I just got an RCA model 1 tube radio that was stored in a very dirty location for about 20 years and it is filthy. I used my shop vac to get rid of most of the clumps of dust, but the chassi and the cabinet still have a lot of deep soil. I usually use soapy warm water to clean radios, but this one may need some more serious methods. Any good suggestions are appreciated.

I use isopropyl(rubbing)alcohol and cotton swabs on the chassis. Wooden cabinets get turpentine/mineral spirits, either with a soaked cloth, or with #0000 steel wool for really bad stuff stuck to the finish.

:I use isopropyl(rubbing)alcohol and cotton swabs on the chassis. Wooden cabinets get turpentine/mineral spirits, either with a soaked cloth, or with #0000 steel wool for really bad stuff stuck to the finish.

I Have asked the same question of my radio club members and have gotten suggestions to use Windex followed by water spray rinse on chassis (this is the best I have heard) and also using a dishwasher (I kid you not!) followed by a low oven drying cycle (eg 250F) with the chassis wrapped in a towel. I have been cautioned about using alcohol because it may dissolve varnish and color codes from components. High heat will melt wax components. Good Luck Nick

I would think that a dish washer would steam the power transformer. That does sound crazy. I'm afraid to try it. Sounds like something the "old folks" would say like: "If you want to do a tune-up job on your model T, mix all the spark plug wires up and run it that way for a short time. All of the dirt will be cleaned out of the engine and it will run great again." I don't know about a model T engine, but my four cylinder Honda Civic engine doesn't like that at all. My 1951 Chevrolet seems to be less sensitive to spark plug mix-ups, but it does run kind of funny.

T.

Dick,
I've had some success using household cleaners like water soluble "LimeAway" and concrete cleaners for mostly metal hardware. Keep in mind that once the state of cleanliness is obtained, item should be rinsed with hot water and blow dryed with compressed air, not a hair dryer. Electronics hardware should be removed or protected during this metal only process. They're all somewhat ACIDIC compounds, so try a small area, but above all USE SAFELY and AS DIRECTED. I've found a lot of normal old grime and goo can be removed with a whitewall cleaning compound called Westlys "Blech White" Hope this helps.
marv

:I just got an RCA model 1 tube radio that was stored in a very dirty location for about 20 years and it is filthy. I used my shop vac to get rid of most of the clumps of dust, but the chassi and the cabinet still have a lot of deep soil. I usually use soapy warm water to clean radios, but this one may need some more serious methods. Any good suggestions are appreciated.

Lime Away does help brighten metal to some extent. I've used bleach to neutralize it so that it cannot rust at metal seams and such. Going over the chassis with something like Brasso or Mother's Aluminum (metal) polish works well. The polish will take off printed numbers and letters, though. The guy on www.myvintagetv.com (great web page) says that he uses phosphoric acid to clean his chassis. He says that it will brighten the chassis without removing the numbers and letters. I've never tried it, so I don't know how well it works. His chassis look fairly good, though. They don't look polished, but they are brighter than as they began.

Thomas