Cleaning Stamps

[ShayMac]

Hi again,

Wondering if there are any tips for cleaning stamps when you don't own a stamp scrubber or cleaning solution yet.

I have a good tip about using baby wipes, just thought I'd check about any others.

Thanks again!

[stampin8mom]

When I first started stamping, I just used a wet paper towel or washcloth. Now, though, I mostly use craft inks and StazOn, so I use baby wipes for the craft ink and StazOn cleaner for the SO.

I also use a paint pad refill (oh so cheap!) to dry my stamps on. Gets in the little crevices that a babywipe can't reach.

You could also do a search here in the forums for "cleaning stamps." I know this topic has been adressed alot.

Kathy

[Julie1]

I used alcohol free baby wipes until I got my SU stamp scrub and cleaner. I love this thing it really gets every bit of the stamp clean. HTH.

Julie

[laurakj]

I use the paint pads too. You have to be careful though, they do tend to shed after a while.

[ShayMac]

Wow - love the paint pad idea!!!

Thanks again for all teh tips and ideas

[Sherry A]

I use baby wipes and for stubourn stamps and craft inks I use the cleaner spray on the stamp and then use an electric toothbrush. Works great. I think I got this hint from SCS.

Sherry A

[ninatar]

I love my SU! stamp scrub - but have been known, when using pigment inks, to get out the "Dawn Foam" That stuff is strong and will irritate your hands. But if you want something clean, it is good stuff.

[StampinMeHappy]

Thanks for all these ideas!

What kind of paint pad? A flat one?

[stampin8mom]

Yes, a flat paint pad. I find mine in the paint section at w*lm*rt. They're fuzzy like the SU stamp scrubber, but not as big. And they don't come in a nice container like SU, but I just put mine on a plastic plate.

[nvscrapmom]

I have used a denture brush I got a the dollar store to scrub my stamps.

[Lisa Lisa]

Man... I like my scrubber.... its great!

[suchaladie]

I use my SU cleaner and scrubber......It really works...especially for getting alot of the black ink off of stamps

[AZShann]

I have the SU scrubber and solution I use in my scrap room. For the stamps with a lot of crevices, I use a toothbrush and a cheap paint scrubber (paint section of WalMart or Home Depot). I also use baby wipes when I use white or vanilla so it doesn't make my pad all white and always use the baby wipes on my foam stamps.

[imataloss]

Before I had my scrubber, I too used alcohol free bby wipes. Love my scrubber!

[kphorse]

Having tried some other inks besides SU, i had black and blue left on a couple of my stamps. I read on StampTlk about Awsome from the $$ store. I mixed it 1/3 Awsome with 2/3 water, used an old nail brush and the ink came off! Then i made the SCS stamp cleaner, and re-did the stamps to make sure they were conditioned.

Baby wipes have got to be the best invention of the century. You all have the best ideas and are so great to share them with everyone here!

Thanks - Karen
Karen

[greetingsbydebra]

Sometimes I use baby wipes, but mostly I use a stamping towel and a dauber top cleaner. You can buy dauber tops that you screw on the top of bottles. You can use whatever cleaner you like that way.

[tamba1]

Hi I have a few ideas for you

Suggestion1 :
Not sure how you currently do this before I tried it I never did this either ..but a good approach is to always "stamp off".

Basically this is pressing/dabbing almost wiping your rubber stamp on scrap paper as soon as you have finished stamping you do this till hardly any more ink comes off. there are 2 reasons this is great

1. You will have less messy ink to clean off your stamps

2. You can make some FAB backgrounds

Once you have got rid of the excess ink you can simply dab dab or wipe the stamp onto a wet/damp not sodding towel on a tray or plate .. then simply dry it off by dabbing on another cloth ( preferably lint free so you dont get bits stuck on yoru stamp, umm dont ask me how I found this out !!!!) to be honest I use paper towels and hubby tells me off ( sometimes I think he thinks they are not for using, when I get "the look" as I am about to use my umpteenth piece ) he he

Anyway If you follow the above steps you SHOULD find that WATER will be all you need for most of your stamping..

Once you get the hang of doing this it will become "second nature" trust me it was for me ..it takes MUCH longer to write this or read this than it does to STAMP OFF :-)

Suggestion 2
- Do you have any Simple Green Cleaning product at home ? I think it comes from the US I got mine from QVC as I live in the UK.. It is a great non toxi enviro friendly multipurpose cleaning product..

To clean my stamps I use this in a small spray/spritzer bottle a ratio of 3 water to 1 Simple Green..

At first I tried spritzin the stamp with the mix but just got wet and messy , so now I have 2 paint pads form a DIY store they are approx 5 inches wide and about 8inches long. One is in an old Babywipe box and one I just keep onmy desk. You can get way with one and only wet half of it if you prefer.. If you dont want to buy thes you can use and old flannel too

The one in babywipe box I spritz with the solution then smoosh it around on the pad rubbing fairly hard but not too hard to damage it.. then when finished swooshing I dry it off on the dry pad, its great coz the bristles getin all the small gaps. If necc you can sprits the stamp with water after to make sure hter is no residue left on it, though i rarely do this and have not had a problem with my stamps...

Mind you whatever option you choose its not a bad idea to use a conditioning stamp cleaner every now and then to help keep your stamps in tip top condition.

As a rule of thumb - I woudl say use Stamp Off and Water most of the time and Simple green when you need it .. It even works on permanent ink if you clean them before it dries on your stamp...

Suggestion 3

I also use Alcohol Free babywipes - and I find them doubly handy if I forget to stamp off..


Suggestion 4 REALLY DIRTY STAMPS

This is when you haev used them in Paints etc I woudl tend to use an old toothbrush.. I read the otehr day someone used their old electric toothbrush and said it was FAB at cleaning in all the nooks and crannies of a stamp.. So if you have one you may want to try that,, Some companies make ones with detachable heads - if you have one of these you could buy a head just for your stamping ...

Suggestion 5
Don't quote me on this but I think some people use glass cleaner solution too Windex - I'm sure if you do a google search you will find more on that

If none of the above are what you are after have a look at this link - I haev not tried washing up liquid personall but it is siggested in here ( Dishsoap)
http://rubberstampstore.com/webpost/....html#P3506.11



Hope this helps
Happy Stamping
Cath

[vincenpam]

I have been using a dish sponge that has the scrubby side for using on non-stick pans. The sponge side can be sprayed with the cleaner. The scrubby side seems to clean the cracks out pretty well but doesn't do any damage. I never tried any other spray cleaner except the SU product. I figured they would have the best solution for the rubber.

[nvscrapmom]

I have tried the simple green also, and it works great. I get mine at walmart.