How to Clean Nail Stampers & Stamping Plates Properly
One of the main issues most women face when starting nail stamping is that they use the wrong cleaning method for their stampers and plates. This can either damage your plates and stamper or mess up your designs.
Now in this article, I will discuss and give you tips on how to correctly and safely clean your Nail Stampers and Stamping Plates.
Tips on How to Clean Nail Stamping Plates
1- Use Pure Acetone To Wipe Your Plates
The best way to clean your stamping plates is to use cotton pads or balls soaked with 100% pure acetone and then use it to wipe the stamping plates. Citation 1.
Avoid using nail polish remover with any added chemicals such as oils and moisturizers to clean your plates. These oils usually take a while to evaporate and leave a thin layer of oil over the plates which can interfere with your stamping. Citation.
You see a lot of nail polish removers contain moisturizers to prevent your nails from drying out due to the strong effects of the acetone but for cleaning your plates you don’t have to worry about this. Citation.
I usually use Super Nail Pure Acetone you can click to see the price of a bottle on Amazon. 
This is 100% pure acetone so it is very effective at removing polish. You can check out the video below to see how effective pure acetone is at removing polish from stamping plates. Citation.
Easy Step by Step Video on How to Clean Your Stamping Plates
2- Wipe From Multiple Angles
You need to wipe the stamping plates from various angles so as to get between the grooves of the plates. If you just wipe in one direction you might miss spots and leave some polish behind.
I usually wipe my plates from down-up, up-down, left to right, right to left and I even wipe at a 45-degree angle.
3- Clean Your Plates After Each Stamp
Always clean the area of the plate that you use immediately after stamping a design. If you wait too long to clean up, the polish will dry and be much harder to clean.
And also if you intend to use the same area on a plate multiple times you will need to clean that part of the plate after each time before stamping the same area again if not your design will be smudged.
4- Use a Cotton Claw
To avoid the acetone from messing up your designs I advise that you use a cotton claw when cleaning your plates.
A cotton claw is a device that firmly grabs and holds the cotton pads away from your nails which allows you to wipe down the plates without your nails getting into contact with the acetone on the cotton.
Cotton Claws are affordable and are very simple to use, you can check out the price of one on Amazon.
Alternatively, you can use clothes pegs or pins to hold the cotton swab.
5- Ensure All the Acetone Has Evaporated Before Stamping Again
Make sure your plate is totally dry before applying nail polish to stamp again.
If any acetone is left on the plates the stamper won’t be able to pick up the design. Don’t worry acetone is an extremely volatile liquid and will evaporate very quickly.
6- Invest in High-Quality Plates
Some stamping plates aren’t made of stainless steel instead they are made of regular steel which tends to get tarnished more easily especially when using acetone to clean it.
If you are unlucky to have stamping plates that are easily tarnished its best to avoid using acetone to clean it, instead try and use rubbing alcohol or soap and water.
Acetone is an extremely strong chemical and over time it will wear away regular steel that’s why most stamping plates are made of stainless steel which is much more durable.
And because of this, I would advocate investing in some strong tarnish resistant stamping plates, you can click to read my recommendations on the best high-quality stamping plates.
Tips on How to Properly Clean a Nail Stamper
1- Avoid Using Acetone or Polish Remover
There are different types of stampers with each being made and design using different materials but generally, you should avoid using acetone or nail polish remover to clean them.
Even if the instructions from the stamper brand says to use acetone. You see acetone is an extremely strong chemical that over time can easily damage your stamper. This is especially true for clear silicone based stampers.
And because of this I would advocate only using acetone as a last resort. Citation.
2- Use a Lint Roller
What I found to work the best for me is using a lint roller to clean my nail stampers.
All you need to do is press the squishy head of your stamper down on the lint roller and the residual polish will come off from the stamper and stick to the tape on the roller. Citation.
Now if you don’t have a lint roller you can use scotch tape as an alternative but lint rollers are very cheap you can click to see the price of the one I use on Amazon.
You can check out the video below to see how to use a lint roller to clean your nail stamper.
3- Work Fast
My last tip is to clean your nail stamper as quickly as possible do not let the polish dry on it.
When the nail polish dries on the nail stamper its much harder to clean.
What To Do if Your Nail Stamper is Stained
Most Stamping Polishes have a high density of pigments – this is to make your imprints look more clear and crisp but this high level of pigmentation can lead to your stampers being stained that even a lint roller can remove.
If this happens I would advocate using a cloth soaked with soap and water and wipe the stamper down, now if this doesn’t work then you can try cleaning the stamper with rubbing alcohol or then last resort use a small amount of acetone.
What to Do If Your Clear Stamper Is Cloudy
Clear Stampers usually become cloudy due to the use of acetone – sadly this cloudiness can’t be reversed or cleaned away its a permanent chemical change within the silicone head.
Now if this occurs the best thing you can do is either buy another stamper or replace the stamper’s head.
Other Stamping Related Tips and Guides.
The Best Nail Stamper To Make Stamping Easier
Our Recommended Nail Stamping Plates and Kits
How to Easily Thicken Polish For Nail Stamping
Our Recommended Brands of Stamping Polish.
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