Cleaning SU Background Stamps

[tractorchick03]

I have been using background stamps lately, but I have been having a difficult time figuring out the best way to clean them. Any suggestions??
They don't fit on my SU Cleaner pad
Thanks!!

[cardscrapperk]

I usually just lay mine face up and wipe them clean with baby wipes immediately after I use them. That works very well for me.

[Crafty Math Chick]

Yeah, they are tricky, I also turn mine rubber side up, spritz them with Stampin' Mist, scrub them as much as I can on the scrubber (not a lot of room), then flip them over and wipe the rest off/dry them with a moist paper towel. I have heard conflicting info. about baby wipes, whether the chemicals in them are good or bad for the rubber, and not all baby wipes contain the sme ingredients, etc. so I stick with a damn paper towel.

[Angelnorth]

My BGers are all CHF but the same principles apply! I stamp off as much excess ink as possible on scrap paper and then give it a really good rub with a baby wipe to remove anything that's left.

Originally Posted by Crafty Math Chick

I have heard conflicting info. about baby wipes, whether the chemicals in them are good or bad for the rubber, and not all baby wipes contain the sme ingredients, etc.

You need alcohol free baby wipes so you're not leaving alcohol residue which could dry out the rubber over time. The packs usually say "alcohol free" quite prominently on them because it's a selling point for parents who are concerned about what they put on delicate baby skin!

[deba]

Take m to the sink with stamp cleaner and old tooth brush scrub rinse and blot on towel.
Works for me.

[DeniseW]

Originally Posted by tractorchick03

I have been using background stamps lately, but I have been having a difficult time figuring out the best way to clean them. Any suggestions??
They don't fit on my SU Cleaner pad
Thanks!!

I use one of those electric scrubbers that rotate - just spritz with cleaner and spin the dirt off!

[11Valerie11]

I rinse them in the sink and dry them off - both mounted and unmounted.

[row4d]

Originally Posted by tractorchick03

They don't fit on my SU Cleaner pad

Mine do, with a bit of space for rubbing back and forth. That's the only thing I use for cleaning all my background stamps and they always clean up just fine.

[SCEmily]

Originally Posted by row4d

Mine do, with a bit of space for rubbing back and forth. That's the only thing I use for cleaning all my background stamps and they always clean up just fine.

Mine fit too. How old is your Stampin' Scrub? They redid it a couple of years ago, and made it a little bigger. The pads are still the same size, but there is more space on the sides so you can move around.

[row4d]

Originally Posted by SCEmily

Mine fit too. How old is your Stampin' Scrub? They redid it a couple of years ago, and made it a little bigger. The pads are still the same size, but there is more space on the sides so you can move around.

Mine's at least five years old, maybe more.

[buttons2]

I usually take mine to the bathroom sink, run water over them and brush with old toothbrush, the dry with towel. Seems to have worked for several years without any damage. HTH.

Wanda

[tractorchick03]

Thanks for all of the suggestions. Yes my scrubbing pad is at least 5 years old (not the inside). I will try the different ideas and see which works best! Thanks again!!!

[Mrs Noofy]

I use two of those paint edger gizmos. The ones used to cut in around the celling while painting a wall. They are usually red with a handle or some kind of knob and a fuzzy pad about 3" x 4". One to spritz with cleaner and one to dry. Got them at the dollar store.

[cat_woman]

Originally Posted by Crafty Math Chick

... I stick with a damn paper towel.

I use stamp cleaner and a baby brush over the bathroom sink, rinse and then let them dry on a damn paper towel too.

[Beate]

I bought refills for my Stampin' Scrub and kept the old ones to clean my background stamps. I spray Stampin' Mist directly on the background stamp and then use the old Stampin' Scrub pad to rub over the stamp. It works great!

[willsygirl]

I usually use a baby wipe...but if all else fails I will wash it at the sink and it comes out really clean - doesnt take long to dry either...

[jemur]

I take my pads out of the Stampin' Scrub case and use them that way.

[TexasGrammy]

Lots of varied ideas!

I lay a 'stampin' dishcloth (some are set aside for stamping) across the divider in my sink. Saturate it with warm water. Drag the background stamp across it several times until squeaky clean. Pat dry with no-lint towel.

(The best cloths for this seem to be those awesome crocheted cloths ... lots of nubbies to scrub the rubber!)

[Allistamps123]

Originally Posted by cardscrapperk

I usually just lay mine face up and wipe them clean with baby wipes immediately after I use them. That works very well for me.

ditto

[blest2bhere]

Originally Posted by cat_woman

I use stamp cleaner and a baby brush over the bathroom sink, rinse and then let them dry on a damn paper towel too.

I know the original was a typo, but it made me lol!
I spritz mine with plain water and wipe with a paper towel also. IMO, the stamping mists leave a residue on the stamps, and there's nothing cheaper than water!

[palominoblu]

I've used babywipes for the longest time - alcohol free, of course. Then, I switched to the old toothbrush technique, which I still use for the smaller stamps. I have taken the wood mounted ones over to the sink and washed them, but I have found the ink can run and stain the wood more. Of course, had I spray-sealed my wood mounts before using them...

Then I remembered an old battery operated facial gadget. Yup- stop laughing. It is too strong to use on my delicate and sensitive skin and I didn't want to throw it out, so I found another use for it! This one (bought at Walmart really cheap and has 2 speeds) comes with massage, sponge and brush attachments that just click in. I use the brush one for the stamps. I simply spray the stamps with whatever cleaner I have (UltraClean or Simple Green), then turn this thingy on and move it around. Yes, I'm still going to the sink, but the rotating brushes really get the teeny spots clean and is gentler and bigger than an old toothbrush. Works for me!

Heather M

[karrieg]

I did exactly what Beate did, when I ordered new pads for my scrubber I kept the old ones just for BG stamps.

Karrie G.

[jnsyr]

Originally Posted by Angelnorth

You need alcohol free baby wipes so you're not leaving alcohol residue which could dry out the rubber over time. The packs usually say "alcohol free" quite prominently on them because it's a selling point for parents who are concerned about what they put on delicate baby skin!

Actually, all baby wipes leave a residue. Alcohol is just drying, which is another reason to avoid them.

It really depends on what ink you are using. If dye ink, just wipe with a damp washcloth and save your cleaners. If pigment ink, a stamp cleaner like SU! Stampin' Mist is great.

A good method is to spray the background stamp directly, then rub off on a scrub pad. Don't be stingy with whatever you use.

Best of luck!

[RJP111]

Originally Posted by 11Valerie11

I rinse them in the sink and dry them off - both mounted and unmounted.

This is how I clean my BG stamps, too.

[ddeck]

In the paint department there is a tool for painting corners. It's shaped like a "V" with a handle. It has two pads. Works great!

[Stampin Granny]

Originally Posted by cat_woman

I use stamp cleaner and a baby brush over the bathroom sink, rinse and then let them dry on a damn paper towel too.

Soooo funny!
I just run water from the faucet over the dye inked stamps and it comes off great. Afterwards, I dry with a terry towel.

[dogzruleca]

CTMH has a new stamp scrubber; my demo used it at my last class. The cleaning side is raised so any stamp size works and the drying side comes out if your stamp is too big to fit. It is sort of a foam texture so it doesn't leave loose fibers on it like the old one and seems to clean nicely.

I have the old version and just remove the cleaning side if the stamp is too big. I use the things from the paint section for cleaning pigment inks and Stazon so they don't dirty up my good one that I use for my CTMH dye inks.

[bb&kk]

Originally Posted by Beate

I bought refills for my Stampin' Scrub and kept the old ones to clean my background stamps. I spray Stampin' Mist directly on the background stamp and then use the old Stampin' Scrub pad to rub over the stamp. It works great!

That's what I do too, at least I have that in common with an awesome stamper!

[jeanne3579]

Enjoyed the comments and laughed until I cried with the "damn paper towel" typo (it was, wasn't it?) Anyway, I have old towels that I selfishly guard as my cleaning rags for all stamps. I use a special cleaner called EZ Does It from the Goose Barn that I put on the old towel for Staz-on or any ink that I didn't wash off soon enough and just rub across the surface. I do the same thing for background stamps, but usually take the whole process to the sink, get my towel really wet, scrub the stamp and dry with another towel. I live in the high desert, so even if I get things a bit too wet, they dry quickly. I have removed both cleaning pads from the case (they fling an inky mess all over when I scrub over them) and replaced them with a wet towel and a dry towel (that I just throw in the wash when they get too grubby) and continue to use over and over after rinsing. I do like the soft tooth brush method for the tiny stubborn spots, though.

[kphorse]

Paint pads in the painting dept. of Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Lowes, etc...make an excellent cleaning scrubber for larger stamps as well as small ones...Wash in the top shelf of your dishwasher or with warm soapy water in the kitchen sink...

Yes, you can use any stamp cleaner on them also...

[GWTW Junkie]

I usually use a baby wipe and clean the brayer off at the same time. If it's really gunky I will run it under water, though, too. Like craft ink.