Wet Cleaning

• 1). Test the ink on one small corner to make certain it is insoluble and will not run. Old inks are usually stable.
  
  
• 2). Clamp the stamp to a nonmetallic screen with a nonmetallic clamp.
  
  
• 3). Mix four drops of clear liquid soap into one pint of water. Make certain that there is no color in the soap. Immerse the clamped stamp slowly into this solution.
  
  
• 4). Press the water from the clean stamp on white blotter paper.
  
  
• 5). Place the stamp between two sheets of white blotter paper when all the moisture is removed.
  
  
• 6). Set a medium-weight book on top of the stamp and allow it to sit overnight.
  
  
• 7). Remove pencil marks by gentle rubbing with powdered pumice on a cotton swab. The paper may be too weak to handle this action without compromise.
  
  
• 8). Add alum to hot water to remove stains. Immerse the stamp into this solution and delicately rub the stain with a cotton swab. Rinse in clear water, blot and press.
  
  

Dry Cleaning

• 1). Place the stamp on white blotter paper.
  
  
• 2). Use a white pencil eraser to gently rub the stamp. Do not use vigorous motions in this erasing; in fact, be gentle so that the paper does not become compromised. Faber-Castell Magic-Rub #M-196 is a good eraser to use in this procedure. Be sure to keep a clean edge on the eraser.
  
  
• 3). Brush with a soft shaving brush to remove loose dust.
  
  
• 4). Sprinkle Draughtsman's cleaning powder over especially difficult dirt.
  
  
• 5). Use a circular motion and the soft brush to move the powder from the center of the dirty spot to the edges.
  
  
• 6). Use cotton balls instead of your fingers to handle the stamp and brush off the powder with the soft brush.