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Post by Stamper49 on Jun 1, 2024 8:39:16 GMT
What is the best, clear, dish-washing detergent for soaking stamps? Please be country specific, I'm in the United States. The only two brands I have seen in TSF are not readily available in this country.
At first I thought Dawn, the best to clean oil off sea birds caught in oil spills; or, Jet-Dry, used to eliminate surface tension in gold pans, so gold dust doesn't float away, but they are blue colored. Now I see that "clear" dish-washing detergent is recommended, but no brands were given.
Thanks for the help!
Norman
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paul1
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Posts: 1,207
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Post by paul1 on Jun 1, 2024 9:15:32 GMT
regret I'm lazy and have almost zero experience of soaking stamps, but had assumed that for 'soaking' then warm water was the norm ?? However, for cleaning then that is possibly a different matter.
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JeffS
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What I collect: Oranges Philately, US Slogan Cancels, Cape of Good Hope Triangulars, and Texas poster stamps and cinderellas
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Post by JeffS on Jun 1, 2024 10:02:02 GMT
regret I'm lazy and have almost zero experience of soaking stamps, but had assumed that for 'soaking' then warm water was the norm ?? However, for cleaning then that is possibly a different matter. Stamper49For stamps with non-fugitive inks, I prefer water at body temp. Use caution with dawn as it is “too good” at cleaning. I tested a damaged classic engraved stamp to destruction and excessive Dawn began to remove the ink. For dingy stamps I have had good outcomes with hydrogen peroxide in the 3% solution. Lots of previous posts here about H2O2 and cleaning stamps.
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angore
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What I collect: WW, focus on British Empire
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Post by angore on Jun 1, 2024 10:17:04 GMT
I just use water.
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philatelia
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Post by philatelia on Jun 1, 2024 13:01:48 GMT
I use just a drop or two of a free and clear, hypoallergenic dish soap. No fragrances, dyes, etc, just enough to make the water “wetter.” I have the stamps in the warm soapy water just long enough to loosen the gum, then they go into a COLD rinse. The most difficult part for me is getting all of the gum residue off the backs.
Some Soakable Self adhesives have this - see my video;
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Post by Stamper49 on Jun 1, 2024 14:27:07 GMT
philatelia In your post you don't recommend a brand and specific dish soap product. Is there a particular one that you can recommend? I'm a guy, and get dizzy just looking at the multitude of choices in that aisle. I really hate fragrance so what you have pointed out sounds great, but what is it?
Eww, on that stamp snot.
P.S. Nothing has arrived in the PO Box, I will be patient.
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stainlessb
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qaStaHvIS yIn 'ej chep
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Post by stainlessb on Jun 1, 2024 14:30:10 GMT
I use Mrs. Meyers Dish Soap "rain water"
Sometimes the supermarket has it, often Ace Hardware has it, or like most everything now, you can order online
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philatelia
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Post by philatelia on Jun 1, 2024 15:37:07 GMT
Here’s the brand I’m currently using; ![](https://tsfimagehost.net/images/2024/06/01/fac7e66b5f9827877d7b009608b267df.jpg)
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Beryllium Guy
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What I collect: Worldwide Stamps 1840-1930
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Post by Beryllium Guy on Jun 1, 2024 15:58:50 GMT
Hi again, Norman ( Stamper49 ) The brand of dish-washing liquid I have been using for stamps is called "Open Nature," and it is certainly available in the US. It is a clear liquid, and the label indicates "free from dyes." That said, I notice that this brand does have a lavender scent, but I haven't been concerned about that up to now (perhaps I should be?). Edit: Just noted that you dislike scented detergents, Norman, sorry. Perhaps you should ignore this, then. I have just taken a whiff directly from the bottle, and the fragrance is extremely subtle, at least in my opinion. I see others have also responded with specific brand names, so I hope this helps. Stan ( stainlessb ) or Terri ( philatelia ), would you recommend switching to an unscented formulation?
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anglobob
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Post by anglobob on Jun 1, 2024 16:00:54 GMT
Reading these posts reminds me of a slogan from my early days. Now hands that do dishes can feel as soft as your skin,with mild green Fairy Liquid..... No idea if it works with stamps. Older GB members are probably familiar with this.
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stainlessb
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qaStaHvIS yIn 'ej chep
Posts: 4,799
What I collect: currently focused on most of western Europe, much of which is spent on France, Belgium, Germany and Great Britain Queen Victoria
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Post by stainlessb on Jun 1, 2024 16:08:10 GMT
I( haver used both unscented and ...rosemary, lavender, lemon.... honestly the amount of soap used is so small compared to the amount of water, I haven't noticed any scent remaining, and the Mrs. Meyers is not strongly scented- the Rain Water doesn't really smell like much of anything
I have used the Seventh Generation before also, Dr. Bronners pure castile (sp?) soaps (the health food store near us carries it...)
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philatelia
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What I collect: Ireland, Japan, Scandy, USA, Venezuela, Vatican, Bermuda, Austria
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Post by philatelia on Jun 1, 2024 16:25:26 GMT
Hi again, Norman ( Stamper49 ) The brand of dish-washing liquid I have been using for stamps is called "Open Nature," and it is certainly available in the US. It is a clear liquid, and the label indicates "free from dyes." That said, I notice that this brand does have a lavender scent, but I haven't been concerned about that up to now (perhaps I should be?). Edit: Just noted that you dislike scented detergents, Norman, sorry. Perhaps you should ignore this, then. I have just taken a whiff directly from the bottle, and the fragrance is extremely subtle, at least in my opinion. I see others have also responded with specific brand names, so I hope this helps. Stan ( stainlessb ) or Terri ( philatelia ), would you recommend switching to an unscented formulation? The way I figure, the fewer chemicals the better and fragrances are unnecessary. I am also allergic to fragrance.
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Beryllium Guy
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Post by Beryllium Guy on Jun 1, 2024 16:47:51 GMT
Thanks, stainlessb and philatelia for your responses. Looking online, I can see that there are many brands of clear, dye- and scent-free dish soap available. Even "Dawn" makes one called "Free & Clear" that has all those additives removed. To Terri's point, if one is allergic to fragrances, then it's totally understandable to take that into account, and I also like the idea of fewer chemicals in the detergent. On the other hand, to Stan's point, I can barely notice the lavender scent in the soap I have been using, and since I only use a tiny amount anyway, does it really matter? I think my plan will be to continue using what I have readily at hand here at home, and perhaps the next time my wife goes shopping for dish soap, I will ask her to get one that is both dye and scent free. Anyway, thanks again to Norman ( Stamper49) for kicking off this thread.
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Post by Stamper49 on Jun 3, 2024 11:12:42 GMT
philatelia Beryllium Guy You're welcome BerylliumGuy, it's been interesting and informative. I found Terri's, philatelia, Seventh Generation dish soap online at Walmart.com for $3.78 for 19oz. I pick it up tomorrow when I go to town. For now, the soap is the last thing on my list of stamp accessory needs, though some wants/needs are still in transit. I'm not allergic to fragrances like Terri, I just don't like "fake" scents, and I don't feel a need to disguise the air around me. I love the smell of our pine trees, and the sound of wind in the trees, because it takes me back to places and times I spent in the wilderness's of California, and Montana.
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vikingeck
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Post by vikingeck on Jun 3, 2024 11:32:56 GMT
Reading these posts reminds me of a slogan from my early days. Now hands that do dishes can feel as soft as your skin,with mild green Fairy Liquid..... No idea if it works with stamps. Older GB members are probably familiar with this. ![](http://i.ibb.co/gDTTGLK/IMG-4409.jpg) yes anglobob it is still on sale, the top brand washingup liquid still in UK. I regularly use it when I have some grubby pieces of parcel clippings to soak. A couple of drops in about a pint of tepid water is enough to de-grease and clean . The green colour of course vanishes in water.
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anglobob
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Post by anglobob on Jun 3, 2024 12:27:10 GMT
vikingeck Slightly related to the thread.... A man walks into a restaurant and orders squid. "Certainly sir," says Jervaise, the waiter. "Would you like to choose your squid from the tank over there?" "I'll have that little green one with the moustache," says the customer. "Oh no!" replies Jervaise. "But he's my favourite! He's so small and cute and friendly. Surely you'd prefer one of the bigger, meatier ones?" "No," says the customer. "It's got to be that one". So Jervaise gets the little green squid out and puts him on the chopping block, raises his knife and ... the little squid looks up and smiles, twitching his bushy moustache into a big friendly grin! "It's no good' says Jervaise. "I can't do it. I'll have to ask Hans who does the washing up. He's a big, tough brute - he'll be able to do the evil deed?' So out comes Hans, while Jervaise disappears off in tears. Hans picks up the knife, raises it to chop the little squid's head off and ... once again the little friendly squid looks up and smiles, wiggling his little legs and twitching his little moustache. So Hans, too, finds it impossible to kill him. The moral? Now Hans that does dishes can be as soft as Jervaise with vile green hairy-lip squid.
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rex
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Post by rex on Jun 3, 2024 17:33:33 GMT
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Post by Stamper49 on Jun 7, 2024 10:48:51 GMT
rex How do you use Pure Sodium Bicarbonate, aka - Baking Soda? I have had trouble with it in the past, not completely dissolving, for other things. Even using warm water.
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tobben63
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Post by tobben63 on Jun 7, 2024 12:09:26 GMT
I think people are making this bigger and more complicated than it is. It is simple. If you want to soak resent stamps of paper that don't look dirty, only use lukewarm water (“Lukewarm” generally means between 98 and 105 degrees Fahrenheit, 36.5 to 40.5 Celsius)
If the stamps look dirty, typical older stamps that has been exposed to dust, tobaccos and the likes, the you can use dishwashing soap. If you are in doubt what to use, test it out on some stamps that you have a lot of.
I see that some write that they only use a drop or two, that it is likely the right thing to do, but I have used a lot more on really dirty stamps with good result. I think the key is to rinse good after the soap. I use spring water.
Don't be afraid, test it out.
Then after that if the result is not good (still looks dirty) I would try hydrogen peroxide.
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rex
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Post by rex on Jun 9, 2024 17:20:35 GMT
rex How do you use Pure Sodium Bicarbonate, aka - Baking Soda? I have had trouble with it in the past, not completely dissolving, for other things. Even using warm water. A teaspoon in warm or cold water depends on the material.. it must be dissolved by stirring with a teaspoon, it is an excellent degreaser, never used soap of any kind.
I leave modern self-adhesive stamps on paper fragments.
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