Self-Stick Stamp Removal

At the moment I'm mostly collecting stamps that come on letters I receive. Way back in the dark ages, when I was a child, soaking stamps off paper was easy. I've discovered that the self-stick stamps are a bit more stubbborn. I've searched around on the internet for tips and about all I've found is advice to soak self-stick stamps longer. But I've found that even after a 30 minute soak, some stamps still have a sticky residue. What is the best way to remove this?

(I apologize if I'm posting this in the wrong forum. If so, just direct me to the right one.)

Judybug

Judybug, that's a good question that we have pondered over here:
https://goscf.com/t/2016#2016
Go to this thread and there are a few suggestions. I say they are too much trouble to soak so I just cut around them with my scrap booking zig zag scissors--being careful not to cut the actual stamp, and then put them in my albums. It's much easier!

Good luck!
Gussyboy1 (Connie)

I also find that alot of the times the extended soaking sometimes really effects the colors.

Gussyboy1

i soaked one the other day and it came off after 5 minutes but it was still stickey on the back. I sprinkled some talc powder on the back and that took the stick away.

Yeh they are a pain

Some soak off ok, some totally disintergrate and others leave sticky residue of the gum on the back. I'm starting to be able to tell if they are going to be difficult and I just the them on paper and cut around as closely as I can like gussy says,

Dianne

Great idea baomo!
Hi Dianne!!

Gussyboy1

Great Idea bameo: Hi Gussy

I've also Ironed them with the sticky side down on tissie paper( the kind you use for wraping presents with) The gum sticks to the tissue paper and the stamp come off clean. Make sure you use a dry iron(no steam) on med low heat. Also put another peice of tissue paper on top of the stamp.

Dianne

Hello everyone......

Talc powder will not remove the gum residue....it just coats it. Isopropyl alcohol will remove the residue with a little gentle rubbing.

Thanks Tom

I hadn't thought of that. I have a few I'm going to try when I get home.

Dianne

Dianne

I second the thanks Tom. Never thought of using the alcohol....

Thanks, Tom! I like the alcohol idea better--nurses have lots of alcohol swabs!
Will give it a try.
Gussyboy1

I'll try the alcohol, too. I've tried some stuff called "Goo Gone" on one of the ubiquitous "Forever" stamps and it took the sticky off without any apparent damage to the stamp, but I wonder what the long term effect of Goo Gone might be.

Since I'm basically lazy, I like the "cutting around the stamp" idea. I have some of those scrapbooking scissors that make a stamp perforation edge so I don't know why I didn't think of that.

I guess if the envelope paper is acid, it and the stamp might disintigrate in a hundred years or so. But I'm beginning to think all paper is being made acid-free now. I have one of those testing pens. If you mark on acid-free paper, the mark is blue. If the paper has acid, the mark is yellow. Seems like everything I test these days is acid-free.

Judybug

Hi Folks.....

The papers in question are not the problem here, it's the gum. Using past issues as examples, before the gum disintegrates it will, in all probability, permeate the stamp paper/plastic and leave a yellow stain. There are quite a few covers around with a yellow stain where a stamp used to be, but I do not believe this is absolute. I imagine there are a number of different gums in use.

i'll have to give alcohol a try - but usually when I rub it tears.

Nr_Notrare..I would check the active ingredients, on the bottle
of Isopropyl alcohol .

Some manufacturers use acetone

Hi bobgggg........

The 91% I buy has 2 ingredients...alcohol & water, I've don't recall ever seeing one that contained acetone.....nasty stuff to use to sterilize a cut or something.