STAMP SHAMMY QUESTION

[sadiejane929]

Has any one else noticed an odor to their stamp shammy? Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can make it smell better? I have washed it in dish detergent and let it air dry but, as soon as I wet it again, it smells. :(

[UnderstandBlue]

If you do not let them dry out each time you use them, they can get funky. I keep mine in a pop saver while using but then let them dry flat at the end of the session.

Throw it in the washing machine with your laundry to get the funk out. Do NOT ever put rubbing alcohol on one - ask me how I know

[bjeans]

I toss it in the washing machine once in a while with my inky microfiber cloths. And I let it air dry between uses if it will be on different days. I just toss it on my craft mat, flat or semi-crumpled.

I happen to use Tide Free, which is unscented. I use the HE version for low-suds machines but I think it comes in regular too.

[Scrapjanny]

I wash it out with dishwashing liquid when it starts to smell a little.

[jukie]

Vinegar added to you wash will help get the smell out of it, along with any towels that get all funky if they have been wet to long.

[stampin stacy]

Beware of using vinegar in your laundry if you live in fire ant country, trust me :?

[UnderstandBlue]

Quote:

Originally Posted by stampin stacy

Beware of using vinegar in your laundry if you live in fire ant country, trust me :?

Wait - I live in fire ant country - why?

[lovetostamp3]

And Lydia, I want to know about the alcohol! This is getting interesting....all because of a stamp shammy!!!

[Catscrap216]

So far, my LF Stamp Shammy isn't smelly at all. It dries very easily since I live in the desert so I re-wet a lot. I didn't know you could throw it in the washer. Good tip Bjeans.

[stampin stacy]

The lil varmints love it. Anytime I use vinegar to clean they show up in my house: be up thru the drain or crawling all over everything in my linen closet-twice.

I am curious, I got the aqua shammy that comes wet, do I need to dry it out between uses? Doesn't smell yet, but I'd prefer to be proactive and avoid mold & mildew if I can.

[TLady]

According to Jennifer McGuire, the stamp shammy HAS TO BE left out to dry, DON'T enclose it with a lid on the container you keep it in, or IT WILL SMELL!!! I just keep a small disposable food container on my desk that I toss mine in. I TRY to toss it in when done so it is more spread out, to dry, but I don't think it really matters. I only use the lid when I go out to stamp, enclosing it so I won't loose the shammy.... & when I come home, I open up the container right away.... I've had mine for sometime & done this the whole time I've had mine, & it doesn't smell yet. I just wet it again & wring it out & start again.... The only thing I've used on mine other than water, is Simple Green; & that has been fine with it too. I think the Simple Green has actually helped to remove some of the ink that has been on it. So, a plus there for Simple Green! ;)

[smadson]

Ok, I give up. What is a stamp shammy? I been around for a while, but never heard of this.

[ladyofcards]

Oh dear, I haven't had mine long but have kept it in a plastic bag. I thought it was to remain damp! I better go down to my craft area and smell it!

[smadson]

Ok, I do have one, and like ladyofcards was keeping it in a ziplock bag to keep it wet like we do our car shammys which I thought it was. lOL

[UnderstandBlue]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lovetostamp3

And Lydia, I want to know about the alcohol! This is getting interesting....all because of a stamp shammy!!!

I had this pretty magenta one, and I left it in the Pop Savor and it got funky - so I thought alcohol would take the mildew out. It completely messed up the structure of the shammy - it crumpled up and shrank and got all knobbly - I never could reverse the damage!


RIP, pretty pink shammy.

[UnderstandBlue]

Quote:

Originally Posted by stampin stacy

The lil varmints love it. Anytime I use vinegar to clean they show up in my house: be up thru the drain or crawling all over everything in my linen closet-twice.

I am curious, I got the aqua shammy that comes wet, do I need to dry it out between uses? Doesn't smell yet, but I'd prefer to be proactive and avoid mold & mildew if I can.

Oh my gosh that explains an incident last year - who knew??


Yes - dry it out between uses.

[LemurLover]

Quote:

Originally Posted by smadson

Ok, I give up. What is a stamp shammy? I been around for a while, but never heard of this.

Here's a link to one: https://www.amazon.com/Lawn-Fawn-Stamp-Shammy-Water/


However,pretty as it is, it's expensive for the square inches. A better idea is to get the Absorber: https://www.amazon.com/Absorber-Synt...amois-Natural/ It's a lot larger, so you can cut the equivalent of several Stamp Shammys out of it, and it comes in a bunch of colors. It's a way better buy and just as effective in cleaning stamps.

[Cricketeer]

Interesting... I've been using my Absorber (well, an eighth of it) for at least six months and keep it in an old sandwich sized plastic container. When I think of it every couple of weeks or so, I throw it in with whatever laundry I happen to be doing. No funky smell here!

[Soozie4Him]

I have a Stamp Shammy, but I prefer the Absorber, because you get enough (cut it up) to last a lifetime! Anything that you wet with tap water and seal up will smell bad before long. I keep mine in a Faber-Castell Watercolor Cup (just keep it in any small plastic container with no lid) and I let it dry out between uses.

The great thing about these is that they clean your stamps GREAT, and they get inky, but they don't transfer the ink to your hands. They do stain, but that's okay!! I use them at Stamp Camps now too, and my customers are starting to like them too.

[sadiejane929]

Thank you so much for the great advice. I did take it to a swap, sealed it up while it was still damp to transport it home, and then forgot about it. I will try throwing it in the next load of laundry to see if that helps.

[smadson]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LemurLover

Here's a link to one: https://www.amazon.com/Lawn-Fawn-Stamp-Shammy-Water/


However,pretty as it is, it's expensive for the square inches. A better idea is to get the Absorber: https://www.amazon.com/Absorber-Synt...amois-Natural/ It's a lot larger, so you can cut the equivalent of several Stamp Shammys out of it, and it comes in a bunch of colors. It's a way better buy and just as effective in cleaning stamps.

Neither one of these links work for me. Thank you.

[bjeans]

Quote:

Originally Posted by smadson

Neither one of these links work for me. Thank you.

There are quite a few choices, so rather than steering you to just one option for a Stamp Shammy or Absorber, if you go to amazon.com and type "stamp shammy" in the search box, several options will come up. One is a little more expensive but includes free shipping if you're a Prime member, one a little less $$ but you pay shipping, etc.

Same with the Absorber - you'll see larger ones and smaller ones at different prices.

Enjoy!

[Brenda71]

I keep my section of Absorber on one of the trays used for embossing powder (the ones with the spout on one end). This way I can set it down wherever and not worry about water damage to anything. And it dries nicely in there between uses.

[gregzgurl]

I have a wire basket hanging on my pegboard that I drape the Absorber over the edge of - while I'm using it and to dry when I'm done. I also toss it in the laundry periodically with the jeans. For whatever reason, it still smelled with dish soap, but never does with laundry soap...

[Catscrap216]

Just put the Absorber on my Amazon Wish List. Thanks for the tip.

[Iluvcards]

When putting it in with your laundry doesn't the ink get on your clothes?

[stampin stacy]

I cut a piece my Absorber to fit a travel size baby wipe container, guess I'll start leaving it open to dry in between uses.

The rest of it I'm not sure about, it's still "wet" in the original packaging but I have not used tap water only what was already on/in it. Then again it has been opened and exposed to the air. Doubt it will fit back into the lil canister once dry though.


Dang it takes such little space as is.... not to mention I'm afraid hubby will find it. If that happens it will probably accidentally migrate to the garage.

[UnderstandBlue]

Quote:

Originally Posted by stampin stacy

Dang it takes such little space as is.... not to mention I'm afraid hubby will find it. If that happens it will probably accidentally migrate to the garage.

:lol::lol::lol:

[muscrat]

I bought a pretty purple absorber at Walmart and cut it into 8 squares. I gave two squares to my stamping buddies and I still have plenty. I store mine in a plastic bag when crafting and then let it dry out. It does get a funky smell in the baggie.

[TLady]

If you'll notice, those of you that have the Lawn Fawn Shammy, it isn't like the regular shammy's out there. It is synthetic, a more rubber feel to it---so it won't leave fuzzy behind on our stamps. I put the ones on Amazon in my wish list too, so I will have more of them later when needed.... ;)

[muscrat]

The absorber feels rubbery and doesn't leave fuzzies either. I think I paid $10 for it but got 8 squares out of it.

[bjeans]

Real shammy cloth is leather. I remember my father using it on our cars. : )

I hadn't heard about the Absorber back when I got my Stamp Shammy, but I have the feeling my Stamp Shammy will last longer than I will. (And I don't really mind paying my LSS and Lawn Fawn for it.)

[Jana 25]

I also picked up the Absorber at Walmart and cut a piece approx. 8 x 6. I store mine in a photo case, 4 x 6 size. Many times I just leave the top open and use it like a stamp scrub pad. Sometimes it dries out if I don't stamp for awhile but I rewet and fold in half and store it in the photo case on the shelf with my inks. Yes, it gets funny smell but rinse out with hand soap and back to normal. Cleans stamps quickly, leaves no fuzzies! Many Thanks to SCS for sharing!!

[TLady]

I'll have to have my hubby look for the "Absorber" at Walmart next time he goes in. ;) Luckily, I don't have to do the shopping anymore, unless I want too go along! LOL

Something else that Jennifer McGuire does, she just squirts her shammy to rewet it, when she goes to use it. ;)

[partyof5_123]

I use a synthetic chamois cloth that I got from Harbor Freight Tools with a coupon. It feels rubbery - I think it's intended for hand drying cars. Doesn't leave lint on the stamps and 99% of the time gets all the ink off the stamp too.

[LYP]

LOVE my Absorber! Cut it into sections. Cleans my stamps better than anything I've ever used. I lay mine on an empty clear mount stamp case from SU to keep my work space dry and just let it dry out when I'm finished. If I'm traveling, the dry Absorber goes in the case.

[gregzgurl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iluvcards

When putting it in with your laundry doesn't the ink get on your clothes?

Nope. I throw it in with the jeans because it seemed like the most logical thing, but I've never noticed any ink anywhere it wasn't supposed to be. If you're concerned, you could always toss in one of those "color collector" sheets...

[staceylovespaper]

I got my absorber from Meijer, well my second one. The first one I got was a red, then I saw a blue one and had to have it!! I use the red one to clean stuff now. I cut mine down into sandwich container-sized squares. I keep them stacked in a Sistema container, but don't lock down the lid. I pull out the top one and let it sit on top of the container so I don't lose it while working or get anything wet. After I am done (and if I remember) it goes to the bottom of the pile, if I forget then it just dries out and goes to the laundry room. Once they are all dirty I throw them in the washer with all my cleaning rags. I have not noticed any odor as of yet
Most of my cleaning rags are white flour-sack towels and I have not noticed any color transfer.

[TLady]

Here's a question for you all: What isle is the "Absorber" in at Walmart? Anyone know? LOL I'm afraid I won't be able to find them. ;) (Car area? Paper towel area? Chemical Cleaning area?) THANK LADIES! ;)

[Annecards]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TLady

Here's a question for you all: What isle is the "Absorber" in at Walmart? Anyone know? LOL I'm afraid I won't be able to find them. ;) (Car area? Paper towel area? Chemical Cleaning area?) THANK LADIES! ;)

They're usually in the automotive area, located around the wax and auto cleaning products I think.