Whats the best method/spray for cleaning (computer) plastic?
Its VERY important that only dirt gets off and that original plastic
is left intact.

What is Domestos? I have never seen this on the store shelves over here.

--

Jerry G.
==========================


"Ross Herbert" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 23 Aug 2004 13:20:29 +0200, Orange wrote:

|Whats the best method/spray for cleaning (computer) plastic?
|Its VERY important that only dirt gets off and that original plastic
|is left intact.


I use plain water with Domestos for all plastics. Use a toothbrush or
similar to scrub into any textured surfaces and after a thorough rinse
in clean water you will find that the plastic comes up like new. For
difficult stains use neat Domestos on the tip of the brush.

We use some diluted Windex. I mix it to be about 30% Windex. Great care has
to be taken to not get the water in to the equipment. If more strength is
needed for a particular job, then less dilution is in good order.

--

Jerry G.
==========================


"Orange" wrote in message
...
Whats the best method/spray for cleaning (computer) plastic?
Its VERY important that only dirt gets off and that original plastic
is left intact.

"Jerry G." wrote in message
...
What is Domestos? I have never seen this on the store shelves over here.

--

Jerry G.
==========================


"Ross Herbert" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 23 Aug 2004 13:20:29 +0200, Orange wrote:

|Whats the best method/spray for cleaning (computer) plastic?
|Its VERY important that only dirt gets off and that original plastic
|is left intact.


I use plain water with Domestos for all plastics. Use a toothbrush or
similar to scrub into any textured surfaces and after a thorough rinse
in clean water you will find that the plastic comes up like new. For
difficult stains use neat Domestos on the tip of the brush.



FYI, Domestos is a bleach here in the UK. I must say I have never used it on
computer plastics but it's great for bleaching coffee stains from cups. I
suppose a dilute solution should work on plastics without doing damage.

On Mon, 23 Aug 2004 14:43:59 +0100, "RubbishRat"
wrote:

I've heard its used for toilets and damages skin on hands if not used
carefully! So, I'd prefer to use something that doesn't need being
1:1000 diluted.


FYI, Domestos is a bleach here in the UK. I must say I have never used it on
computer plastics but it's great for bleaching coffee stains from cups. I
suppose a dilute solution should work on plastics without doing damage.


--
The Only Way Is Up

Jerry G. wrote:

We use some diluted Windex. I mix it to be about 30% Windex. Great care has
to be taken to not get the water in to the equipment. If more strength is
needed for a particular job, then less dilution is in good order.


I think that any place Windex can be used, Glass Plus is better. As I
recall, Windex has some ammonia in it that will attack some materials.

I don't have any stake in which you use, and was originally turned on
to Glass Plus (again as I recall -- it has been a while) by a
recommendation on the Hewlett-Packard Web site, who suggested it for use
cleaning their scanners.

--
The e-mail address in our reply-to line is reversed in an attempt to
minimize spam. Our true address is of the form .

On Mon, 23 Aug 2004 13:20:29 +0200, Orange hath writ:
Whats the best method/spray for cleaning (computer) plastic?
Its VERY important that only dirt gets off and that original plastic
is left intact.

I've always used "409" ("Formula 409") to remove grime from plastic.
It's a household cleaning product from Clorox and -- uncertain what
your domicile is -- may only be found under that name in the U.S. and/or
Canada.

And, I always spray (generously) _on the cleaning rag_ and then wipe
on the piece to be cleaned. Letting the "problem areas" sit a bit
before wiping it off helps cut through the worst of it.
Really bad grime can take multiiple applications (and, multiple rags!)

I used to repair Olde Fashioned typewriters, adding machines, etc.
Some of those keyboards had not be cleaned in *many* decades.
"409" was the cleaner I finally settled on.

HTH
Jonesy
--
| Marvin L Jones | jonz | W3DHJ | linux
| Gunnison, Colorado | @ | Jonesy | OS/2 __
| 7,703' -- 2,345m | config.com | DM68mn SK

Allodoxaphobia wrote:
On Mon, 23 Aug 2004 13:20:29 +0200, Orange hath writ:
Whats the best method/spray for cleaning (computer) plastic?
Its VERY important that only dirt gets off and that original plastic
is left intact.

I've always used "409" ("Formula 409") to remove grime from plastic.
It's a household cleaning product from Clorox and -- uncertain what
your domicile is -- may only be found under that name in the U.S.
and/or Canada.

And, I always spray (generously) _on the cleaning rag_ and then wipe
on the piece to be cleaned. Letting the "problem areas" sit a bit
before wiping it off helps cut through the worst of it.
Really bad grime can take multiiple applications (and, multiple rags!)

I used to repair Olde Fashioned typewriters, adding machines, etc.
Some of those keyboards had not be cleaned in *many* decades.
"409" was the cleaner I finally settled on.

Someone once advised me to buy Simple Green to clean off some circuit boards
which had been badly smoke damaged. It didn't work too well; but when I was
cleaning a particularly nasty white tile floor with 409...and getting
nowhere, I remembered that bottle of S.G. in the shop.

I sprayed an area with the 409, let it sit and rubbed, and did the same with
the Simple Green. The difference was pretty amazing. The S.G. won hands
down.

I became a convert...but I only use it for stubborn jobs--very heavy soil or
tough stains. You must follow the directions, and never use it on
glass...even well diluted, it will leave a film (although ammonia will
remove that).

jak

HTH
Jonesy

Orange wrote:
Whats the best method/spray for cleaning (computer)
plastic?
Its VERY important that only dirt gets off and that
original plastic
is left intact.

Servisol Carterclene (foaming aerosol) is recommended.
It is made in the UK and widely available from the likes of
Farnell,CPC ,RS Components,etc.

On Mon, 23 Aug 2004 13:20:29 +0200, Orange wrote:

Whats the best method/spray for cleaning (computer) plastic?
Its VERY important that only dirt gets off and that original plastic
is left intact.

There are a variety of all purpose cleaners that'll do the job.
Formula 409 is one.
Simple Green diluted for general purpose cleaning is also good.
I use a cleaner called Mean Green that does very well cleaning all
kinds of plastic.(PolyButylstyrene, HDPE, Polystyrene etc...)
It works much like simple Green yet isn't as caustic.(Simple Green can
strip the oils out of most cabinet plastics as well as attacking the
binders, IF used in to strong a mix or left on for too long.)
I get Mean Green at my local Wal-Mart, but I've seen it at local
dollar stores as well.
When I was working in my Father's repair shop years ago we used an
Amway product that was similar to 409 that did a good job as well.
There are loads of liquid cleaners out that are good for the job.
Look for a cleaner that works by breaking down the surface
tension.(extremely slippery to the touch, yet doesn't have any caustic
properties. The litmus test for this is if it doesn't strip the oils
from your hands, or leave them gummy.)
In a pinch just dilute liquid dish detergent like Joy, usually a small
squirt in a spray bottle then fillled with warm water will do.

Use soap

Thanks all.

The problem is how do I find all those chemicals over here.
The local electronic store has these:

Cleaner 601
"Cleaning of electronic and electrical appliances, non-conductive.
Suitable for all
equipment casings."

Screen 99
"Easily removes dust, grease, nicotine deposits, finger prints and
dust layers.
Applications include VDU screens, TV screens and photographic
laboratories."

Surface 95
"For cleaning computer terminals, keyboards, housings, frames,
copiers, printers,
furniture, cabinets, desktops and other equipment. Removes grease,
dirt, fingerprints,
ink, toner stains, nicotine etc from all plastic and metal surfaces."


Which one of them would you recommend (95 seems like obvious solution,
but is it as good as those you recommend?)
I have tried using soap and dish wash, but maybe they could damage
plastics (dissolve it so that dirt gets into plastic)?
It is important that plastic is intact.
What about using magic wand+water, it seems like the safest thing?
--
Take what you want and pay for it, says God

In article ,
Jerry G. wrote:
What is Domestos? I have never seen this on the store shelves over here.

Sodium Hypochlorite (Chlorine) based bleach.

"Kills all known germs. Dead!"

Well, it did before the slogan got politically corrected ....

Now it gently persuades germs to relocate to an alternative location. Or
something weak like that
--
--------------------------------------+------------------------------------
Mike Brown: mjb[at]pootle.demon.co.uk | http://www.pootle.demon.co.uk/

On Mon, 23 Aug 2004 13:20:29 +0200, Orange put
finger to keyboard and composed:

Whats the best method/spray for cleaning (computer) plastic?
Its VERY important that only dirt gets off and that original plastic
is left intact.

I wouldn't recommend this to you, but, in desperation, I once used
paint thinner to refurbish a computer plotter which was covered with
ink stains. I originally tried Windex, methylated spirits, turpentine,
and several kitchen cleaners, in fact anything that came to hand.
However, none of these had the slightest impact. Paint thinner made
the job easy and surprisingly did not attack the plastic.


- Franc Zabkar
--
Please remove one 's' from my address when replying by email.

On Tue, 24 Aug 2004 18:02:01 +0000 (UTC), (Mike)
wrote:

In article ,
Jerry G. wrote:
What is Domestos? I have never seen this on the store shelves over here.

Sodium Hypochlorite (Chlorine) based bleach.

"Kills all known germs. Dead!"

Well, it did before the slogan got politically corrected ....

Now it gently persuades germs to relocate to an alternative location. Or
something weak like that

If it's a sodium hypochlorite based bleach then it's probably a
cleaner like X-14.
X-14 is a bathroom cleaner for removing mold from tile and fiberglass
shower and bath stalls.
You COULD use this with relative safety on the polybutylstyrene that
keyboards are made of, though it would be a bit overkill.(Might remove
the imprinted typeface on thge keys, better test first.)
Just use 409 or some other aqueous liquid cleaner.
I use Mean Green, can be had at Wal-Mart or your local dollar stores
and is perfectly safe and does a bang up job.(I recycle keyboards for
budget systems that I put together out of second hand donations and
this cleaner works perfectly.)
Formula 409, Fantastik or any mild liquid cleaner will work as well.