CautionsElectricity Always unplug your VCR before opening it up for any reason! Even after the VCR is unplugged, capacitors can retain a charge for a long time (these are often cylindrical, but not always). Don't touch anything inside that doesn't have to do with the cleaning operation. |
Electricity is dangerous and should be respected at all times. Children should not attempt to clean a VCR.
Warranty
Don't open up your VCR if this will void your Warranty. A lot of manufacturers have made a "do not clean" clause part of the warranty agreement. This removes them from liability if you (or anyone else) happens to break something while rooting around inside. Some don't even allow you to use cleaning tapes.
Read your Warranty paperwork carefully to determine if you should be cleaning your VCR at all. That said, your Warranty will probably be expired by the time your VCR really needs cleaning. If not, you have a couple of options.
You can take your machine in to a "registered technician" approved by the company for cleaning. This costs money and is exactly what we are trying to avoid. You might also try the Blank Tape Method outlined above in the Cleaning Methods section.
Breakage
Video heads are extremely fragile! They are also expensive to replace. These brittle little ferrite tips each peek out of a tiny "viewport" on the drum. If you go up and down you have a good chance of breaking them off. Always clean heads using a side to side (horizontal) rubbing motion. This is the most important concept to remember during the cleaning operation.
Use Proper Cleaning Methods and Materials
Make sure your filter or swab is wet with the alcohol, but not dripping. If fluid gets onto any lubricated parts, it can wash away the lubricant, causing mechanical failure.
Use only 100% isopropyl alcohol. The "Rubbing Alcohol" from the drugstore is only 70% isopropyl. The other 30% is water, which may contain minerals that would be left behind as residue. The water also slows drying time.
Use only coffee filters, cellular foam swabs or chamois sticks. Cotton swabs or lint producing cloths will only leave fibers that can foul your heads even worse than the dirt. A single cotton fiber can block over half of the video head reading area (the heads are that tiny!).
Finally, don't force anything. VCRs are full of delicate components that you can damage before you know it. Treat them like you're handling a little baby.
Electronics Cleaning - Next - How a VCR Works
Milky Way Publishing