[PokerWierdo]

I may get ostracized for proposing this, but I think I may have found a GREAT way to easily clean chips with very little effort. Let me know if this is old news. I have tried pipeshield, tried toothpaste, tried soap and water. All were effective, but difficult and tiresome. I recently received a bunch of California Bell $1s in terrible shape. Some were so grimy that I couldn't read the label. So, I was at Target looking for Oxiclean (next in line of products to try), when I saw this:

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html...sin=B000GHDN38

I steam cleaned them. This shark steamer blasts a powerful jet of steam and I literally watched the grime come off the chips with no effort on my part. I'm talking the gunk inside the TH&C, the concentric ring, everything. All I did was lay them on a towel and went to town. You gotta see it to believe it, and no, I wasn't smart enough to take pictures.

Note: the chips were in horrible shape. I wasnt too afraid to ruin them. I cant tell if the heat from the steam did anything besides clean them, ie warp them. I guess I would need to try it on stackable chips to see if it has an effect. But definitely worth a try. Also, I don't think I would use it on plastic chips. The steam is quite hot and would probably melt them.

Somebody else weigh in on this if you have tried it. If you haven't, and have a lot of dirty clays to clean, this might be your ace in the hole.

PW

[nygiantsfan3342]

Without pics before and after, it's hard for us to judge the outcome. SOunds like a good idea as long as the chips aren't damaged by the steam.

[PokerWierdo]

I hear ya. I can just tell you that my chips werent affected at all. The main problem is that I wouldn't be able to tell if they were, because they were so grungy.

PW

[rimmerryan]

agreed, without before and after pictures of the chips themselves... it is difficult to determine whether or not,
1) it did a good job cleaning the chips, and
2) whether or not it damaged them in anyway.

try and get some more dirty chips and take pictures this time.

R.

[PokerWierdo]

Well, main problem is now that I don't have any more dirty chips to take pictures of. Anyone have a few grimys that they want to submit? I'll clean them and take pics.

PW

[Vince]

Honestly, I would not be surprised if the chips come out warped.
I mean even a hot car can cause warping and that steam is very hot!
I guess I stick to oxi cleaning

But I might change my mind on pics.

[AlbinoDragon]

WARNING! The following pics are not for the weak of heart.

http://www.ccgtcc.com/cleaning.html

The last pic on this page gives me reason enough not to clean with steam.

I'm not sure if the temps from this little machine are high enough to do this much damage, but I personally wouldn't want to risk it.

A.D.

[PokerWierdo]

Originally Posted by AlbinoDragon

WARNING! The following pics are not for the weak of heart.

http://www.ccgtcc.com/cleaning.html

The last pic on this page gives me reason enough not to clean with steam.

I'm not sure if the temps from this little machine are high enough to do this much damage, but I personally wouldn't want to risk it.

A.D.

I am sure the temps are high enough. But-- I would never hold the chips with anything. I laid them on a towel. Also-- none of my chips looked bad after the process. I just went and checked if there was any obvious warping, and, for the most part, none to speak of.

Someone send me dirties and I'll take pictures of the process. I don't own stock in these things, but I am always on the lookout for a better mousetrap.

PW

[Felix]

I think i can remember that most people have the opinion, that chips are getting warped due to heat and moisture. So a steam cleaner seems perfect for warping chips. But if it really works, i can imagine that it is a comfortable way of cleaning.
My mother once cleaned a laminated cupboard with a steam cleaner, after that the lamination came off. Sure, a cupboard is not a chip, but i would be really careful when using a steam cleaner on a clay chip.

[cloneless]

My first post on this site.
Has anyone tried cleaning chips using an ultrasonic cleaner; the kind jewelers use? I only have new chips, but I think I'll try a few in the cleaner we have at work just to see if there is damage. I have some Paulson samples, and Chipcos.