Cleaning an Old Typewriter

RE: Cleaning an Old Typewriter Post By Robert Mitchell (Guest Post) (10/05/2007) I wrote my first magazine article on a typewriter. To clean the keys, use a soft toothbrush with rubbing alcohol when they are really dirty with ink and bits of paper stuck in the hollows of the letters. For "normal" cleaning, knead a lump of Silly Putty and stick it on the type keys to remove built up ink. They used to make a product like Silly Putty especially for typewriters, but Silly Putty always worked just as well. You can get several normal cleanings out of one Silly Putty egg. RE: Cleaning an Old Typewriter Post By Linda S. (Guest Post) (05/01/2007) We used to use a sheet of pink slightly "fuzzy" material that was fed into the typewriter like a sheet of paper. You then hit each key so that it struck the cleaning paper several times. Not sure how it worked or what it was made of, but it sure cleaned the keys. Has anyone come across this lately? We have an old typewriter in a legal office that sure could use it! RE: Cleaning an Old Typewriter Post By erik (Guest Post) (05/22/2006) anyone know how to load the ribbon? RE: Cleaning an Old Typewriter Post by Joankay (108) | (10/28/2005) Contact I remember using nail-polish remover and a stiff brush - back in the "olden days" RE: Cleaning an Old Typewriter Post By Sharyl (Guest Post) (10/27/2005) You could try using blue tack pressed into the keys and removed to lift off the ink - I don't know if it will work if it has been a long time since the keys were cleaned RE: Cleaning an Old Typewriter Post by sunhat (55) | (10/27/2005) Contact How about plain ol' rubbing alcohol on a gauze pad? RE: Cleaning an Old Typewriter Post By robert (Guest Post) (10/27/2005) You might try rubbing alcohol on the keys, then a stiff brush. RE: Cleaning an Old Typewriter Post By sandy (Guest Post) (10/27/2005) in typing class we used a typewrite bud. that is the name that comes to mind anyway. it felt like play dough, it is usally red in color and is on a handle. i would think staples or office depot would sell them. we also vacuumed it out and used a soft brush. RE: Cleaning an Old Typewriter Post By Linda (Guest Post) (10/27/2005) How about OOPS or GoO Gone, or maybe WD-40, on a cloth or sponge (throw cloth/sponge away afterward). I used to use something with a play-doh like/putty-like consistency that was pressed on each key, but I don't know what it was called.