How to clean and store your stamps
A quick cleaning routine, which products to avoid, and how to store stamps so they still cling to the block years later.
A well-cared-for photopolymer stamp lasts for decades. The two real enemies are dried ink built up in the recesses and direct sunlight, which yellows and hardens the material until it turns brittle.
Supplies
- Dedicated stamp cleaner or alcohol-free wipes
- Mild soap and warm water
- A microfibre cloth or kitchen paper
- Plastic sleeves or a ring binder
Step by step
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Clean as soon as you finish
Fresh ink comes off in one pass. Dried ink has to be scrubbed, and scrubbing is what wears down fine detail over time.
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Tap on the wipe, do not rub
Same as inking up: tap onto the cleaner. Rubbing bends fine lines and eventually lifts them off the backing.
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For permanent ink, use mild soap
Archival and solvent inks need warm water with a little soap. Rinse well and dry completely before storing.
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Avoid neat alcohol and solvents
They dry out the polymer and it loses its cling to the block. This is the most common cause of stamps that stop sticking.
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Always store on the original backing sheet
The rigid plastic sheet protects the surface and keeps the shape. If you lose it, any clean acetate will do.
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Store flat and out of the light
Plastic sleeves in a ring binder is the most practical system: compact, you can see the contents, and everything stays flat and dark.
Practical tips
- If a stamp has lost its cling, wash it with mild soap and let it air dry: in most cases it comes back.
- Keep the coordinating die in the same sleeve as its stamp set and you will save a lot of hunting.
- Do not stack inked stamps on top of each other: they mark each other even when they seem dry.
FAQ
My stamp has gone yellow, is it still usable?
Yes, yellowing is usually cosmetic. The real problem is when it turns stiff or brittle, a sign it has been exposed to sun or harsh products.
Related products
A few products from the shop to practise what this tutorial covers:
