I have been using a toothbrush and 409 for ten years without any ill effects; I do not, however, us 409 on any paper inserts [such as first edition Deadwood chips]. I second the strong suggestion that the chips be dried immediately. As to baseballs with smudge marks, I might agree with Mike if the smudge mark on my Binion WSOP chip was left by say a Johnny Moss and not the filthy dirty smudge marks on my Harrah's chips left by hundreds of filthy dirty players, most of whom used them to try to take my filthy dirty chips. <s>