HOW TO CLEAN YOUR SELF-INKING STAMP
and HEAVY-DUTY SELF-INKING STAMP

An old toothbrush (you could use a new one if you really want.)

Warm, soapy water or Stamp Cleaner.
      Water won't clean some inks - you'll need Stamp Cleaner
      if you're using a special ink.

A rag (don't use a paper towel - it will leave fibers on your newly cleaned stamp)

Some absorbent paper.

The stamp that needs cleaning.

Some stamps are made out of a special plastic called photopolymer.
They make a nice stamp, but they can break if you're too rough when cleaning it.
Our stamps are made out of natural rubber, and you can be a little rougher with them.
If you don't know which you have, please be gentle with your stamp.
We don't want you to break your stamp.

It's rare that a self-inking stamp needs cleaning. Usually it's because the stamp pad
inside the frame is starting to break apart.
So cleaning your stamp might not fix the problem.
Of course, sometimes there is dirt on the plate, so cleaning it might help.

First, push the stamp down in the print position and lock it to hold it open.
    Different stamps have different locks, so you'll have to look for the lock.
    Usually there are buttons on the sides of the frame. Push those in when the stamp
    is all the way in the print position and slowly let the stamp go up until you hear a click.

Put some water or cleaner on the rag.

Press the rag on the printing plate (to soak the surface of the stamp)
    and hold for about 10 seconds, maybe more.

Put some water or cleaner on the toothbrush (not a lot, you don't want a mess).

Gently rub the plate with the toothbrush to wipe away the dirt.

Wipe the surface of the stamp with rag.

Keep doing this until the stamp is clean. (It might take 2 or 3 times.)

Press the stamp on to the absorbent paper to get the water or cleaner off the plate.
    Hold it there for about 10 seconds while the liquid soaks into the paper.

Unlock the stamp. If your stamp have the buttons on the side, usually just pushing
    on the top of the stamp will unlock it.

You can use the rag, it just might take a little longer to clean your stamp.

The problem is probably the pad inside the frame.
When they get really old (more than 20 years) the material can start to break
and stick to the rubber plate. It's probably time for a new pad. Maybe even a new stamp.