Cleansing decks -- literally

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 07 May 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

emily2otters	07 May 2002
now that i'm using my cards daily and carrying them with me everywhere i go, they're started to get a little grubby. :) does anyone have tips on how to clean cards without getting them wet or damaging the plastic finish?

Spasticgirlie	07 May 2002
you could probably just use a slightly damp towel or something that is just enough to wipe away the icky stuff.

cricket	07 May 2002
Either baby wipes or cotton balls with rubbing alcohol work well. Just make sure you dry them (paper towels work best) just after cleansing them. It helps get the gunk off.

Angel Star	07 May 2002
I would use a soft cloth with a little bit of salt water or I use incense. Its alot easier to just let the incense float into the cards or use both if the cards are getting very dingy.

MystiqueMoonlight	08 May 2002
What you call "grubby" I call "your essence". How grubby are these cards? Can you see the illustrations? Maybe you should wash your hands before you read (*smiling*). A well worn deck is a deck full of knowledge and personal essence. That is of course if you don't have last Sunday's beetroot spilt on it, and today's coffee splashed here and there.

Angel Star	08 May 2002
Sometime the decks get sticky at least mine do so I just wipe them with a damp cloth. Not sticky from food but sometimes my palms will sweat but I don't usually have a problem with grubby decks unless we are talking about a worn in deck which is not the same as dirty. LOL! Incense is my favorite to clean out a deck.

VGimlet	08 May 2002
On sealed cards you might also try very diluted (2 parts water, 1 part solution) *non-ammonia based* window cleaner on a slightly damp cloth. Although I would only use this if the cards are getting really dirty, and I would do a test-corner first.

Emily	09 May 2002
I've cleaned cards before with the anti-bacterial cleaning sprays you can buy, they don't stain or smell. Slightly dampen a paper towel and wipe over but don't soak the cards, but like VGimlet I would do a test corner first just to make sure nothing unexpected is going to happen lol :)

zorya	09 May 2002
since you carry your cards with you emily, be sure to also carry a cloth to lay them out on.

Angel Star	10 May 2002
I like to say a little prayer, incantation or whatever feels comfortable to you to help further cleanse the cards. I find the Archangels to be very helpful in cleansing decks. :)

Dagda	11 May 2002
I take a damp cloth to mine then dry them, doing each...one at a time. Usually when I get a deck, I like to put a very light coat of ....oh what is that.....Armoral ...for plastic on the cards. Just lightly wiped over them. Just sort of keeps them slippery new....as least I think so. ;)

The Cleansing decks -- literally thread was originally posted on 07 May 2002 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.