Tips for Cleaning and Storing Your Gelatin & Gelli Plates

If you’ve been printing with commercial gelli plates for a while, or you’re just starting out, you’ve probably wondered how to clean and store them properly.

After 13-14 years of using them in my own art practice and workshops, here’s what I’ve learned about cleaning and storing my plates.

These tips are based entirely on my personal experience, and they’re what I share with students in my workshops and classes. Some of it might differ from what you read elsewhere, but this is what’s worked for me.

How I Use My Gel Plates

I’ve been printing with commercial Gelli Arts and Gel Press gel plates since around 2013. I made my first gelatin plate around 2016. I still have, and use, every single commercial plate I’ve ever bought. With a little care, they can last for years.

My personal approach to gel plate monoprinting involves printing multiple layers of thin paint. I clean the plate as I go. I know many people let layers dry on the plate to build up texture and colour, and that can create beautiful effects. But for me, I prefer to work clean and fresh with each pull.

I often use baby wipes to clean the plate between prints, or I let the printing paper lift most of the paint off. Either way, I’m not leaving paint to dry on the surface, which means my plates tend to stay in pretty good condition.

That said, some paints and inks will stain. I’ve found that pencil and charcoal drawings can leave behind a residue too. It doesn’t affect the plate’s performance, it’s just part of its well-loved character over time.

Yes, I’ve had a few plates damaged over the years, usually from debris or creased acetate sheets left between the plate and the clamshell packaging. The good news? You can use both sides of the plate. And sometimes, those damage marks make for beautifully unexpected textures in your prints! Or read on for a tip on how to remove them!

I buy cheap baby oil, whatever is on special and no-name brands. For baby wipes, I buy fragrance-free. The biodegradable baby wipes can be problematic. I also re-use my baby wipes. Rinse them in water, let them dry, and use them again! Instead of baby wipes, you can use a microfibre cloth with a spray bottle filled with fresh water.

Cleaning Tips

My own printing approach keeps my plates pretty clean, but I do give them a proper clean if they’re stained, about once a year. Commercial gel plates are not cheap, but when they are looked after, they will last you years and years and years! Here are a few of my cleaning tips (you can use these tips fon DIY homemade gel plates too):

• Luke-warm soapy water works just fine for general surface cleaning.
• For stubborn stains, I use baby oil. It’s gentle and, importantly, compatible with the mineral-oil base of commercial gelli plates.
• Hand sanitiser can also be effective. The alcohol in the hand sanitiser helps dissolve dried acrylic paint, especially if it’s been left on the plate a bit too long.
• If you’re teaching or using plates with groups, I suggest a proper clean with baby oil at least once per term. It helps prolong the life of the plates and keeps them in good shape for shared use.

Storage Tips

My approach to storing gelli plates is simple and low-fuss. Here’s what works for me:

• I keep each plate in its original clamshell plastic packaging. It’s sturdy and protects the surface of the plates.
• Those clear acetate sheets that come with the plates can help lift the plate out of the case, but be cautious! If the acetate becomes creased or torn, it will leave permanent marks or indentations in the plate. If those acetate sheets become damaged, I throw them away and just store the plate directly in the plastic case.
• I store my plates flat and stacked, usually 5-10 high. I don’t store them vertically. I also don’t stack any additional weight on to the stack.
• If a shallow depression or bubble forms on the plate from storage, sandwich the plate between two sheets of copy paper and leave it overnight. This should smooth the bubble depression. It doesn’t work for deep impressions, but it’s worth a try.
• For my larger 16×20″ plates, I store them between two sheets of heavyweight drawing paper inside the original cardboard box they came in. My oldest Gelli Arts 16×20″ plate is around 10 years old and going strong!

More Tips for Monoprinting with Gelatin Plates

Below are links to other blog posts where I share more tips about making, re-using and printing with gelatin plates.

I’d love to hear if you have any cleaning or storage tips to share! Add them to the comments below.