Cleaning a Moldy Typewriter (Quick Flip!)

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[@tomdunigan234]

This is good information and you explain things very well. Last year my 7 year old nephew saw our type writer and fell in love. We worked with his mom to get him a type writer for Christmas. We are now typewriter pen pals. Such a blast to uses this old technology to connect with a younger generation.

[@ericjenks9596]

I’m picking up a crusty Royal Quiet de Luxe from the 50’s tomorrow that the keys are literally all covered with this. Great to see how it works for cleaning! Great job on all your hard work with these videos, they’re appreciated

[@iskandertime747]

great tip about leaving moldy things outside in the sun. It really works!

[@davidgiancoli2106]

Thanks for giving an overview of the cleaning process. You make it look easy! Question: I am looking for ways to use my typewriters more. Could you please do a video of how you use yours, including your pen paling, which you mentioned in a previous piece? Thanks much.

[@JustMyTypewriter]

Good idea!

[@mythicalireland]

Thanks for the video Sarah. I enjoy your typewriter videos, and in the past couple of years have built up a small collection of five machines. Anthony in Ireland.

[@jenniferross5440]

Always enjoy your videos. 😊

[@aaabbhddgf]

Loving your videos! All have super high quality production, are easy to follow and very informative!

[@JustMyTypewriter]

Thank you! I'm hoping they help!

[@wonderwomanguy]

Beautiful machine, glad if found new life!

[@rjwusher]

A few months ago I bought a Remington Travel-Riter with green keys and the original tweed case for 15 euros (I live in The Netherlands, Europe) and a roundabout bus ticket from a lady in Haarlem who was cleaning out her attic. The machine was in great shape and easy to clean, but the case still needs quite a bit of work. I love the snappy action on the Travel-Riter. I've seen them advertised online for over 200 dollars, but I think those price tags are exorbitant to say the least, plus I prefer to buy from private sellers. Great stories and original paraphernalia (letters, original warranties and purchasing bills) are often attached to privately owned typewriters. Machines that have been sitting unused in attics are usually in great shape. Thanks for your lovely and informative videos. Greetings from Sassenheim (flower bulb region near the North Sea coast), The Netherlands. PS: if you're looking for specific models that are more common in Europe, please let me know and I'll look out for one. I recently found a very cheaply priced Barbie typewriter at the local thrift store and was quite tempted to buy it for you.

[@JustMyTypewriter]

Ahh! Always excited when another Barbie typewriter is spotted in the wild!

[@johnlennon1049]

Very interesting and great information as usual.

[@KlingonCaptain]

Thanks I just got a moldy Quiet-Riter for free, two days ago. I watched a commercial from 1955 to see how it was pronounced and they pronounced it Quiet "writer."

[@jenniferross5440]

Hey thanks for visiting my state..Virginia 😊

[@tessaarmstrong4770]

I just got my first typewriter, I think it’s from the 70’s but it had the original box and everything and only has a minor mildew smell and seems to be in amazing condition. I’m pretty geeked about it 😊

[@JustMyTypewriter]

Congrats! If it smells- consider setting it out in the sun to dry out!

[@ChaoticVampire]

I had a 5TE that had keys looking just like that; I didn't know it was mold! I found that with some long needle nose pliers and leverage from underneath it's pretty easy to push the keycaps off the bars, and then I dropped them in a ziploc with dish soap and let them sit, cuz I honestly didn't wanna touch all the mystery gunk xD I also put some 20 vol developer in the bag after and let them sit out in the sun all day and it bleached them really well (they're white keycaps). Came out looking brand new.

[@JustMyTypewriter]

Removing key caps is definitely an option! I unsuccessfully attempted it on an upcoming repair video and have been a little shy to try it again…

[@steviewrites4178]

I regularly go into PA for auctions, camping- I'm in Silver Spring, MD- DC adjacent. I know all the spots and am always looking for more machines.

[@inkiron3907]

I’ve been told before that the 50-60s era plastic keys are actually leaching that white gunk, meaning it isn’t proper mold. If any typewriter nerds have a microscope I’d love to know if that white stuff is genuinely mold. Either way, elbow grease is always the best cleaner for it 😂

[@JamesSmith-od7po]

That looks too thick for it not to be mild. Usually it’s outgassing

[@rodrige10]

Hi. I would like to thank you for helping me restore a couple of typewriters with your videos. So far an underwood portable that works great now and a rand portable 5. It works great after I fixed the draw band but it smells something horrible. I've cleaned everything I can get to. Do you have any recommendations on like power washing this thing!? Can't figure out a good solution without soaking the machine in something. Thanks.

[@JustMyTypewriter]

Set it out in the sun! Change the ribbon- that can hold smell. It might be the felt inside from soundproofing! That also can hold smell. Setting it outside can help air it out

[@HappyHellscapes]

I’m honestly surprised you didn’t keep this one, they’re honestly great typewriters.

[@HappyHellscapes]

I actually bought one after seeing this, got me looking into it and snagged one for $40 on eBay, ended up falling in love with it.

[@JustMyTypewriter]

@@HappyHellscapes I'm glad you love it! I have a Remington Travel-Riter which I decided to keep instead

[@jeremyjenks]

Hard core type! Just bought my first royal glass key for 3$ this week…. And I didn’t have to get married!!!

[@johnlennon1049]

I have a question…I recently bought a Smith Corona Galaxie 12 typewriter. Mid 70’s I would say. I wanted to put in a new ribbon but trying to take the old ribbons off, only the outside spools came off and the center stayed on the typewriter circular cradles. Do they come off or do I have to get certain type off spools? Thanks!

[@JustMyTypewriter]

the tops do come off of some machines! My remingtons have all been that way

[@phoenixr.curfman9285]

Hey, I purchased a typewriter with not enough Knowledge,. My second typewriter was a Underwood Champion from 1938. I finally got it and it works perfectly, I had it restored to a condition which is as close to new as you can possibly get. The price tag was $1000, I see people purchasing typewriters and wonder if the cost was a wise decision. I wish I had found this channel before because I would love to restore these myself and pay prices I can actually afford without going broke.

[@JustMyTypewriter]

It's good for your first few machines to find things that operate well- too big of a project at the beginning can be overwhelming! A professionally restored machine can cost that much because of the rate of the person doing the restoration and adjusting. Adjustments are key to getting a machine to run smoothly!

[@dianemaher3538]

Do you put them out on the Typewriter Database as a sighting before you sell them?

[@JustMyTypewriter]

I don't usually when it's something more common

[@steviewrites4178]

I drove from Washington DC to Long island, NY to pick up a 1947 Remington Rand De Luxe 5 in perfect condition for $60. It was $75 in tolls, $35 in gas & $15 for truck stop shades. So musty with some mold on the case. Used cedar oil and an anti fungal. The case smells fine but the typewriter just will not air out even after Simple Green & pure orange oil.

[@JustMyTypewriter]

Might be the felt inside then that's holding the scent

[@lindasantos5845]

Sorry to bother you ,but would you know were I could buy the paint to touch up a Hermes 3000 typewriter?

[@JustMyTypewriter]

I've heard that there is a seller on eBay who does small batch paint for it if you search "Hermes 3000 touch up paint". I've also heard that there's a nail polish shade that matches! Sally Hansen in the shade Thyme is Money. I don't have a Hermes machine, so I haven't been able to test it- but I've heard those options work!

[@lindasantos5845]

@@JustMyTypewriter Thank you so much I will try it.

[@someonespadre]

I need a $5 parts Quiet-Riter for the paper release lever.

[@user-gd8io7qo2h]

4:43 🐞🥰

[@JustMyTypewriter]

It just showed up!

[@jenniferross5440]

Is there a better time of year to sell typewriters. I’m thinking fall 🤔

[@JustMyTypewriter]

I found late fall into winter- Nov-Dec. People are looking for Christmas presents at that time, and typewriters are a natural fit!

[@FrankRomerophoto]

Like the nail polish - looks purple.

[@JustMyTypewriter]

Thank you! I was trying to remember what I was wearing and it turns out- it's like 6 different manicures across the whole thing! The cleaning shots were all right before I went to Disney with my skyriter so it was a Disney manicure in red, the main shot is a blue skittle manicure, the typing shots are all a green skittle manicure, and the road trip footage is the purple- which is an indie nail polish that was Lord of the Rings themed (which is why I bought it).

[@FrankRomerophoto]

@@JustMyTypewriter LOTR!? Now you have to tell us more. The color suited you very nicely.

[@JustMyTypewriter]

@@FrankRomerophoto I'm a huge Lord of the Rings fan- I found out an indie brand made a themed collection- Glam Polish. That purple shade is "One Ring to Rule Them All". I couldn't not buy it.

[@frankwc0o]

@@JustMyTypewriter :) Hope your dissertation is going well. Good luck.

[@JustMyTypewriter]

@@frankwc0o (I just finished last week- I'm a Dr. now!)

[@storytimeisallthetime2120]

Can i ask why you were not wearing a mask and gloves when cleaning this? Since it had mold.

[@JustMyTypewriter]

That's a fair question! I don't typically wear a mask and gloves during any typewriter cleaning

[@JustMyTypewriter]

It's also not technically mold- it's off-gassing process that plastic from this era has which leeches out a white film on the keys that looks like mold. It was only on the key area which leads me to assume it was more of the film than complete mold.

[@xavierbrenner6219]

I’m at the Pizza Hut, I’m at the Pizza Hut, I’m at the combination H&R Block and Pizza Hut, what?

[@officeofdemonology]

Great episode. Can't you pop those keys off the typewriter and clean them off the machine? Also, that seems to be an expensive trip to sell a $50 typewriter. Entertaining tho.

[@JustMyTypewriter]

Yes- removing key caps is an option! I tried it once and didn’t do it very well so I’m a little hesitant to try it again… The good news is this stop was on the way to a very fancy antique mall I had planned to visit already….which may be in an upcoming video at some point….

[@ashleyhathaway8548]

I think it would be important to point out that Simple Green will cause metal to rust like _crazy_ if one is not careful. I have an orange Unis TBM De Luxe from the 1970's that had a really noticeable mildew smell that I cleaned using this video as a guide. I revisited the typewriter a week after the initial cleaning to find rust and corrosion where previously none had existed. I blame myself for not being more critical when searching for answers via KZbin. Don't get me wrong. Simple Green cleaned and freshened up the plastic case and parts beautifully. I should have known better to avoid the metal workings, bu many of your viewers may not so perhaps issuing a warning might save future budding typewriter hobbyists from having to laborious remove surface rust followed by the careful application of Navel Jelly. lol.

[@JustMyTypewriter]

I appreciate the feedback and advice!

[@Drewy62]

Does $50 even cover the cost of gas on the delivery? ⛽ 💵

[@JustMyTypewriter]

(nope....but I was heading that way anyways!)

[@hitbyabus4615]

bruh nah, because the local antique store nearby has a remington portable (broken) with such a mold filled mechanism, and they wanted $140???? I can't complain too much because i got my corona 1939, which i guess makes them a bit better. (they have a lot of corona 5 series)

[@hitbyabus4615]

They have this puke greenish royal portable, genuinely atrociously lovely

[@Kwstr42]

i think you mispronounced the name, i think it is read as "Quiet Writer" with a stylistically missing w. lol ok later in the video you pronounce it correctly, somehow that first intro you said ritter also kudos about keeping the video widescreen, much better looking montage

[@JustMyTypewriter]

I appreciate the feedback!

[@jonvincentmusic]

Off-topic alert: it's bizarre how you're just allowed to drive around in your country with such a massively cracked windshield that's one pothole away from completely shattering. You certainly would not be able to here in the UK.

[@jillstalter9695]

Not mold, it's plasticizer exudate Be careful cleaning

[@far_out_in_the_country]

I would feel really guilty buying a typewriter for $5 and selling it for $50 😅

[@JustMyTypewriter]

I did clean and repair it!

[@VargoTheVargouille]

Nice video, but I cringe every time you say "nicotine damage". Nicotine is colorless; the yellowing is caused from the tar in cigarette smoke. Keep up the good work!

[@JustMyTypewriter]

I appreciate the correction!

[@LakeHighiii]

good video on the cleaning,.......But you spent $175.00 in gas and took a day off work for $50.

[@JustMyTypewriter]

This was part of an already planned trip- so it all equaled out!