you could use soap on the Stamp Shammy. I will have to check into that on Lawn Fawn's video. Thank you for the tip.
I've been using baby wipes for years on stamps - a stamp scrubber for years as well, for when things don't get clean enough with just the baby wipe. As for lint, and the occasional dog hair, a wipe on my jeans usually takes care of that. (oh, c'mon, I can't be the only one who does that!!!) I have used a microfiber for some things, but am not all that impressed...will look into the absorber idea...
__________________ The future is uncertain, because love changes everything!
I'd be surprised if you couldn't. From what Lydia said after it was shown at CHA, the Lawn Fawn is similar to the Absorber only cute ;-) and already suitable size. And I put my Absorber in the washing machine with regular household wash once a week; it's still as good as day one in terms of cleaning function.
Quote:
Originally Posted by KY Southern Belle
I didn't know that you could use soap on the Stamp Shammy. I will have to check into that on Lawn Fawn's video. Thank you for the tip.
I'd be surprised if you couldn't. From what Lydia said after it was shown at CHA, the Lawn Fawn is similar to the Absorber only cute ;-) and already suitable size. And I put my Absorber in the washing machine with regular household wash once a week; it's still as good as day one in terms of cleaning function.
The Absorber is also 27" by 15" vs. 7" by 5" and only $3 more for something you could cut three or four stamp cleaning cloths the size of the Stamp Shammy from. (Plus you wouldn't be aiding and abetting a company that can't be bothered to spell "chamois" correctly! :grin::grin::grin: )
__________________ Diana B
-We're all pretty bizarre. Some of us are just better at hiding it, that's all. ~John Hughes
I use an Absorber and water - it really cleans them well. ....
Same here! I got a big one and cut it into 8 pieces. I love it, just some water and you're good to go. If the ink looks like it'll give me trouble coming off, I use SU's stampin' mist and scrubby pad, then go over with the Absorber. It makes the clear stamps feel nice and clean to me.
I stamp off the ink then place the stamp on an old t-shirt piece,spray with a little water, then wipe off. Don't use paper towels, the fibers stick to the stamp. Every once in a while, i'll clean it on the Stampin Scrub pad with stamp cleaner/conditioner. If it starts loosing stickiness and not taking ink, I have a small spray bottle with rubbing alcohol--spray stamp well and clean with old t-shirt, then condition again. This is what I recommend! Please show your stamps some love, take care of them by cleaning them each time you use them! And do not use baby wipes!
The Absorber is also 27" by 15" vs. 7" by 5" and only $3 more for something you could cut three or four stamp cleaning cloths the size of the Stamp Shammy from. (Plus you wouldn't be aiding and abetting a company that can't be bothered to spell "chamois" correctly! :grin::grin::grin: )
Yes, but what will we do about the people who pronounce "chamois" incorrectly?
The Francophile in me cringes whenever I see this word.
I use Simple Green watered down on a cotton rag. If that doesnt work I up it to Judikins stamp cleaner or ultra clean. If yours feel tacky, I would do a gentle liquid soap and water and see if it helps. Is is multiple brands or just one? What ink? Stazon ink has it's own cleaner. To me, it's the strongest I have. I might use one of the others after as it feels oily to me.
I read all the time that the best quality clear stamps stain with use so that's a good thing.
That's a great product but if you are using Simple Green instead of Simple Green extreme then rinse after cleaning. That's what the company told me when I asked. There is Simple Green Extreme, the only product I have found that is specifically made for rubber, acrylic, plastics and metals in airplanes. Perfect for anything in the craft room. When in doubt, ask the company for an MSDS sheet- material safety data sheet that will tell you what is in the product. By law they have to comply. Judikins is the only product that did not comply with my request. Even SU cleaner has ether in it. It will shock you what they put in these products. If you won't put it on your car tires, you may not want it for your stamps either.
I stopped using Stazon ink several years ago except in rare cases as I didn't trust the cleaner to be safe for my stamps and I don't like stained stamps or the possibility of ink transferring to my ink pads. Some of my older stamps that I used with Stazon ink/cleaner are now "stiff". I have several stamp cleaners, but don't use them anymore. I off-stamp then use only water on my SU cleaner pad to scrub the stamp and dry it immediately after each use. I avoid using inks that permanently stain my stamps. I use Memento and Versafine blacks and SU Colors.
If you want quality, true photopolymer stamps, look for the "made in USA" declaration. Most PP or acrylic stamps may have a coating on them when you receive them as a release agent (maybe this reacts with the stamp cleaner?) was likely used to help remove the stamps from the mold. I use a Magic Rub eraser and lightly drag the flat side of the eraser across stamp a couple times when it is new to help remove the coating and get a sharper image.
I am going to check out the "Absorber". All your good reports intrigue me!
Thank you Stiz. I never heard of Simple Green Extreme. I had been told SG conditions the rubber as well as clean it. It does seem to. Sometimes if I get a stiff rubber stamp from ebay I will spray it with SG and let it stand for awhile...and it often softens up.
Darn-I had the chance to get the LF one on sale the other day. Well it will happen again.
Thank you Stiz. I never heard of Simple Green Extreme. I had been told SG conditions the rubber as well as clean it. It does seem to. Sometimes if I get a stiff rubber stamp from ebay I will spray it with SG and let it stand for awhile...and it often softens up.
Darn-I had the chance to get the LF one on sale the other day. Well it will happen again.
I used that too for the longest time when a stamp store was using it. Having learned to be skeptical, I emailed the company. I received an immediate and courteous reply. I would not hesitate to use their product. Simple Green Extreme can be purchased on Amazon. It was 15.00 at the time I got it and is a concentrate too. And I SO agree- it did condition the stamp- even rock hard white ones. At least it was enough to use it.
How do you clean clear stamps?
