Dried out stamps

[Happy Stampin']

A customer asked me the following question: "What can you do to
prevent your stamps from drying out or if they have seemingly
started to dry out what can you do?" After some more probing here was the rest of her story: "Well I had some stamps in the kitchen where I usually work and the rubber on them are turning a white looking color like they are dry. I use windex on a pad to clean. I have also used the stamp cleaner
previously. Some of these stamps are real new." Does any one have any recommendations to save her stamps?

[aj37167]

I have dried out stamps (edge of the "E" is crumbled off) from my childhood that I would like to restore vitality to.

I tried spraying them with Ranger Ink Pad Rejuvenator and placing in a baggy. Didn't really help.

Next I will try rubbing with glycerin. It couldn't hurt.

As a pharmacist, I can't really imagine any product that will put the "rubber" back into stamps. Vaseline MIGHT help, but would have to be cleaned off with a toothbrush and soap.

AVOID cleaning rubber stamps with ALCOHOL!!! It WILL DRY out the rubber. I believe Windex would do the same. Eventually they will crumble.

Amy in TN

[dot2dot]

Versamark is a good conditioner. Put it on and leave it overnight.

I have used Windex for almost 10 years and it has not hurt my stamps. I have been told that the thing that most likely does this is exposure to sunlight.

[aj37167]

Dot2Dot

Thank you SO much for the Versamark suggestion!! I even have purchased a refill!

Amy in TN

[shellca]

I second the versamark ink idea. I did that to a stamp last week. Left it on overnight - it worked!

[row4d]

Dot, didn't you say at one point that you water down the Windex? That might have something to do with it. Plus, it sounds like you are careful to condition the rubber afterward. I'd be willing to bet that Happy Stampin's friend applied the stuff full strength and then didn't do anything to condition the rubber.

[dot2dot]

I used the Windex full strength for years. Then I was given a bottle of SU mist and told to water it down a lot. That worked so I started also watering down the Windex (for the last 3 years or so). I was once in a little clothing boutique in a shop on the coast and she had a tiny area of stamps and they were all 25 cents each because they were white and hard as rock. She was not a stamper and had displayed them in a window with the rubber facing the sun. They were mostly ruined. I bought some of the least hard ones and was able to save about 3 of them but most were beyond help. I am very careful to leave mine lying rubber down on the table if not in storage because I remember all those lovely ruined stamps.