Today we are talking about how to clean acrylic blocks for stamping. This was a recent request in an Ask Me Anything email I sent out to my subscribers.
With it being the start of a new year, starting with clean acrylic blocks is perfect! I have heard from many stampers that they throw them in the dishwasher. My experience with that has been way less than ideal. I don't know if it was soap or water temperature – but my blocks when in the trash afterwards.
Your acrylic blocks get dirty all kinds of ways. From ink, to oils on your fingers, all the way to the stickers or cling that hold them. So we want to address all of that at the same time.
Here are my blocks:
See how they just aren't awesome? Just dingy looking. And think about it like this… all the junk on your acrylic blocks transfers onto your stamps when you put a stamp on them. Using a stamp cleaning block occasionally after use is great, but giving them a good deep clean – well, there's nothing like it.
Ungunk Them First
We are going to start by cleaning off any sticky residue that may be on there. My favorite thing for this is a cotton pad and rubbing alcohol. You want to stay away from products like Goo Gone. While I love that product, it may cloud your acrylic blocks and make them more translucent than transparent.
Quick Tip: when you are cleaning a lot of blocks, after wiping each down, stand them up so you know which ones you have already done.
Give Them A Good Soak
My favorite soap for getting rid of oil and grease is Dawn dish soap. Plus they use that on ducks in the ocean after tragic oil spills, so to me that says both gentle and effective. I filled the sink with warm water and soap and let them soak for about 10 minutes. Then I went through and rubbed on the surfaces and let them soak about 5 more minutes.
Rinse And Dry Your Acrylic Blocks
Once done soaking, drain your sink and rinse your blocks.
I put them in a towel lined tray. I like this type of towel rather than fluffy bath towel. Way less fibers transfer to your blocks with these.
Clean and Ready to Put Away
Look how clean these are? These acrylic stamps are ready for stamping!
Now all that's left to do is to put them away. I keep mine in a drawer. There are two reasons for this. First, they don't get dusty. When I used to keep them on my countertop, dust would collect on them and then that dust transferred to my stamps if I forgot to wipe them off before using them. Second, I like them stored by size so I can easily grab what I need.
UPDATED: Laurie asked how you to clean the plates for your Stamparatus. I do the exact same thing!
And that's all there is to cleaning acrylic blocks for stamping best results! I repeat this about once a quarter, but it depends on how much you are using them. Let me know your thoughts on this by leaving a comment below! XOXO, Meg
Awesome! Thanks!!
You’re welcome Melanie! Let me know how it goes for you!
I like the cleaning tips! You have a lot of blocks! Awesome
Yay! So happy to hear that Trish. And I do. I started with one full set, then over the next two years, every time I placed an order I bought another block. Makes it easier for when you do a lot of stamping.
Wo Derulo cleaning info for our blocks. Easy to do too. Tha ks!!!
Not sure about the first part of your comment but you are welcome!
Very good instructions. I will clean my blocks today!
Thanks Peggy! Let me know how it goes for you!
Looks like I have block cleaning ahead for me. Thanx for the info.
I thought the blocks were just going to be the way they are for the rest of their lives lol. Thanks for the tips!
You’re welcome! They don’t have to be that way, lol!
How do you clean your stamping platform? Mine gets yucky like my blocks.
The same way! Rubbing alcohol and Dawn dish soap. Great question – I will add it into the blog post!
The clean ones look like brand new blocks.
They do, don’t they? And my stamps stay on so much better after I clean them!
Thanks, mine need a good cleaning and I’ve been wondering how best to do that!
Yay Betty! Let me know how it goes for you!
What about the stays on, it doesn’t come off by just doing that
There is a staz-on cleaner, but it’s not recommended for photopolymer stamps.
Thank you, great tips. I keep mine stored in the case.
You’re welcome! I used to use the case, but was tired of always opening it – so I got lazy, lol!
Can’t wait to give this a try. My blocks do need a good deep clean. My to-do list is long today, but I’m adding this to it. I’ll be back later to let you know how successful I am 🤔
Yay! I can’t wait to see how it goes for you. And it doesn’t take long, we just have to remember to do it 🙂
Your cleaning tip is awesome! My blocks look like new. It certainly took no time at all, but then I don’t have as many blocks as you do. I’ll be doing it more often. Thanks so much for the instructions.
Thank you, I enjoy reading these type of things ,seems I all ways learn something new.
Yay! That’s my goal 🙂
Thanks for the excellent information on cleaning my blocks. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Can’t wait to hear!
Thus is awesome. I saw a post a long while ago about using dollar tree purell on a paper towel. I’ve done it and it cleans the blocks. But your way cleans all of them at once. Thanks again for sharing.
You are so welcome! So happy you like it!
I have only used alcohol swabs to clean mine, but will need to try the Dawn dishwashing way. Thanks for your great tips.
Perfect! I used to use the swabs also, but this winds up being cheaper. The Dawn dish soap is a game changer!
Great tip! Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
Thanks Karen!!
I rub my blocks with regular 3 in 1 oil to get the gooey stuff off. Then I drip some Dawn dishsoap on them and use my hands to rub the Dawn everywhere on the blocks, which cuts through the oil. Then I rinse them thoroughly and dry them with paper towels. I store them in a special carrying case designed just for blocks.
Sounds great! Some oils will discolor your blocks depending on the block materials, but it sounds like you are good with yours!!
Thank you! I need to do this today!
Yay! Let me know how it goes for you!
I see your alcohol is 91%, does regular alcohol work too or is there a reason for the 91%? Thank you
It doesn’t matter Janeen. I use 91% for everything, so it’s just what I have.
Thank you A great start for the New year.
Thank you!!
Thanks for the cleaning tips of blocks and,Stamparatus!! I will be using these products.
I clean as I use but I’m sure they could you a good deep cleaning too. Thanks Meg. Great tip!!
Thank you for helping me with this problem, now l am a happy camper.
Thank you for helping me with this problem, now l am a happy camper. I have never posted on here before…l’m sure of it..
Megan, thank you for the great cleaning tips. I never thought about using alcohol to help cut the gunk; getting tired of my stamps sometimes just not staying put. Cleaning time!!!! 🙂
I’ve used a cotton swab and nail polish remover. It seems to get the sticky stuff off. My bad, right? Guess I had better go to the kitchen sink and bring out the Dawn. Thanks for the tip! Never really thought about cleaning the 6 blocks that I have. Better get started!
What do you do about stamps that do’t stick, both cling and regular stamps?
Rubbing alcohol on your blocks and the sticker part.
So in other words you don’t recommend using goo gone. Is there a better alternative?
Just use rubbing alcohol.
I have several of my SU blocks that have a crackle coating. I think it is a coating. The block is till smooth. I use Dawn and wash them, but they still have the crackled look. What suggestions do you have to correct this? Thanks
Hmm… I have never seen this. I have seen where they have a lot of scratches on them. Would you please email me a picture of them?