Erni A & B Stamp Cleaner Took The Colour!

I decided to clean some stamps that were a bit dubious re fixing and stained
I was going well until Sc#212


So is this fugitive ink?
Or does the cleaner do this to all blue stamps?
I was going to try a #7 but now.....

No, this stamp will not change under typical water-only soaking

Tell us what is this "ERNI A&B stamp cleaner" you have used as a warning to the rest of us to NEVER use it on ANY stamp? What are the chemicals involved, what are the directions, what are the cautions?

And quite frankly, not to be "cleaning" any stamps unless we know what we are doing.

Totally horrified!!!!

It is a Lindner mildew remover for stamps and banknotes. Submerge three minutes in ERNI A, then three in ERNI B, finally clean in water.

https://www.lindner-original.de/phi...a-1111130091
https://www.lindner-original.de/phi...a-1111130092

Auf English bitte.

I read the warnings associated with this product. I think if such harsh warnings about the use of this cleaner does not reframe you from its use. Then I would reread the warnings. I can not see using this cleaner on any stamps in my collection. It would be best to leave the stamps in the original condition than try to improve its appearance. A light wash with water to remove dust and light dirt is acceptable. I beleive any chemicals used to clean a stamp is damaging it in someway and altering it from collectivity. Cleaning stamps should be looked upon the same way as cleaning coins do to coin collectors. Cleaned coins are worth less and loses the collectivity to most collectors. The same rule should apply to stamp collectors as well.

Lindner states:





This is exactly what the OP has here, a brown stamp now.

While I completely agree with the sentiment that harsh cleaners should be completely avoided I also think that the instructions were not followed.

There is a flag at the top of the page. That allows you to change the language.

Nuclear fallout sounds safer than this. That said, certain chemicals used for general conservation, by professionals, are like this - and mostly should be used by professionals only - and rarely if ever on stamps.

Absolutely everything I own has a CA Proposition 65 warning that it can kill you, from inanimate objects to food. I don't necessarily freakout over these labels. Don't ingest it applies to hundreds of things we live with. Duh. Watermark fluid and lighter fluid are not necessarily the soup de jour.

Well said!

I have used this on many other stamps with no change in colour or bleaching. I agree re the harsh chemicals however I thought Lindner would've a reputable stamp accessory supplier.
But now I know and won't be using it on blue stamps again.
Thank you all for your input

Erni-A is a solution of Potassium permanganate KMnO4
Erni-B is a solution of Sodium disulfite NaHSO4
This cleaning is the "chemical club" of solutions. It sometimes does pose problems with some red and brown stamps. The treatement always leaves traces which stamp experts will see. Usually a (good) certificate will say "chemically treated". Incidentally, both substances are used in the food industry, so they don't klil on sight. But they aren't healthy, either.

You can try some other anti-bacterial product instead. If you just want to kill the spores, a few seconds in the microwave oven will do that.

In any case, if you have stamps with fungus then isolate all of them from the good stamps.

Thanks drkohler

Take seriously the instruction to wear gloves with the "A" lest you be suspected of lifting the Rolex from your co-worker's desk drawer. (Potassium permanganate being commonly used to identify a pilferer. "Did you steal the watch?" "No." "Then why are your fingertips purple?"*)

* "I was cleaning my stamps."

As far as chemicals go, these aren't exactly harsh. I could see how things could go awry if you didn't follow the instructions, though.

I have used ERNI A&B on occasion. It sometimes yields excellent improvement in appearance, sometimes not. To my eye, it leaves an unnatural bleached look to the paper if the patient is treated too long. In my opinion, if your stamp doesn't need it, don't use it.

For many stamps it is safe, but you do so at your own risk. It does damage some red, brown and blue pigments; it functions as an iron scavenger though it does more than that. I have also discovered a few things it can do that are better off not published.