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I received a great tip via email from Marge about this topic. Here is what she said:
Quote:
This is to the lady that couldn't get all of the ink off her stamps. I found out if you ink up your stamp with versamark ink and let it sit for a while (overnite is good) then clean it ALL off, the old ink comes off!! Even Stazon!!
The other tip I saw recently (I can't remember which thread it was on so can't give credit - sorry) was to use a little Avon Skin So Soft. I tried it on a stamp with lots of fine detail that had Opalite ink well ingrained that had resisted all other cleaning attempts (including the Versamark trick). Came off no problem with the SSS! You do need to give the stamp a good wash afterwards with a little mild soap to make sure you get any oily residue off but it worked like a dream
The other tip I saw recently (I can't remember which thread it was on so can't give credit - sorry) was to use a little Avon Skin So Soft. I tried it on a stamp with lots of fine detail that had Opalite ink well ingrained that had resisted all other cleaning attempts (including the Versamark trick). Came off no problem with the SSS! You do need to give the stamp a good wash afterwards with a little mild soap to make sure you get any oily residue off but it worked like a dream
It seems that Avon's SSS has many uses. It is supposed to be a good insect repellent too
I always wonder how someone comes with these great ideas.
__________________ Jac-ee Former FSJ Founding Coach and SU! Demonstrator, now crafting for myself. "There is a fine line between 'HOBBY' and 'MENTAL ILLNESS'"
I have a Hero Arts clear stamp that is VERY badly stained with Color Box Chalk ink (see attached) and I tried the Versamark trick and it didn't work. I don't have any Avon SSS, but might get some if you all think it will work for sure.
I suspect the staining on clear polymer stamps happens in a different way Trish - nothing I've tried shifts it in the same way as it would on natural rubber. For some reason, chalk inks seem particularly bad for staining clear stamps, too. If your stamp still stamps well, I'd say leave it alone, to be honest.
I have two questions/comments. Early in my stamping experiences, I was told that leaving VersaMark on rubber stamps would harm the rubber. So I've always cleaned my stamps immediately after using VersaMark (or any embossing ink for that matter).
As for the clear stamps stained from Chalk ink - again when clear stamps became popular I was told not to use chalk inks on them because it would stain permanently. I don't know if clear stamps have improved/changed that much since their inception but I still avoid using chalk ink on them.
I don't use Avon products but have always found that StazOn cleaner takes everything off. If I have a detail stamp I use an old toothbrush to get in all the little spaces. StazOn cleaner will even take Sharpie ink off of most anything; don't think that Sharpie is a permanent ink anymore.;)
polymer stamps can stain no matter what ink you are using. The ink is actually absorbed into the polymer. If the surface of the polymer stamp is clean you do not have to worry about a dirty stamp.
As for red rubber stamps one thing that has worked for me in the past is is Joy of Stamping. The pink stuff. It takes every ink off that I have used - Stazon included.
The other tip I saw recently (I can't remember which thread it was on so can't give credit - sorry) was to use a little Avon Skin So Soft. I tried it on a stamp with lots of fine detail that had Opalite ink well ingrained that had resisted all other cleaning attempts (including the Versamark trick). Came off no problem with the SSS! You do need to give the stamp a good wash afterwards with a little mild soap to make sure you get any oily residue off but it worked like a dream
SSS actually removes sharpie from non porous materials like CDs.
It isn't great for your shower drain (if used a lot) but I find myself using it for many other jobs around the house.
Ladies.......I think the best way to clean your stamps is to do it IMMEDIATELY after stamping. It only takes a moment. Use a good stamp cleaner (I prefer Stazon for cleaning any kind of ink). Use of a stamp cleaning pad is a good option or just a cloth pad can work.
Cleaning clear stamps should also be done IMMEDIATELY so you get the ink off before staining. I use either the Stazon or just a baby wipe no matter what ink I've used.
If you clean immediately after stamping you should have no problem getting the ink off your stamp. Leaving the dirty stamp till you finish your project will cause problems for cleaning and also is not good for the stamp.
Yes, naturally there is some staining on either red rubber stamps and clear ones. The staining is a result of the type of rubber that was used or the material used for the clear stamp. As long as you've gotten all the ink off the stamp including the recessed areas, the staining is not a problem.
I never heard to not use chalk ink with clear stamps. Good to know, since over half of my collection is CTMH stamps.
The stamp I showed earlier, was used in a card shoebox swap. All the ladies there were veteran stampers, so I didn't know they weren't cleaning the stamp after each use, I assumed they were. I am still quite disappointed about it. Kind of makes me not want to do anymore shoebox swaps.
I've used Simple Green on my badly stained stamps and they come out great... I just make sure to rinse/wipe off well after cleaning so as not to leave residue on there. (BTW I hate, hate, HATE the smell of regular SG, but it does come in a lemon scent.) HTH
__________________
"Some painters transform the sun into a yellow spot, others transform a yellow spot into the sun."- Pablo Picasso
I use clear stamps from Kitchen Sink Stamps a lot. Maria (owner) suggests using rubbing alcohol to clean her stamps. She also suggested vodka - but there's better uses for vodka *wink*
I use clear stamps from Kitchen Sink Stamps a lot. Maria (owner) suggests using rubbing alcohol to clean her stamps. She also suggested vodka - but there's better uses for vodka *wink*
a little for the stamp....a little more for the stamper..... a little more for the stamper....;)
I use clear stamps from Kitchen Sink Stamps a lot. Maria (owner) suggests using rubbing alcohol to clean her stamps. She also suggested vodka - but there's better uses for vodka *wink*
Did she say how to clean the stamp with rubbing alcohol, since alcohol can damage the acrylic blocks?
I tried the Versamark ink on some black stained rubber stamps that I got in a swap and it didn't work. I even left it on overnight in the hopes that would work, but it didn't make any difference.
Here is my simple way of cleaning stained stamps. Put Stazon cleaner on the stamp and let it sit for a few minutes. Wipe it off with a cloth, then take an old toothbrush and scrub again. Wipe it off and the stamps should be reasonably clean. This method gets the ink out of tiny crevices. And, yes, you should clean them right away as the ink comes off easier when it's fresh.
I don't think I would use alcohol on my stamps. It will dry out the rubber and polymer, and probably ruin them over time. When I first started stamping, there was a teacher in a local store who used to use Windex to clean her stamps. Windex has alcohol (and ammonia, I think), so I didn't think this was advisable.
As I said in my previous Post #27........Clean your stamps immediately. I am in total agreement with Phototaker Post 36......Use Stazon stamp cleaner to clean your stamps. This product is meant to be used on stamps Using all the chemicals mentioned in other posts will only damage your stamps over time, not to mention the extra expense of purchasing those products.
Use products appropriate for cleaning your stamps......they're produced for that purpose.
Yes it is likely you may have some staining on either the red rubber or the clear stamps. This is only due to the quality of the product used to produce those stamps. The staining will not effect furture stamping.
I have used babywipes, and any number of stamp cleaners to clean my stamps...some come clean, others don't at all. The secret to having pretty, clean stamps is to clean them right away. I heard that putting them face down after use on a cloth or paper towel so not to dry out as much, then clean them when the project time is done. I have used a toothbrush on some to get them clean or a Tim Holtz scrubber. The best in my opinion to clean the stamps is Stazon cleaner with the TH pad. I do also use Judikins with other kinds of ink than Stazon inks. I, too don't trust all the chemical tricks, however less expensive, on my very costly stamps, clear or rubber.
Last edited by dottiejdavis; 06-13-2011 at 02:52 PM..
Ask Beate - Cleaning black ink off rubber stamps
