Cleaning dirty cards
Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 20 Feb 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.
| seapearls |
20 Feb 2005 |
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By this I mean physically cleaning a dirty deck. Recently I recieved a used deck that looked a little dirty and had a horrible stench to them. Airing them out and using incense on them really didn't do anything.
So yesterday I lightly wiped down both sides of each card (deck is coated by the way) with lavender clorox wipes and let them air dry. They look a little better, smell 50% better and I'm sure I got rid of lots of germs but most of all they "feel" better. Once I was done and put the deck back together and shuffled them. At that time I got this strong vibe from them like they were saying, " Wow thanks, we feel so much better now. Finally someone is taking care of us." I also washed the nasty bag they came it and it smells 100% better.
It was kind of an eyeopener and I instantly felt more connected to this deck.
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| seneris |
20 Feb 2005 |
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How did you get htis deck? It sounds like you bought it at a flea-market or something (I can't find the correct word, I'm sorry)
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| seapearls |
20 Feb 2005 |
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How did you get htis deck? It sounds like you bought it at a flea-market or something (I can't find the correct word, I'm sorry)
It was given to me from someone online on another board who was giving many decks away. I got a few other decks from them, and one was in the original package and the others were in good shape but just smelled, this one was the worst one.
But thats irrelevant, I was just asking how others clean decks if they have to and do you ever notice a different feel to the deck once its cleaned?
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| fyreflye |
20 Feb 2005 |
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I recently had to do a complete wipedown with a damp cloth of every card in a set of the original Albano-Waite deck. It improved them greatly but there's still some tobacco smell. I've never heard of Clorox lavender wipes (don't watch tv ;)). How safe are they for uncoated decks? Any other products to recommend?
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| Majecot |
20 Feb 2005 |
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What a shame that person did not take better care of their decks, or even worse sent them out to another in such condition.
Being worn and well loved is entirely different from abuse. I would have been embarrased to give away something (anything) in that type of condition.
I have never had to clean a deck so I guess it would not occur to me use something like a wipe.
(clorex wipes can be found in the grocery store and department stores)...I love using them to clean with. I use them at work to clean my desk and wipe down the keyboards too.
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| souljourney |
20 Feb 2005 |
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I'm so glad you found something to clean them with. And that they are being taken care of.
How about the book? Did you get the smell out of it too yet? And how?
SJ
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| seapearls |
20 Feb 2005 |
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I recently had to do a complete wipedown with a damp cloth of every card in a set of the original Albano-Waite deck. It improved them greatly but there's still some tobacco smell. I've never heard of Clorox lavender wipes (don't watch tv ;)). How safe are they for uncoated decks? Any other products to recommend?
Clorox wipes are in the cleaner isle of Walmart or grocery stores. We use them in the kitchen and bathrooms. Not sure about using them on a non coated deck, I wouldn't think about using them on my Froud faery oracles.
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| ankita |
23 Feb 2005 |
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hey
isnt it true that u shd have ur own deck for tarot reading ..which shd not be used by anyone else..i have heard of this.i m not sure
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| Eco74 |
23 Feb 2005 |
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Ankita:
Some say that one should have a separate deck for personal readings, many others use the same deck they have for reading for others.
This is very much a personal preference and I think that most people that do have a special deck for personal readings have found a deck that just seems to work for them on a different level than "normal readings" or a deck that is used more for personal spiritual development than for general readings.
I know most readings I do for myself have to do with where I'm headed spiritually and what I need to work with in myself, which is not the type of reading I'm used to doing for others (though I would like to since it has given me so much). I also have a few select decks I rarely (if ever) use when reading for others, but I would not hesitate to use it for someone else if it seemed the appropriate deck for the person and question.
There are a lot of "rules" in tarot, like you shouldn't buy your own deck, decks have to be kept in black silk scarves, noone else should touch your deck etc. etc. I'm sure you'll be able to find enless discussions on the forum about this kind of thing.
The most important "rule" is to find a deck, way of keeping your decks and way of reading (etc. etc.) that suits You and makes You feel at ease with the cards and the querents. It's a matter of the connection between You and Your deck(s) after all and that is a personal bond, demanding personal views on how it is to be kept and cared for. :)
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| seapearls |
23 Feb 2005 |
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Ankita:
Some say that one should have a separate deck for personal readings, many others use the same deck they have for reading for others.
This is very much a personal preference and I think that most people that do have a special deck for personal readings have found a deck that just seems to work for them on a different level than "normal readings" or a deck that is used more for personal spiritual development than for general readings.
I know most readings I do for myself have to do with where I'm headed spiritually and what I need to work with in myself, which is not the type of reading I'm used to doing for others (though I would like to since it has given me so much). I also have a few select decks I rarely (if ever) use when reading for others, but I would not hesitate to use it for someone else if it seemed the appropriate deck for the person and question.
There are a lot of "rules" in tarot, like you shouldn't buy your own deck, decks have to be kept in black silk scarves, noone else should touch your deck etc. etc. I'm sure you'll be able to find enless discussions on the forum about this kind of thing.
The most important "rule" is to find a deck, way of keeping your decks and way of reading (etc. etc.) that suits You and makes You feel at ease with the cards and the querents. It's a matter of the connection between You and Your deck(s) after all and that is a personal bond, demanding personal views on how it is to be kept and cared for. :)
Well I just received my Gilded deck yesterday ( brand new so no cleaning here lol ) and so far I only plan to use it for myself and my husband until I get my husand a deck that is only for him. But I most certainly would rather use other decks for other peoples readings becasue of that connection. I don't see this to be the same things as tarot myths and rules. Thanks for your reply.
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| Grizabella |
23 Feb 2005 |
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If the wipes have Clorox in them, I'd be very worried that they'd fade the deck. The bleaching effect isn't immediate and might bleach them out over time.
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| MeeWah |
23 Feb 2005 |
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SeaPearls: I think any efforts towards taking care of a deck contributes to the bond.
I have a second-hand deck whose faces & edges are soiled & may try similar.
To remove or neutralize an odor, I am considering non-scented Febreze, a commercial spray product to remove odor.
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| seapearls |
23 Feb 2005 |
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SeaPearls: I think any efforts towards taking care of a deck contributes to the bond.
I have a second-hand deck whose faces & edges are soiled & may try similar.
To remove or neutralize an odor, I am considering non-scented Febreze, a commercial spray product to remove odor.
We always have atleast 1 febreeze here, love the stuff. The thought crossed my mind but I figured they'd get too wet.
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| Annabelle |
23 Feb 2005 |
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Initially when I spotted this thread I was surprised that so many used decks would be in dirty and/or smelly condition. But then reality struck when a vintage deck I purchased from an eBay auction arrived last week, absolutely covered in powder (baby powder, I'm guessing, given the pleasant odor). Not just dusted lightly with powder, but really coated with the stuff. It must have been on the cards for years, because it was stuck on. I was afraid to get the cards wet because they are fairly old and delicate, so I wiped each one with a soft towel. Took me ages to get them clean. But as it turns out, once I got the powder off, they look nearly brand-new. My best guess is someone covered them with powder a long time ago to keep them from sticking to one another while they were in storage....
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| wandking |
23 Feb 2005 |
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"If the wipes have Clorox in them, I'd be very worried that they'd fade the deck. The bleaching effect isn't immediate and might bleach them out over time."
that was exactly my concern when I read these posts.
After years of good readings, my RWS became spotty from picking up various junk on table-tops. I decided to clean them using only water on a soft cloth. They cleaned up very well but months later I noticed fading and more pronounced spots of discoloration where the tiny specks of junk had been.
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| MeeWah |
23 Feb 2005 |
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Lyric & Wandking: Good points I had considered.
Deck acquired some time ago & not known condition other than being described as "used". Card surface feels yucky so willing to risk it. May switch to a different type of wipe, though not sure much difference.
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| fyreflye |
23 Feb 2005 |
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Thanks, ladies, for your Home Ec tips which, never having had a wife willing to pitch in on the housecleaning, I badly needed ;) I'm back from the local Safeway where I acquired the Clorox wipes, though they didn't have the lavender ones (just plain and lemon.) Being the cautious type, what I did was bundle the cards into a tight stack and wipe the edges all the way around. This at least succeeded in replacing the smell of stale tobacco with the smell of artificial country air. We'll see how long that lasts.
I also picked up a product called Mr Clean Magic Eraser which promises to clean even the grimiest tarot cards (well, it didn't actually mention tarot cards) by simply adding water to its sponge and wiping gently. It looked like it might be too strong for my delicate blues and reds but at least might asphyxiate the grunge in my bathtub. Anyone ever use this product for tarot "cleansing?"
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| similia |
23 Feb 2005 |
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For tobacco smell you could spinkle the cards very liberally in baking powder. It absorbs odors, but shouldn't hurt the cards. I think you might need to store them away for some time however.
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| fyreflye |
23 Feb 2005 |
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For tobacco smell you could spinkle the cards very liberally in baking powder. It absorbs odors, but shouldn't hurt the cards. I think you might need to store them away for some time however.
Thanks, similia.
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| Grizabella |
23 Feb 2005 |
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You know, I just had a thought. Having once been a Tupperware lady, I remember them teaching us that if your Tupperware containers picked up odors from strong foods like onions and garlic, etc., you should crumple newspapers up and put them inside, then put the lids on and let them sit for a few days. I wonder if the same thing would work on odors in tarot cards. It would be worth a try. Just spread your deck out in a plastic container with some crumpled newspaper, put the lid on, wait a few days, and see if it works.
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| MeeWah |
23 Feb 2005 |
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Lyric: More Home Ec tips--thanks!
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| fyreflye |
23 Feb 2005 |
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As a matter of fact I just recalled (my memory's mostly gone) a recommendation suggesting the use of cat litter to remove the smell from musty old books. If it works on books it should work on tarot cards, too. Perhaps if I find just the right mix of baking powder, crumpled newspaper and cat litter I might produce a real Home Ec Hit for the cleaner isle at Walmart and grocery stores.
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| Grizabella |
24 Feb 2005 |
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You're welcome Meewah. :)
The cat litter is something I hadn't heard about. Musty books always give me a headache, so it's good to know there might be something to be done for them. I'll try it sometime.
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| Keslynn |
24 Feb 2005 |
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Crushed lavendar stored with the cards generally works well to remove odor. You could probably also put an essential oil on a tissue or piece of scrap cloth and store it in a closed container with the deck.
For actual surface cleaning, maybe baby wipes/moist towlettes would help? I would think that the alcohol-free kinds would be better on the deck. I've never actually tried this, but it would probably work and the bleach wouldn't be a factor.
:) Kes
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| Grizabella |
24 Feb 2005 |
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Baby wipes contain oily moisturizers, though, and that would make a film on the cards that would attract dirt.
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| fyreflye |
24 Feb 2005 |
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Just thought I'd report back on the results of my efforts to remove the tobacco smell from my recently purchased original edition Albano-Waite deck. The Clorox wipes applied to the edges of the deck seem to have worked. There's no tobacco smell and the residue of the artificial "country air" scent of the wipes has faded so as not to be annoying. This suggests to me that tobacco odor on cards is less a result of smoke deposit on the card faces than the handling of the cards by someone who is a smoker.
There were also occasional tiny brown spots extending from the edges of a few of the cards into the white margin. I removed these with the Mr Clean Magic Eraser. I did not attempt to clean the card surfaces with either product. The original damp cloth wipe worked well enough.
Thanks again for all the suggestions.
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The Cleaning dirty cards thread was originally posted on 20 Feb 2005 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.
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