How Peel & Stick get their groove back

My friend Jenny Regan recently emailed me with this question: "some of my Peel and Stick stamps aren't sticky anymore. Is there a way to get them to stick again?" She's planning on making her own Christmas gift wrap using Peel & Stick stamps, Kraft paper and Baker's Twine. Love it! Can't wait to see how it comes out. Well she needs them sticky to get it done so here's how to do it. 


Peel & Stick stamps most often temporarily lose their stickiness when there's ink build up on them. If you aren't diligent about washing them after you use them (like me), just rise them under some warm water. Even if you are diligent about washing them after use, they can still lose some stickiness from dirt and oil from your hands.  And even lint is a nasty cuprit.    No worries - they really do bounce back!

Give them a brief bath in dish soap. Palmolive works great for me.

Then dry them with a paper towel. You will notice there's still some color on the stamps – this happens if you don't wash them right away after use but doesn't affect any further stamping.

Within a few seconds after their bath, they are sticky again! Look I stuck mine to the window.

You will see they really do bounce right back – it's quite amazing! Stick them over and over again – they really never do lose their stickiness.