4.02.2010

[faq] cleaning cloths

A month before we released the L Letterpress, I had baby. A question we always get is do I really have to use the L Cleaning Cloths? Can't I just use diaper wipes?

Well, of course you don't have to use L Cleaning Cloths, but they work so well. When developing the products, I went through lots of diaper wipes and paper towels to try and clean up the ink we were testing. Let's just say I wasted a lot brayers and paper because it was easier to just throw everything away than deal with the mess and time of trying to clean everything up.

This made our search for a great ink cleaner even more important, and I'm really happy with how the cleaning cloths turned out. The other night I ran out of cleaning cloths so I had to resort back to the diaper wipe option. Not fun. I almost drove to our corporate warehouse in the middle of the night to get more.

L Cleaning Cloth (left) - Diaper Wipe (right)

What do you think about selling the cleaning solution in a bottle with a scrub brush for deep cleaning your printing plates?

15 comments:

  1. Thank you for this info - wondered about this myself, but decided to try the L cloths. Love the idea of bottle cleaner and brush for deep cleaning!

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  2. I love the cleaning wipes! They are super easy to use and thorough! But how do I clean the adhesive from the paper placement guides off the packing mat grid?

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  3. AMEN! PERFECT!
    Anary
    http:/www.anaryatelie.blogspot.com

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  4. Quick tip: vegetable oil on a piece of paper towel works wonderfully. The only annoying thing is cleaning up the oil residue after.

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  5. I think selling the cleaning fluid in a bottle with a scrub brush sounds great !!!

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  6. I LOVE that idea! While I like the cleaning cloths for the printing plates, it's a bit of a pain to clean the brayer and plate with the cloths. Can you create a soap/wash that can be used to clean those two items (in the sink)? I really enjoy using my Letterpress, but the clean up time is pretty long if I only want to use one plate.
    ~Erin.

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  7. Thanks for the feedback and tips! I'll start working on a cleaning solution option. I've never tried vegetable oil, but I have used shortening to clean the rollers on an antique letterpress I have. It worked, but was messy.

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  8. cleaning solution in a bottle with a brush would be great. I found it challenging to get all the ink off my plates completely.

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  9. Yes, more cleaning options! Thanks!

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  10. Thanks for showing the difference between the two cloths.

    And a big YES to cleaning solution. Cleaning the tools is such a time-consuming process.

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  11. I can attest to needing to purchase the wipes --trust me, they totally work way better than any baby wipes or the veg oil idea (messy)! I'm soooo on board with a cleaner in bottle form; would buy it in a heartbeat!

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  12. Hi, I just bought a kit while on holiday in America (I’m from South Africa) and am besides myself to start using my Letter Press Kit but unfortunately I didn’t purchase the cleaning wipes (I wasn't aware of them) what is he best solution if you are unable to get your hands on the wipes?

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  13. This is a very informative post. It is going to be a big help to all mom who is having a problem in their clothes. Thank you for sharing it. I will make sure that all my friends are going to see this blog.

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