As seen in:

RubberStampMadness

March/April 2008

In The Spotlight-

Products to enhance your stamping life 

Stay Bright with StampBRITE!

Are you feeling blue because your stamps are no longer in the pink?

Permanent waterproof inks are a wonderful tool for stampers.  Unfortunately, dyes frequently leave ugly, pervasive stains on rubber that even the most meticulous crafter may find difficult to remove.  That’s when StampBRITE!’s Rubber Stamp Cleaning Kit comes to the rescue. 

Designed expressly for severely stained rubber stamps and the removal of ink build-up and waterproof inks, the kit performed double duty.  It removes most tough stains and reconditions the rubber-a positive benefit that extends a stamp’s life and reduces the risk of rubber becoming brittle over time.  As product developer Anna Kellogg says, “A clean stamp is a happy stamp.”

 Packaged in a handy zippered tote, the kit includes Cream Cleanser, Cleaning Solution, two brushes, a towelette and easy-to-understand directions.  Kellogg explains, “There is nothing in the solutions any more toxic than any household cleanser.” (she does, however, caution against letting the solution drip onto the topside of a wood-mounted stamp.  This could mar the index.)

The cream Cleanser has a slightly gritty feel and clean scent.  It’s a power-house dye remover.  Thoroughly scrub a stamp with a dime-sized drop and allow the solution to soak in for 10 minutes.  Fill a saucer with Cleaning Solution, soak the preconditioned stamp for 60 seconds and follow up with another scrubbing.  At this stage a noticeable amount of ink should lift from the rubber.  A rinse in water and quick rub with towelette removes any residual cleanser.  Deepl stained stamps may require a second cleaning.  My first test subject was a rubber stamp stained with permanent black ink and neglectfully stored for a long time-oh, the shame!

 An initial cleaning removed a considerable amount of dye. A second cleansing removed even more ink and, though it was not restored to the look of newly vulcanized red rubber, the die felt more flexible and well conditioned.  Two rubber stamps stained with pigment ink - one dark blue and the other metallic silver—cleaned up to look like new.  

 Calling it the “ultimate stamp cleaning system,” StampBRITE” offers a mone-back guarantee.  A cleaning kit for acrylic stamps and a pen –like cleaning tool are in the works.  Kits are $22 each and shipping rates are $3.50 when ordering one to three kits; $7.50 for four to six kits.  A printable order form is available online.

 For more information contact StampBRITE!, 21810 49^th Avenue SE, Bothell, WA 98021, Phone (425) 487-1050. Visit www.stampbrite.com.  Canada and overseas customers can e-mail stampbrite@comcast.net for shipping costs.  – Christina Hecht.