Pre-Soaking Organization?

not all self-adhesives are the same ... probably has to do with the year they were issued

I have no problem removing most of the Flag Over Porch stamps & Forever Liberty Bells, and haven't had any problems with Bird/Flower/Fruit/etc series. I do have more problems with SA Christmas stamps, but again I think it depends on the years issued. I know there's a list somewhere detailing which are easily soaked, which are medium, and which are impossible.

I usually do a quick sort of what I may keep and then fill the sink and dump em in. Use 3 towels and fill them up take 10minute break and go at it again. I've been sittin beside a 5lb box on paper that I should soak just to reduce the shipping cost to unload them all. Nothing great in there but some multiple fly specking stuff. Probably just donate but like I said shipping as is will cost 5x more than if they are all off paper.

For all the compulsive soakers, I propose the "barrel" solution.

Everything that's dirt-common, or infuriatingly self-adhesive, or obviously damaged, or prone to stain other stamps, THOSE STAMPS go into the BARREL, unsoaked and unloved. Every few years, I give the barrel to somebody. Problem solved. You only have a limited amount of time - concentrate on the desirable stamps, not the undesirable.

If you were dating Cinderella, would you take out her two ugly sisters too, just to give them equal time?