It’s Quick Tip Tuesday, where I share one simple tip to make your creative time easier, more playful, and way less overthought.
Has your gel plate ever reached the point where the paint just won’t lift, or something feels “off”? This came up recently in one of my workshops. A couple of students were struggling to get the paint to transfer to paper, and I ended up swapping their plates for fresh ones—even though all the plates had been properly conditioned.
It made me wonder: do gel plates have an expected lifespan?
Cleaning Your Gel Plate
I checked the GelPress site, and a friendly chatbot explained that gel plates are designed to be reusable and durable, especially when properly maintained. There was no mention of an expiration date.
The bot recommended cleaning with:
- Baby wipes
- A soft cloth
- Mild dish soap and water
I hadn’t tried the dish soap method before, so I gave it a shot.
I filled my sink with warm water and a bit of Dawn dish soap, added a couple of plates at a time, and gently scrubbed them with my fingertips. Tiny bits of paint were removed with the edge of my thumbnail. Tip: Clean off as much paint as possible before putting the plates in the sink—paint down the drain = clogged pipes! 😬
I laid a bath towel near the sink to air-dry the plates, being careful to scoop them up and store them once dry to avoid picking up texture from the towel. This really freshened them up!
Conditioning Your Gel Plate
I also asked about using baby oil or mineral oil for conditioning. The bot recommended a thin layer of mineral oil (baby oil may contain fragrances or additives that could affect prints).
A cautionary note from experience: I didn’t spread the oil super thinly, and a few hours later, the surface puffed up slightly where the oil was thick. Yikes! I wiped off the extra, then sandwiched the plates between sheets of cheap copy paper (slightly larger than the plates, bumpy side down). A few hours later, they were perfect. Lesson learned: go light on the oil!
A Fun Bonus
The bot asked if I wanted recommendations for conditioning products. I said yes, and… classic bait-and-switch! No conditioning products in sight, just a list of gel plates for sale. 😂
Big Takeaways
- Gel plates are durable and reusable.
- Dish soap + warm water is an effective cleaning method.
- Condition with mineral oil sparingly.
- Be patient and gentle—your plates will thank you!
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