Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Thanks Carolee
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If they are used stamps on or off paper, soak them in water with a drop of dish soap to a sink full of water. Transfer them to a basin of clean water, and then put into your stock drying book or on paper to dry. Even a drop of two of vinegar in clear water will work. Just make sure you rinse the stamps well in a second basin of water before drying.
Most of the time if you spread the stamps out to air for a couple of days the smell should disappear. An odour absorber like baking soda might also work. Don't store in plastic bags as the smell of the plastic will absorb into the stamps over time. Some people say to use moth balls, but the smell of those would be overpowering to me.
Putting them outside in cold air will also make them smell fresh
If the stamps still smell after using these suggestions, put the stamps in an envelope and mail to me. The smell will be gone forever. LOL
I've received kiloware from Europe and when I've opened the box everything has reeked of what smells like jet fuel. I just soaked the stamps in water and the smell disappeared.
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You can also put the stamps in a container of kitty litter. NOT THE CLUMPING kind. Just the ordinary kind. It works well for stamps that smell musty when they have come out of a basement.
Just use a small container big enough to hold a couple of inches of litter, spread the stamps on top and put another layer of litter on the top. Close the container and just let it sit for a few days.
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I collect covers and soaking is not an option. If I get a smoky lot I spread it out in the garage for a week or more.
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Hi Everyone;
For really stubborn smells, get activated charcoal, from a aquarium supply house, or from a pet shop that sells aquariums & fish.
Wash the charcoal to remove loose black dust, and dry in a 300F oven on a clean sheet of aluminum foil. Place 1/2" deep in a container that can be sealed up tight. Then add something porous to keep black dust off of stamps, cheese cloth three or four layers is what I used, or three layers of paper towels will work too. Add stamps on top of cheese cloth, and seal lid on to container. Smelly stamps will be oder free in about three days.
If they smell musty, they are moldy just toss out in trash. Even tho you can't see the mold. Mold spores are so small you need a 500x lab grade microscope to see them. If it smells musty or moldy, that's because it is. Never place moldy stamps in a collection. Imagine if you will, trying to sell a stamp collection to a dealer that smells of mold!! Also if mold spores are on stamps they can re-activate and grow much worse in very humid weather.
Keep on Stampin'
TuskenRaider
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I've had excellent luck with an hour or two of intense Florida sunshine. I swear it vaporizes the smells, mold and mildew like a phaser - LOL. (reading too much sci-fi) Unfortunately not everyone has tropical sunshine on their lanai.
If the sunshine doesn't do it, I do what Liz does for used singles - give 'em a bath. I often have to resoak a large number of older Ireland not for smell but for hinge residue and gum that wasn't fully removed during soaking, and bits of paper still stuck on the back. First I try to remove pencil marks. Yeah, I have a touch of OCD! LOL
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I had a batch of smoky items and tried both baking powder and just letting them air out. Just fresh air seemed to work best. I left them on a table in a locked room (to keep kids out), but the air was circulating in that room. It takes a week or so, but the smell was completely gone.
I would definitely NOT subject any material to direct sunlight!
Lars
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Holey Solar Flares, Lars - I'm not leaving them in the sun for hundreds of hours just an hour or two to get rid of the stench. Anything done to excess can cause damage. Moderation is the key.
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Thank you all,
I put them out in my non heated porch at minus 9 degrees below 0 F. Brought one envelope in for my beloved husband (who has the best sniffer) to smell and he said he can't smell a thing. Leaving them out in the porch another day or two just to be sure and then will bring them all in. They didn't smell real bad to begin with but I didn't want them smelling up any of my other stamps. As we do not smoke here.
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It smells up the room as well.
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03:55:16am
Does anyone know how to get the smell of cigarette smoke out/off of stamps. I bought some and just received them and I don't want to have to throw them away if I don't have to.
Thanks Carolee
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05:01:16am
re: Does anyone know...
If they are used stamps on or off paper, soak them in water with a drop of dish soap to a sink full of water. Transfer them to a basin of clean water, and then put into your stock drying book or on paper to dry. Even a drop of two of vinegar in clear water will work. Just make sure you rinse the stamps well in a second basin of water before drying.
Most of the time if you spread the stamps out to air for a couple of days the smell should disappear. An odour absorber like baking soda might also work. Don't store in plastic bags as the smell of the plastic will absorb into the stamps over time. Some people say to use moth balls, but the smell of those would be overpowering to me.
Putting them outside in cold air will also make them smell fresh
If the stamps still smell after using these suggestions, put the stamps in an envelope and mail to me. The smell will be gone forever. LOL
I've received kiloware from Europe and when I've opened the box everything has reeked of what smells like jet fuel. I just soaked the stamps in water and the smell disappeared.
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Login to Like.
re: Does anyone know...
You can also put the stamps in a container of kitty litter. NOT THE CLUMPING kind. Just the ordinary kind. It works well for stamps that smell musty when they have come out of a basement.
Just use a small container big enough to hold a couple of inches of litter, spread the stamps on top and put another layer of litter on the top. Close the container and just let it sit for a few days.
Login to Like
this post
re: Does anyone know...
I collect covers and soaking is not an option. If I get a smoky lot I spread it out in the garage for a week or more.
Login to Like
this post
re: Does anyone know...
Hi Everyone;
For really stubborn smells, get activated charcoal, from a aquarium supply house, or from a pet shop that sells aquariums & fish.
Wash the charcoal to remove loose black dust, and dry in a 300F oven on a clean sheet of aluminum foil. Place 1/2" deep in a container that can be sealed up tight. Then add something porous to keep black dust off of stamps, cheese cloth three or four layers is what I used, or three layers of paper towels will work too. Add stamps on top of cheese cloth, and seal lid on to container. Smelly stamps will be oder free in about three days.
If they smell musty, they are moldy just toss out in trash. Even tho you can't see the mold. Mold spores are so small you need a 500x lab grade microscope to see them. If it smells musty or moldy, that's because it is. Never place moldy stamps in a collection. Imagine if you will, trying to sell a stamp collection to a dealer that smells of mold!! Also if mold spores are on stamps they can re-activate and grow much worse in very humid weather.
Keep on Stampin'
TuskenRaider
Login to Like
this post
re: Does anyone know...
I've had excellent luck with an hour or two of intense Florida sunshine. I swear it vaporizes the smells, mold and mildew like a phaser - LOL. (reading too much sci-fi) Unfortunately not everyone has tropical sunshine on their lanai.
If the sunshine doesn't do it, I do what Liz does for used singles - give 'em a bath. I often have to resoak a large number of older Ireland not for smell but for hinge residue and gum that wasn't fully removed during soaking, and bits of paper still stuck on the back. First I try to remove pencil marks. Yeah, I have a touch of OCD! LOL
Login to Like
this post
re: Does anyone know...
I had a batch of smoky items and tried both baking powder and just letting them air out. Just fresh air seemed to work best. I left them on a table in a locked room (to keep kids out), but the air was circulating in that room. It takes a week or so, but the smell was completely gone.
I would definitely NOT subject any material to direct sunlight!
Lars
Login to Like
this post
re: Does anyone know...
Holey Solar Flares, Lars - I'm not leaving them in the sun for hundreds of hours just an hour or two to get rid of the stench. Anything done to excess can cause damage. Moderation is the key.
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01:56:30am
re: Does anyone know...
Thank you all,
I put them out in my non heated porch at minus 9 degrees below 0 F. Brought one envelope in for my beloved husband (who has the best sniffer) to smell and he said he can't smell a thing. Leaving them out in the porch another day or two just to be sure and then will bring them all in. They didn't smell real bad to begin with but I didn't want them smelling up any of my other stamps. As we do not smoke here.
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09:32:35pm
re: Does anyone know...
It smells up the room as well.
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