Audio Cassette Head Cleaning

[kenny1234]

I have some cleaning fluid for my old audio cassette player, also a cotton cleaner tape cassette ---where do i put the drops into the cleaner tape ( if I put a drop or two where I see the cotton tape, surely when the tape runs through, that part of the tape will only touch the cassette head momentarily rather than for the time it takes complete a good run through)

[retrocop]

You run the tape to the end of the cassette. Should be a small square open window at the back of the cassette where you put a couple of drops of fluid/meths. Run the tape in 'Play' to the end.

[TonyV]

Run it through a few times.

[retrocop]

Onions= Leeks ? Wales?

[retrocop]

ooop sorry. wrong thread

[gingejbee]

The alcohol-based cleaner will soak through several layers of the cleaning tape...and it's not a good idea to use meths, which is alcohol with several additives.

[TonyV]

Kenny assuming you are cleaning the head because of poor audio quality, you will know when head is clean when audio quality returns.

[dannyk13]

Back in the day I had a head cleaning tape that you just ran through the recorder.

[TonyV]

ginge not particularly completely related, but would isopropyl alcohol be ok?

[gingejbee]

I always found that the best way of cleaning was a cotton bud soaked in isopropyl alcohol rubbed over the heads and the pinch-wheel, roller and anything else in the tape's path...doing that improves any wow/flutter problems, too.

[gingejbee]

Sorry, Tony...didn't see your question before I posted. Yes, IPA (so useful for many jobs) is just the job,,,that's what the "cleaning fluid " is.

[gingejbee]

^^^so useful that I've bought 5 litres on eBay!

[kenny1234]

I am aware that there is a hole at the back of a Video cassette ,but I have just checked the audio cassette but the only holes are the ones that contain the spools. I also appreciate that the cleaner has to be run all the way through. I shall try putting a few drops at the "stationary " part of the thread and hope it soaks through before sending on it's way

[dannyk13]

Shy not buy a head cleaner tape ? Much easier.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=cassette+cleaning+tape&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

[TonyV]

ginge I always some in my solvent tub. Different solvents different uses.

[TonyV]

Kenny I am slightly confused by your last post. Actual cassette construction has nothing to do with it. It is the cassette playsers heads you are trying to clean. Your cleaning kit must have come with some instructions?

[andy-hughes]

You can buy a bottle of Isopropyl alcohol at Boots, dip a cotton bud in, and rub it over the heads on your machine.

The first couple of buds will come off a disgusting brown - tape residue - when the buds are clean, your heads are clean.