How to...clean a mixing desk safely?

[DangerMouse]

Hi,

 

Is there any products around that will safely let me clean a bit of grime off the front of a mixing desk?

 

Dan

[paulears]

My local hardware store sell excellent stuff called elbow grease - here

[mervaka]

you need to apply that with a wet cloth iirc.

[Bobbsy]

It's probably completely the wrong thing but I've got in the habit of grabbing the spray can of AF Spray (from RS Components) because I have that on the workbench anyway. It's designed for cleaning magnetic heads etc. but seems also to do a good job on the grot that accumulates on the outside of a mixer.

 

Because it's also a degreaser, I avoid spraying it into the faders themselves (faders delibererately contain lubricant) but spraying on a cloth then wiping seems to work well.

 

Bob

[Andrew C]

With certain COSHH reservations; Isopropyl alcohol. Sold by RS and others in "Computer Solvent".

[dan slv-tech]

Nail varnish remover works well tho the mrs cant work out where it all goes :D

 

for really heavy stains white spirit works but be cautious as it can take print of cheaper desks

 

dan

[Mixermend]

Nail varnish remover is usually Acetone - which will act as a very efficient paint remover, so never apply this to a painted panel! I have also seen serious damage to acrylic baths when nail varnish remover has been used whilst having a soak......

 

White spirit is probably OK (use sparingly) - IPA (Iso Propyl Alcohol) is also usually fine, but for most dirty mixing desks the best way to start is to use a dry paint brush to remove as much loose dust and dirt as possible. The brush will enable you to clean around the knobs - possibly a vacuum cleaner to suck up this dust is also a good idea.

 

Start wet cleaning (if necessary) - with warm water with a little detergent (washing up liquid) added - but wring out the cleaning cloth so it is just moist, not wet.

 

To preclude the need for this type of cleaning in the future - keep mixers covered with a dust sheet when not in use - and don't allow drinks anywhere near it!

[Bobbsy]

My desks tend to be dust-covered and drink free, but my greasy hand and wrist marks are what cause me to clean them!

 

Bob

[Shez]

For pretty much all exterior equipment cleaning jobs, I use electrolube AFS (antistatic foam spray); presumably the same stuff Bobbsy suggested. It's brilliant for cleaning just about anything off, has never damaged anything and doesn't smell unpleasant. Obviously keep it out of anything mechanical like faders.

[cedd]

The nice thing about isopropanol is that it evaporates, so you don't need to be too bothered about removing all the excess. It won't however, lift dirt from a surface in the way foaming cleaner will, so more elbow grease is required.

If you look in the computers section of cpc rather than in service aids, they have a pump cap IPA rather than aerosol, which I find far more controllable and is better for the environment too!

 

Knobs and pots can go in the dishwasher, just remember where they came from first.

 

One thing to bear in mind, isopropanol is a very good cleaner of electronic components, and there is great temptation to squirt it into faders to clean them up too. I'd avoid this as they are lubricated by electrical grease which will wash out under the IPA. Better to use electrolube's solvent cleaner and lubricant.

[upsuEnts]

I use a combination and Isoprop and glass cleaner (the 4 hygiene stuff is pretty good). main thing to remember is to use a paint brush to get rid of any dust first, otherwise you'll end up with a furry cloth and a lot of extra work.

 

-Al