How to clean a tarot deck to remove stains?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 22 Dec 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

moon_mermaid	22 Dec 2003
When a deck get used over and over again, there are always some stains or dirt no matter how careful you handle the deck. So how should I clean the deck to remove the dirt without harming the deck? I just prefer to use my old deck than getting a replacement, coz the old deck feels like old friend. Any suggestions?

MoreMagic	22 Dec 2003
Hi Moon-Mermaid (Love those M-M names! :) ) I think a lot depends on what the soil is, but if you just mean some general grime from many peoples' hands, you might want to try getting an eraser from an art supply store (I can't remember the term for them, but they are generally white or cloudy-clear) and rub gently. Unlike rubber pencil erasers, these are meant to just scrub the surface and not take off too much of the underlying paper, so they may work for you.

lark	22 Dec 2003
Hi moon_mermaid I once dumped a whole cup of coffee all over my Robin Wood deck. My most favorite deck of all time. I was devestated. I thought for sure I'd have to throw it away. I didn't know what to do, but I thought anything I did was better than nothing. I put some water and a little dish soap in a bowl and I got a soft piece of cotton cloth. I dipped the end of the cloth in the water and then wrung it out so it wasn't to wet. Then I gave each card a bath back and front and on the edges. Wiped them down with a dry cloth and layed them on a big towel to dry. I was afraid they would curl up at the edges from being wet but they didn't. They turned out great. I still use them. And when my other decks get smuggy from skin oil and just general grime I give them a little bath like this it really freshens them up. And they look very new and clean. I have heard that there is a powder that Magicians use on their cards that absorbes and skin oils and makes your cards easy to shuffle but I've never tried it. P.S. After the coffee incident I went out and bought a spare Robin Wood deck. Just incase..... I forgot to add my decks are heavily laminated. This method wouldn't work for non laminated decks.

Alissa	22 Dec 2003
I must be a minority ... I prefer stains, as long as they're not horrendous and warping the cards. Stains make a deck look *loved* to me. Like a book that's heavily annotated. The art erasers are a great idea, though, if you really feel the stains gotta go. The powder mentioned is a trick that Umbrae speaks of, but I don't think it does anything for removing stains, only for easier shuffling.

cricket	22 Dec 2003
In the US those are called kneadable erasers. I have plenty of them around here somewhere, and they do work well. Another idea is to use baby wipes. They work wonders on the grub and grime that's been there for a while, and will not damage most cards.

jmd	22 Dec 2003
A drop of pure lavender oil on a soft tissue works wonders :)

moon_mermaid	23 Dec 2003
Thanks for all the suggestions. Lark, Robin Wood is my fav also, and when I wrote this thread, this was the deck on my mind. I will take out my deck and ask her how she wants to be cleaned :D

LadyMedusa	23 Dec 2003
I think the eraser mentioned is also called an "art gum eraser". LadyMedusa

lark	23 Dec 2003
Quote: Originally posted by moon_mermaid Thanks for all the suggestions. Lark, Robin Wood is my fav also, and when I wrote this thread, this was the deck on my mind. I will take out my deck and ask her how she wants to be cleaned :D And I'm sure sweet thing that she is she'll be happy to tell you. ~good luck~

Alex	02 Jan 2004
I have cleaned my Mythic deck twice and my Troth deck once with nail polisher. Alex.

WolfSpirit	02 Jan 2004
Quote: Originally posted by lark I didn't know what to do, but I thought anything I did was better than nothing. I put some water and a little dish soap in a bowl and I got a soft piece of cotton cloth. I dipped the end of the cloth in the water and then wrung it out so it wasn't to wet. Then I gave each card a bath back and front and on the edges. Wiped them down with a dry cloth and layed them on a big towel to dry. I was afraid they would curl up at the edges from being wet but they didn't. I cleaned a deck that way too :) But I put the deck under a big pile of books afterwards to make sure the cards would not get bent.

The How to clean a tarot deck to remove stains? thread was originally posted on 22 Dec 2003 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.