Hi Stampers! This week I am testing out homemade stamp cleaners!
I researched recipes online from seasoned stampers on Splitcoaststampers.com and other stamping forums. I am testing out 4 homemade recipes and putting them up again Stampin’ Mist and StazOn cleaner. Remember this is Stampbusters, not Consumer Product Testers so I am not going out to buy every stamp cleaner out there to see which one works the best (altho I would LOVE that) so I am just testing the myth “Do Homemade Stamp Cleaners Work?”
For my ‘study’, I dug through my stamp sets that I have used for years with StazOn and permanent inks. Lovely As A Tree was the worst one in the pile, so I started cleaning with that one.
I started using a clean Stampin’ Scrub pad but then ended up using a white shop towel so I could see how much ink really came off.
I’ll post the results under the video in written form for those of you dial-uppers!
**Addendum 12/7: I’ve been getting some comments that stampers love Ultra Clean stamp cleaner. Also, someone asked for a cost comparison per volume vs our store bought cleaner. One of you out there must be a math whiz so we’d love it if you figured out which is more economical – Homemade or Store bought?
Like I mentioned in the video, the rose water and glycerin in the recipes below are supposed to condition your stamps like a regular stamp cleaner. I cannot vouch for that since I haven’t used all of these recipes for years (or days even!) on my stamps, so if someone out there has used homemade stamp cleaner for years, tell us how your stamps are doing! Linda
p.s. I bought the Rose Water at my local health store, Chamberlains.
Video:
(Recipes in order of appearance on video)
Recipe #1:
(Reported to be close to Stampin’ Up! Stampin’ Mist)
2 Cups of Distilled water
1 Tablespoon Baby Magic Baby wash
2 Tablespoons Rose Water
Recipe #2:
2 Cups Distilled water
1 Tsp. Dawn dish soap
5 drops of Glycerin
Recipe #3:
8 ounces Distilled water
1 teaspoon Baby Wash
2 Tablespoons Glycerin
I don’t see the difference in the recipe from #1 to #3.
Thanks for all your hard work! I really enjoy looking at your video 🙂
Have a great weekend
Once again, a great Stampbusters episode! Did you do a cost comparison with same volumes? In other words, how much cheaper is it, and is it really worth substituting?
I’m thinking of suggestions for future episodes…maybe compare different colored pencils (Koh-i-Noor, SU!, Prismacolor, etc.), or embossing powder quality, or different ways to adhere glitter (there are so many!), or embossing buddy versus homemade recipes, maybe powder pal versus substitutes (I use shallow square Gladware instead and keep it in there), all the different SU adhesive applications like which one is best for what thing, oh and cutters…big topic on splitting hairs!
I can’t wait to see the next one!
Oops, I knew you already did the embossing buddy!
Thanks for all your informative stampbusters! I agree with some of them, learned stuff I never knew and have my own favorites. Case in point: Ultraclean stamp cleaner is the absolute best. Gets off everything, gets it off fast and thoroughly. You can buy refill bottles, too. Stampin’ Mist is impossible for me to even be around. Practically go into respiratory arrest!
I am not surprised that any and all home made cleaners are better than Stampin’ Mist. It is without doubt the most useless cleaner out there. Add to that the smell or whatever it is that many people don’t like. Don’t even think of using it to clean off Stampin’ Up’s craft ink. P.S. I am an SU demo so no bias there! When plain old water or water & soap doesn’t work, the I found the best stamp cleaners are Ranger Cleans It and Judikins Fabric & Permanent Ink Cleaner. JMHO.
I have a question, I have no problem getting my stamps clean but I thought the whole reason to use specially made cleaners was to keep the rubber nice and supple for years and years of use. Do these recipes preserve the rubber? If so then shoot, I am not buying stampin mist anymore LOL! lorki7@ yahoo.com
Thank you for another wonderful video. I really enjoy these Stampbuster episodes!
Won’t you test Totally Awesome that you can buy at the Dollar Tree. You would have to treat the stamp with SU mist afterwards to preserve it. Works well, but sometimes I leave it laying on there for a while.
I love the stampbusters! I would love to see the idea mentioned above comparing ways to adhere glitter. I always get it all over myself anytime I use it.
I just love watching your experiments. Very informative. I am a SU demo and I hate the way that Stampin’ Mist smells. I think that Rangers Bubble Gum scented stamp cleaner is awesome. It smells wonderful and cleans better than SU’s cleaner. I have not tried it with StazOn ink. Thanks for all of the great info.
Hi, thanks for all your info, I am new to your site but sooooooo appreciate it already…
I really, really appreciate you passing along Stampbuster results on different products, tips, techniques etc! Thank you so much. I intend to check it out often.
I just love your blog and so does my son, as we love watching mythbusters as well :)… the thing I would like you to test is making your own glue dots… i have heard silicon and some aleen type glue or something… but never tried it… maybe you could research and test those ideas.
Happy Holidays,
Cheri Lynn
Cheri Lynn, I know this is a very old post but I use “The Best Glue Ever” to make my glue dots. They are very sticky and you have to let them dry completely but they work really really good. Hope it’s helpful.
I was given a huge number of stamps by someone who used to be a stamping demonstrator many years ago. The stamps had sat in a cold (Minnesota winter cold) and hot (Minnesota summer hot) garage all that time. They were almost all completely black and the rubber was getting stiff. I tried the cleaner I had and it did nothing. Then I found this post and tried the recipe you recommended. Not only are the stamps acceptably clean, the rubber is in better condition. Thank you so much! I suddenly have a ton of good stamps!! Now to have fun!
The recommended DIY stamp cleaner has worked pretty well for me! On a whim, I used it to distress my watercolor paper – oh man, did that work great!!!
THANK YOU so much for this!!!
I’ve been using generic baby wipes for years and all my stamps are still in like new condition. I have stamps from Crafter’s Companion, Anna Griffin, and many others. They are all in great shape after years of use. I even use them to clean my crafting tools, cutting mats and metal dies. It’s great!
difference between recipe 1 & 3 is gylcerine
I have been using Recipe #3 for over a decade and it has done a nice job however I will be trying #1 to see if the results are much greater. Thank you for the recipe years ago! I have made it for other stamping friends and they appreciated it.
Omigosh this video was like 13 years ago ! We should really revisit and test them again
I know this original post is old, but I’ve used a recipe VERY similar to #3 for YEARS, and my stamps are still in GREAT condition. I LOVE it. The only inks I find it doesn’t clean off well are Staz On which I personally never use (just a personal taste issue), and VersaMark. For the VersaMark I use Staz On cleaner and then my homemade cleaner immediately after use or clear stamp cleaner on my clear stamps because you aren’t supposed to use Staz On cleaner on clear stamps and then my homemade cleaner. I hope this helps someone. Crafty hugs!