I also like to clean the stamps I am working on, at least to the point of removing hinges. However, the method used depends on the stamp. I won't soak say a Swiss Struble, but I might remove a hinge by careful work (Q Tip, burnishing etc.).

Further, I won't soak a stamp that likely has been repaired. I'd rather have a repaired rarity than no rarity and soaking (or even Q-Tipping) might damage the repair. Again, what comes to mind recently were some old Swiss stamps. For a while, the repaired stamps might be placeholders until I can afford a better copy. I recently replaced just such a stamp.

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