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Old 26th Jun 2015, 10:13 am   #1
andy1702
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Default Cleaning cords

Having restored my first couple of phones (thanks to the help from everyone on here) I've now acquired a box full! They look like they've been stored in someone's shed for years.

I've found 'Brasso' is good for buffing up the cases and even removes small scratches on the clear plastic parts. But I can't find anything that successfully cleans the cords. As you can see from the photos, these are absolutely filthy with a mixture of sticky grime and dust. I don't want to replace them if I can possibly help it as I want to keep everything as original as possible.

Does anyone have any suggestions about how to clean the cords?

Andy
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Old 26th Jun 2015, 10:48 am   #2
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Default Re: Cleaning cords

Mr Muscle or any of the EDTA cleaners work well.
 
Old 26th Jun 2015, 11:53 am   #3
ThePillenwerfer
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Default Re: Cleaning cords

I soak them in a solution oxygenating crystals, Vanish Oxy-Action or Poundland's version thereof.

For the curly ones they can be wrapped 'round a half-inch bar and scrubbed with a nailbrush.

- Joe
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Old 29th Jun 2015, 3:56 pm   #4
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Default Re: Cleaning cords

Hi,

I use white kitchen roll or white cloth dampened with surgical spirit or white spirit and rub up and down.

Paper or cloth with any colours should not be used as the colour can transfer and might be irremovable from the cable, as plastic is not glass and is slightly absorbent. Hence it is difficult to remove ballpoint pen ink from.

Regards - Mike
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Old 29th Jun 2015, 4:01 pm   #5
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Default Re: Cleaning cords

I find hot water and Flash or similar does the trick.
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Old 29th Jun 2015, 4:27 pm   #6
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Default Re: Cleaning cords

I've very successfully used Swarfega on filthy leads, but can't guarantee there are no long-term adverse effects.
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Old 29th Jun 2015, 6:14 pm   #7
andy1702
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Default Re: Cleaning cords

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll try some and report back. These cords are VERY dirty, so anything that works on them will probably work on anything!

Andy
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Old 29th Jun 2015, 8:21 pm   #8
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Default Re: Cleaning cords

Try not to use bleach. it can end up making rubber stiff or hard. I have ran into that before. Use Fairy liquid in water. make it fairly strong and brush them off gently. I have a 746 that had the same grime and it worked a charm.
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Old 29th Jun 2015, 10:03 pm   #9
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Default Re: Cleaning cords

I used to use Surgical Spirit for this sort of thing, but it seems to have been withdrawn from the retail market. A few months ago none of my local Pharmacies had any in stock, nor could they find any in their wholesalers' catalogues. White cream kitchen cleaner (CIF or the Wilco equivalent) on a kitchen sponge, pulling the cord through the folded sponge, usually works well.
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Old 30th Jun 2015, 4:18 am   #10
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Default Re: Cleaning cords

Down here in Godzone we have a product called "Spray n' Wipe" which has an active ingredient called 'Lactic Acid' at 2.4%. This cleans almost anything plastic or bakelite, plus a wide range of other materials, it does not attack plastics or paint, and for cabinets, knobs, and miscellaneous bits it is simply amazing. About the only surfaces I might be wary of would be waxed or oiled (it is great at removing oils).

I can throw a batch of old knobs into a plastic container, wet them with the spray, leave them for a while then rinse, and they come out sparkling like new. Any gummy residuals can be dealt with using a fine nylon bristle tooth brush, but that is not often needed.

It may not be sold in EU regions (it probably causes warts on bedbugs or deformed cockroaches etc, and consequently will need another 15 years of trials on African Elephants before it is banned) but it is the most efficient and gentle cleaner I have ever encountered, while killing 99.9% of germs including Salmonella, E.coli, Staphylococcus Aureus, Enterococcus, and any nearby Politicians.

You can't ask for more than that!

Cheers

Billy
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Old 30th Jun 2015, 8:24 am   #11
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Default Re: Cleaning cords

Some Australian bathroom cleaning products WERE obtainable in the UK and consisted of natural ingredients. They were bldy good too: in a squeezy aerosol bottle with a trigger on for tiles. Ozcleen Bathpower?

I think I used it on plastic once to good effect. I just use a mild industrial hand cleaning gel, warm water and a nail-brush: works a treat.
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Old 30th Jun 2015, 12:48 pm   #12
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Default Re: Cleaning cords

Quote:
Originally Posted by Billy T View Post
Down here in Godzone we have a product called "Spray n' Wipe" which has an active ingredient called 'Lactic Acid' at 2.4%.Cheers
Perhaps sour milk could be used instead?
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Old 30th Jun 2015, 3:05 pm   #13
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Default Re: Cleaning cords

Hi Emeritus, i buy my Surgical Spirit at the Savers chemist store, which appear to have branches throughout the UK.

A 200ml bottle is around £1.39. Occasionally it can be found at cheapo stores such as The Pound Shop.

Regards - Mike
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Old 30th Jun 2015, 5:37 pm   #14
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Default Re: Cleaning cords

Thanks for the info, Mike. I had tried the local Boots, a couple of local in-house supermarket pharmacies, and a couple of local independents. Good to know it is still available.
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Old 30th Jun 2015, 6:30 pm   #15
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Default Re: Cleaning cords

I should think meths would work in very much the same way.
If you're worried about staining, keep the bottle on a bright windowsill, and the colour will disappear.
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Old 30th Jun 2015, 11:29 pm   #16
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Default Re: Cleaning cords

Our telecoms engineer at work used to use meths on an old rag or paper towel to clean line cords. It worked well and as far as I know without any long term adverse effects.
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Old 1st Jul 2015, 5:32 am   #17
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Default Re: Cleaning cords

Quote:
Originally Posted by dseymo1 View Post
I should think meths would work in very much the same way. If you're worried about staining, keep the bottle on a bright windowsill, and the colour will disappear.
Would I be right in guessing that you can't purchase WP* meths in the UK?

It has exactly the same active additives as the coloured version, and is just as poisonous, but doesn't stain and is freely available from specialist shops, but not in supermarkets etc. I keep a bottle handy at all times, along with a range of other useful solvents like MEK, Acetone, Toluol, Toluene, Xylol, lacquer thinners, nail varnish thinners and celluloid film cement.

Out of that menu I find that I can mend plastics of most types (other than polythene) and the bond is gap-less and permanent.

Cheers

Billy

*Without Pyranine, the colouring agent
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Old 1st Jul 2015, 12:32 pm   #18
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Default Re: Cleaning cords

I used a product from Poundland called 'Wizz Oxi Fabric Stain Remover', which works superbly well on speaker fabric, just with hand hot water - 40C max. It even has a measuring scoop in the box.

Its main ingredient is sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate.

650g in a tub, and you use up to two 25ml scoops in a washing up bowl or bucket. You don't need to leave the item soaking for long - just swish it around for a minute or two, leave if for say 15 minutes and check progress. It makes sense to test an inconspicuous part of a fabric item to check for colour fastness, but in my case, if it's a choice between throwing away some shabby speaker cloth or giving it a new lease of life, there's nothing to be lost.


(As an aside, it gets stains of other items, such as coffee machines and fruit juicers, grouting, wine, grass stains etc).

Hope that helps.
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Old 1st Jul 2015, 12:57 pm   #19
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Default Re: Cleaning cords

That's the same stuff I mentioned in Post 3.

As well as cords it's great for other plastic parts, not just on 'phones but things like control knobs and computer keys.

- Joe
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Old 2nd Jul 2015, 2:28 am   #20
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Default Re: Cleaning cords

Quote:
Originally Posted by Billy T View Post
Would I be right in guessing that you can't purchase WP* meths in the UK?
I recently bought a bottle of clear meths from Wilkinsons, a hardware/homewares chain here in the UK. I think previously I've only ever seen the more usual purple coloured version though.

I usually use meths to remove grime from PVC cables.

Curly handset cables look a mess when they have stretched and got misshaped coils. A dip in hot water can revive the springiness and make the coils evenly spaced again. Untangle any knots and twists so that all the coils run in the same direction. Put the cable in a jug or similar vessel and pour in water just off the boil taking care to keep the internal wires and grommets above the water level. Leave in for a couple of minutes before taking the cable out and allowing it to cool on a flat surface.
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