Really love cleaning radios as much as I like fixing them, sometimes it will take longer to clean them up than to electronically repair them. Here is what I have in the cleaning department-
Q-tips– great for appealing cleaner on and getting in those hard-to-reach spots.
Paper towels- I like to use for all application from wrapping speakers to keeping plastic from the sun.
Brasso- Great for polishing and cleaning metal, you can also use it on plastic also. It’s not good for you so wash your hands after use.
Novus plastic polish 1,2, & 3 are good for making plastic look all shiny and new again, you can use Number 3 for deep scratches like when the previous owner uses a knife and scrawls their name onto the plastic.
Sctotchbrite 7447 hand pads, Works like steel wool but isn’t conductive. Great for polishing up rusty kickstands.
Emery board, sometimes it works good for taking the rust off kickstands of radios, then you can spray a coat of lacquer on it for best results.
Toothbrush, the best thing ever made since tweezers, keep a few of them handy.
Paintbrush, I find it’s great to get the dirt out of the grills of modern (80s) clock radios.
Automotive applications, stuff like Armor All can work great for radio cleaning uses so can the wax and polish stuff from companies like Barret Jackson. They are pretty gentle as well as they are supposed to be used on cars, just don’t use Armor All on dyed leather.
Very Fine grit sandpaper, used to sand down the plastic on the radio if there are any nicks or scratches, be very careful you can easily wreak a radio this way. Look it up for more details.
Vinegar, cleaning corrosion off metal.
73,
Henry