Can You Clean Your Typewriter Using Easy-Off Oven Cleaner?

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I've always used Scrubbing Bubbles to clean the hulls of my new typewriter acquisitions. But one day my store ran out of this product. I wanted to get a 1955 Smith-Corona Sterling I'd purchased up and running fast so I experimented with Easy-Off oven cleaner.
Does this common kitchen product work for cleaning your typewriter? You be the judge.
Stay happy, stay healthy, and stay creative.
Damon DiMarco, CreateX3.com

[@typewriterexperience465]

Very good idea. I will try too. Thanks for sharing

[@CreateX3-DamonDiMarco]

Sure thing. Thanks for watching!

[@RabbiSteve]

Another great video. I really appreciate both these typewriter repair videos, as well as your videos about writing, creativity and the “spiritual” side of the process. Thank you so much.

[@CreateX3-DamonDiMarco]

It sometimes feels like a strange mixture on this side of things, Rabbi Steve. But it's what I've got going on right now and I'm happy to share it with like-minded travelers. Thanks for the good words and thanks for watching. Wishing you and yours a peaceful, restful, and joyous holiday season.

[@johnlennon1049]

Unbelievable!

[@CreateX3-DamonDiMarco]

Yes, @johnlennon1049. Yes!

[@douglasjackson9058]

You are a brave man doing a test spot right on the top front of the machine. I have cleaned with multiple products...dozens but have never tried this. I might give this a go on my next clean of a machine. I have used scrubbing bubbles,this appears to get clean with less effort. Thanks for taking the time to create this informative video. Hope Thankgiving was good and hoping you have a good Christmas 🎄

[@CreateX3-DamonDiMarco]

Douglas, good to hear from you. I did test a small area before shooting but like I said in the video, it didn’t make the final cut. I always advise testing solvents before applying. Also stated: Scrubbing Bubbles is my preferred solvent. This was an experiment. My pleasure creating the video and thanks as always for watching. Thanksgiving came and went like a shot this year but it was nice, hope you had the same or better. Wishing you and yours a relaxing, peaceful, and joyous holiday season!

[@seanstevens7191]

As with most antique restoration methods, whatever you're using, DO YOUR RESEARCH!!! If you can, do some searching on the kind of paint/finish, and hopefully you'll be able to find a suitable cleaner for whatever typewriter you're cleaning! Remember, it's usually better to do it right than rush it/use the wrong product and risk damaging the machine. Happy typewriting y'all! 💙 LOL (Lots of love), Sean Stevens The Typewriter Room

[@CreateX3-DamonDiMarco]

True enough, Sean. Thanks for your input, as always.

[@seanstevens7191]

@@CreateX3-DamonDiMarco I didn't mean to target you in that comment haha, I was just saying in general to anyone who may read this. Happy typings :)

[@CreateX3-DamonDiMarco]

@@seanstevens7191 haha

[@florencecouture8738]

I might try this product on my beasty Olympia SG1. I have been told the previous and only owner was smoking two packs of cigarettes a day in is small office room. It look like the cigarette stain and smoke have been laminated on the body.

[@CreateX3-DamonDiMarco]

Florence, I know what you mean. I’ve recovered several smokers’ typewriters. Most of have that patina you mentioned. They also reeked pretty badly. I would try Scrubbing Bubbles first if you can lay your hands on it. This video was a fine experiment and yes, Easy-Off works. But as I mention in the video, Scrubbing Bubbles is gentler and therefore a safer way to proceed. Wishing you good luck on your typewriter recovery and all the best for 2023!

[@ultimatetypewritingmachine6976]

To me it looks almost like it's not only dirt that is coming off, but also a layer of paint. Could that be?

[@CreateX3-DamonDiMarco]

It might look that way, UTWM, but no. It was just that dirty. Amazingly, the internal workings were very clean. In fact, this machine now ranks among the top five in my collection for its incredible action. Sometimes, we just get lucky I guess.

[@DavidAlastairHayden]

Dirt and dust and probably nicotine. These typewriters are from an age when smoking was very common.

[@Titere05]

Mineral spirits worked great for the grime on the paint of my silent super. The only downside of course is the smell

[@CreateX3-DamonDiMarco]

Right, Pablo. Stay ventilated when working with that stuff.

[@amsterdamtypewriter6410]

Look up odourless mineral spirits.

[@CreateX3-DamonDiMarco]

@@amsterdamtypewriter6410 Yup. Thanks!

[@tonyk1amt806]

I picked up a 1920’s Corona four at an antique shop/thrift store last weekend, looking to try this myself. Everything works on the machine, just very dirty/grimey. Would this work on the inside too possibly? And what lubricant should be used on the moving joints, pivots and shafts? Thanks for sharing. Tony

[@CreateX3-DamonDiMarco]

Hi Tony. Congrats on the Corona Four. I have a 1935 (I believe mine is) and they're great pieces of history. You might check out my video where I do some restoration work on mine, with hopes that it helps you. I used Scrubbing Bubbles on the chassis of my Corona Four. Regardless of what solvent you're using, always test it first on a hidden area of the machine to make sure it doesn't disadvantage the paint, and always be careful near decals, which are susceptible to fading or being erased by solvents. On the machine's internal works, I recommend using cotton swabs dipped in methylated spirits and working very meticulously until all is spotless. For bright work on the type hammers, I recommend Never Dull polishing gauze; it leaves a slight film but this can be easily wiped off when all his finished. As to.lubricants, you might try a dab of PB Blaster white lithium grease on the carriage rails only. For the other moving parts you mentioned-joints, pivots, shafts, etc.-very conservative doses of sewing machine oil or light spindle oil can be dripped on and worked into the parts through repeated motion. I hope this helps and congrats again on your new machine.

[@tonyk1amt806]

@@CreateX3-DamonDiMarco I did watch that video, and have also been attacking my machine with cotton swabs, lol. It looks like me carriage return string maybe also need replacement, I’ll watch the video again while I do that, you’ve got a beautiful machine there. I looked up my serial (3K04563) and it appears to be may/jun of 1926 if I was looking correctly. Thanks for the reply, I’m looking forward to doing some creative writing on the “new to me” Corona soon. Cheers

[@CreateX3-DamonDiMarco]

@@tonyk1amt806 Happy to be of service, Tony. Wishing you luck and please let me know how it goes.

[@CineGorilla]

Hi there! Have I ever wash the typewriter with soap and water? Someone does that (California typewriter).

[@CreateX3-DamonDiMarco]

Hi Davide. I suppose soap and water would work but you might want to keep the following things in mind. First, many typewriters have (or had) sound dampening material (dense felt) lining the interior of their hulls. Probably not a good idea to go dunking that in fluids. Second, soap and water doesn't have the more vibrant, deep cleaning scouring action of a foaming cleanser like Scrubbing Bubbles, nor can it be directed (sprayed) to specific parts of the machine you're cleaning, as Scrubbing Bubbles can. Third, a typewriter's interior works are metal. Metal and water make rust, which is why, for an interior chemical cleaning, I use methylated spirits, which raise dirt and grime nicely so they can be easily wiped away and also evaporate since they're alcohol based. Though you should be careful not to get any on rubber parts or decals, since it can harm them. Hope this helps. Good luck with whatever you're working on and thanks for watching.

[@someonespadre]

I used dish soap and warm water on a 1956 Tower body (SC speedline body) covering the interior with towels and being careful to keep it outside, it worked okay, not great.

[@Woodlawn22]

Ugh...helpful advice, but really, maybe it's a girl thing to find this intolerable, but spraying that stuff on the table where you eat?? With the placemats still on it?? (This is only the second one of your videos that just seemed wrong to me so all in all you're great in my book.) The other one was you showing us your shaving technique. I thought at the time that you should have just put that one in the vault for your son to enjoy in about 50 years. ✌ + 💙

[@CreateX3-DamonDiMarco]

Noted on both, E Mc. Thanks for letting me know. 😌

[@SuperBowser87]

Nerf life