Wallpaper Cleaning - Old Time Method

[Mardon]

I got into a discussion yesterday with my wife and a neighbour about how I
remember my parents cleaning our wallpaper when I was a child (1940s). I
can remember them using something that looked like Play Dough or Duct Seal
looks today. It came in a can. You'd roll it into a ball and scrub the
wallpaper. My wife and neighbour thought I was crazy and said they never
heard of it. I've searched the Web to try and find an old picture of a
can, or an ad, but I can't find any. Does anyone here recall this stuff?
Any idea where I can get a photo or a copy of an old ad?

[Boron Elgar]

On Mon, 3 Jan 2011 17:26:00 +0000 (UTC), Mardon <mgb7...@hotmail.com>
wrote:

We called it cleaning putty, and though I can find references to it
and similarly named items for sale online, I cannot (at least not
quickly) find the sort made specifically for wallpaper.

It's gotta be out there.

Boron

[Les Albert]

On Mon, 3 Jan 2011 17:26:00 +0000 (UTC), Mardon <mgb7...@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>I got into a discussion yesterday with my wife and a neighbour about how I

See: http://www.absorene.com/absorenecleaners.html

Les

[Mardon]

Les Albert <lalb...@aol.com> wrote:

> See http://www.absorene.com/absorenecleaners.html

I don't think anyone still makes the stuff I'm talking about. I believe
that Absorene is different, although I could be wrong about that.

Just after posting my request to AFCA, I thought about searching some
online newspaper archives. Sure enough, I found an advertisement for
exactly the same stuff that my parents used to use. Here is a copy of the
ad from a 1946 Ohio newspaper:
http://JustUs.ca/post/wallpapercleaner.jpg

Thanks, for your reply..

[landotter]

I've heard of this stuff. Putty is also common for detailing cars. If
you need the modern equivalent, try a "Magic Eraser".

[David J. Martin]

Like Boron, I had no success finding the stuff. I did find that play-doh
was originally marketed as a wall paper cleaning putty. The
manufacturers heard that kids were using it as a toy modeling clay.
They switched it to that market and the rest is history.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Play-Doh

David

[Les Albert]

On Mon, 3 Jan 2011 17:50:58 +0000 (UTC), Mardon <mgb7...@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>Les Albert <lalb...@aol.com> wrote:

>
>> See http://www.absorene.com/absorenecleaners.html
>
>I don't think anyone still makes the stuff I'm talking about. I believe
>that Absorene is different, although I could be wrong about that.

I think the only difference between Absorene and the old cleaner you
mentioned is that the old one comes in a can, and Abosorene comes in a
plastic container.

>Just after posting my request to AFCA, I thought about searching some
>online newspaper archives. Sure enough, I found an advertisement for
>exactly the same stuff that my parents used to use. Here is a copy of the
>ad from a 1946 Ohio newspaper:
>http://JustUs.ca/post/wallpapercleaner.jpg
>Thanks, for your reply..

You are welcome.

Les

[Nasti J]

An updated version is for sale today thru Woot:
http://www.meritline.com/new-soft-clean-tool---p-55056.aspx?

[Boron Elgar]

On Mon, 3 Jan 2011 15:18:59 -0800 (PST), Nasti J <njgi...@gmail.com>
wrote:

I saw this stuff online, but it is recommended for electronic widgets.
I did not see mention of wallpaper.

However, it is made of Sesbania gum, glycerin and bactericide, AND:

# Please do not re-use it when its color darkened and the texture
quality softened, the abandoned glue will be natural degradation and
environment friendly.

# Children need parents accompanied by using it, please do not play it
as a toy.

# Avoid touching strong acid and alkali liquid, please keeping your
hands dry when you use it that the effect will be better.

# Keep away from direct sunlight and keep in a dry place.

# Please put back to the hermetic bag after using.

[Veronique]

On Jan 3, 9:41 am, Les Albert <lalbe...@aol.com> wrote:
> On Mon, 3 Jan 2011 17:26:00 +0000 (UTC), Mardon <mgb72...@hotmail.com>

THAT is pretty AFCA-awesome.

V., tempted to order a case
--
Veronique Chez Sheep

[Les Albert]

>> See:http://www.absorene.com/absorenecleaners.html

If you have a wallpaper cleaning project then check out "Rodale's Book
of Practical Formulas" at your local library. It has a formula for
wallpaper spot removal that seems easy to make and to use.

Les

[Heather]

On Tue, 04 Jan 2011 10:43:30 -0800, Les Albert <lalb...@aol.com>
wrote:

Or you could use slightly stale white bread, the cheaper the better.

--
Heather

[dru...@gmail.com]

klux

[dru...@gmail.com]

i mean kutols

[Les Albert]

On Mon, 29 Feb 2016 00:53:28 -0800 (PST), dru...@gmail.com wrote:

>klux


Nov shmoz kapop.

[hartm...@gmail.com]

Yes, I remember helping my mother clean the papered walls. For a kid it was fun. I probably played with it more than I cleaned ! Remember how black it became and yet still removed the the soil from the paper.

[Kerr Mudd-John]

Seems like when I was a whipper-snapper my parents redecorated every 3/4
years! Hell I last dun that 5 years ago now (only 'cos that was when we
moved in). Also we've gone in a circle and cover our stuff with ash and
soot, just like the old days afore the leccy!

--
Bah, and indeed, Humbug

[Bill Turlock]

I too remember it.

[Tim Wright]

http://www.absorene.com/aboutus.html

--
I never said most of the things I said.
-Yogi Berra


Tim W

[Boron Elgar]

On Wed, 18 May 2016 17:44:57 -0500, Tim Wright <tlwri...@gmail.com>
wrote:

Even better...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/14/play-doh-wallpaper-cleaner_n_3430042.html

[reneher...@gmail.com]

I actually saw a historical review of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Play-Doh. Which originated from putty first made for walls to remove soot from fireplaces.
~Paul

[brendaba...@gmail.com]

On Monday, January 3, 2011 at 12:26:00 PM UTC-5, Mardon wrote:

Yes, I remember wallpaper cleaner as a child. I loved to play with it. It was the original play dough.

[Kerr-Mudd,John]

I remember 2011, when usenet was vibrant.

[devo...@gmail.com]

On Monday, January 3, 2011 at 12:26:00 PM UTC-5, Mardon wrote:

[devo...@gmail.com]

On Monday, January 3, 2011 at 12:26:00 PM UTC-5, Mardon wrote:

Yes, it was called Wal-vet. It was much like Play Dough, and had a solvent mixed into it. We'd rub it across the wallpaper, and it would grab the soil. In the days of coal furnaces and prior to plastic coating on wall paper, this was a staple in country hardwares. They still make a product similar to it for the cleaning of books and documents.

[Jeff Green]

Play Doh.

http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2011/11/play-doh-was-originally-wallpaper-cleaner/

[chiffone...@gmail.com]

On Monday, January 3, 2011 at 12:26:00 PM UTC-5, Mardon wrote:
> I got into a discussion yesterday with my wife and a neighbour about how I
> remember my parents cleaning our wallpaper when I was a child (1940s). I
> can remember them using something that looked like Play Dough or Duct Seal
> looks today. It came in a can. You'd roll it into a ball and scrub the
> wallpaper. My wife and neighbour thought I was crazy and said they never
> heard of it. I've searched the Web to try and find an old picture of a
> can, or an ad, but I can't find any. Does anyone here recall this stuff?
> Any idea where I can get a photo or a copy of an old ad?

I think the product that you are referring to is a product that Omar Schnelle invented. The brand name was "Clean". It came in a can. He sold the invention in the late 1950's

[hankte...@gmail.com]

I remember it from the 50s

[Patricia O'Hare]

On Friday, July 3, 2020 at 6:45:23 PM UTC-7, hankte...@gmail.com wrote:
> I remember it from the 50s

I remember it very well. We lived in Pittsburgh in the 40's and 50's and there was a lot of smoke and coal dust and everyone had wall papered walls. Every year before Christmas, My mother and aunt would get the ladders set up and get a few cans of what I thought was called CLEAN. It was in a big can and it was green, and yes, it did look like silly putty...You would pull off a big glob of it and run it over the wall that needed cleaning and it was really great! The dirt would come off on the green stuff and you would fold it over with the dirt underneath and green on top and just work your head off. Today most people paint their walls, but this stuff was great. I was beginning to wonder if I remembered correctly, but thank goodness there are people my age that still remember it! Thanks.

[Patricia O'Hare]

In Pittsburgh in the 40s and 50's I remember using the can of green cleaner that was like putty, a big gob would be pulled out and run up and down the wallpaper and it cleaned very well. I'm so glad others remember it. Pat

[Patricia O'Hare]

On Thursday, August 27, 2020 at 2:51:45 PM UTC-7, Patricia O'Hare wrote:
> In Pittsburgh in the 40s and 50's I remember using the can of green cleaner that was like putty, a big gob would be pulled out and run up and down the wallpaper and it cleaned very well. I'm so glad others remember it. Pat

my email is deofave...@gmail.com

[Howard Bixby]

The stuff you remember is Play-doe. It was originally developed to remove coal dust from wallpaper.