How to Clean a Cassette Player

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Cassette players may be outdated, but if you've still got tapes, you're going to want to keep them in good condition.
Step 1: Open the player
Open the door to your cassette player by pressing the eject button.
Tip
These tips apply to freestanding players. To clean a car cassette player, you'll need to buy a specialized kit.
Step 2:
Dip the tip of a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol, also known as isopropyl alcohol.
Step 3: Clean the tape head
Clean the metal tape head with the tip of the cotton swab, rubbing it both horizontally and vertically.
Tip
On some tape decks, you can extend the head to make it easier to clean by pressing the "Play" button.
Step 4: Repeat
Keep cleaning the head with new alcohol-dipped swabs until a fresh one comes away clean.
Step 5: Clean guides and pins
Clean all the tape guides, rollers and plastic and metal pins the same way you cleaned the tape head.
Step 6: Wipe the reels
Wipe the reels with a rubbing-alcohol soaked cotton swab. This time, a black residue on the swab is acceptable. Now pop in your favorite mixtape.
Did You Know?
In 1963, the manufacturer of the first tape recorder let others reproduce the technology royalty-free, making cassettes the global standard in audio recording.

[@Raidr5]

A little advice: ALWAYS let the components air dry completely before playing your next cassette.

[@KrazyKaiser]

Maybe they assume you are smart enough to realize that yourself, but honestly, this being the internet it's safer to not leave anything to chance.

[@gailruggles6562]

I just followed the directions and my cassette player is awesome. I have listened to over 1000 books on cassette - in the kitchen, in the car, or wherever I am working alone.

[@pixelbrit2506]

Video is 12 years old BUT THANK YOU. THIS IS ACTUALLY WORKED

[@bloodforblood1517]

Wow lovely. This technique worked for me. Was about to give it to an electrician to get it repaired. You saved my penny. Thankyou...

[@chuheihkg]

It is said, when something muddy, Have found so dirty, after cleaning up, working again. It is said, most cases because head is dirty, roller is dirty.

[@benbishop7775]

This saved me from chucking out a vintage cassette player. Awesome!

[@vinyleyezz]

+Ben Bishop nice! I just picked up a vintage cassette deck! They're awesome!

[@Raidr5]

@@vinyleyezz Hey there!

[@jorgejimenezgomez6470]

solo horizontalmente el cabezal!

[@nateholden7598]

Cassette is my preferred way to play music, And I am really into older stuff and Tape tech in my favorite type of tech!

[@AnalogBuddy]

Here because just bought a brand new Sharp 80W portable cassette player. The piece was sitting in the showroom for a good 29 years.

[@_Uh_Oh_]

Just almost had a disaster with my 1983 Journey Frontiers cassette I bought 2 days ago in my taper player. Sound was going all slow motion and muffly so tried your tips in this vid with some window cleaner and seems to have done the trick.

[@acsca]

Even a cassette tape is a bit more than 5 times the bit rate of a basic 128 kbit MP3 and still almost 3 times the bit rate over a download from iTunes. FLAC and other Lossless is ok, I use it in some circumstances. For me its CDs, Cassettes, Vinyl, SACD or DVD Audio. The reality is is that MP3 is the fast food version of an album.

[@DoubleALabs]

Standard audio cassette tapes aren't digital, so they have no inherent bitrate. Your comparison is irrelevant.

[@matt.pma.kresnaputra5458]

@@DoubleALabs 😅 ikr i was confused at this comparison

No one will ever hear the diference

[@allancheli]

Unless its an expensive metal master tape and you miraculously found a way to remove the inherent hiss of tape passing through the head, there’s no way a tape can sound cleaner and sharper than digital.

[@MrCacciLLo]

A cassette has lower high frequency content, more distortion and more noise than any mp3. And each time you play it you will loose even more high end. After 10 playbacks the sound is a puddle of mud

[@jspike96]

Thanks for the video! My cassettes are a lot clearer thanks to the tips from the video!

[@oldiegoodie7696]

It is best to use rubber cleaner -Rubber alcohol dries up the pinch rollers.

[@msj3639]

What docyou recommended. Also...can this also be done if some of those parts are rusted?

[@Lakoopa2009]

You can also use Windex as it does pretty much the same thing as isopropyl but goes easier on rubber

[@Gonzoidzz]

I just checked Amazon and some of my old cassettes are worth £50. Keep those cassettes folks! They do sound good and have some more charm than CD and definitely mp3. I know a few guys who threw out their whole collections, oh dear.

[@kiyoshi7778]

Deary me

[@romant142]

Don't put in your favourite one in case it didn't work on the first try and it eats the tape

[@huntershelton3130]

well I got a player that eats tapes and it's a nice player it's much nicer than the other one I have it has a backlight and auxiliary Jack and a microphone built into a recording of your voice on the tape but that player eats tapes but I think the cassette player needs some cleaning

[@vikinghoodbluelighthouse2911]

I think you need to buy a new cassette player.

[@stevenelias7597]

I've never had a tape eaten up by the player.

[@michaeleverett2650]

@@huntershelton3130 when tape players start eating tapes most of the time it's caused by worn out belts that need to be replaced, the belts get old and stretched out.

[@Red_Vega]

Thank you!!! Much needed!

[@squiggle2054]

Do not clean rubber parts with alcohol, alcohol dries rubber and if used enough can make it not grip and crack, on rollers just rub it down with a dry swab is what ive learned to do unless it is really really dirty then only do it once at most

[@ampheat]

There is some debate about the use of alcohol to clean the RUBBER PINCH ROLLERS. Ideally a rubber cleaner like the one used to clean rubber rollers on printers is more advised. Or just some distilled water may be better than alcohol.

[@Maxsarkar]

I use my own spit to clean the roller

[@robertwoodward9231]

​@@Maxsarkar Yes never use alcohol on the rollers or spindles. Ha, there's a how to video I watched and the dude was doing just that.

[@cupidsentertainment6428]

@@robertwoodward9231 so I just washed it with alcohol. Am I screwed?

[@robertwoodward9231]

@@cupidsentertainment6428 You should be ok. You can go back over with some distilled water and auto part stores carry good rubber cleaning products.

[@Casevillecountryboy]

Works great now Aiwa tape player clean now for the Panasonic one thanks a million brother

[@xthe.angels.h0rnsx582]

Bought an old walkman from the thrift store and its been slowing my cassettes down! Can't wait to get it cleaned and see if it being dirty is the actual problem, i'm crossing my fingers!

[@gregoryyoung8819]

I still love my cassette tapes - even after all these years.

[@spkoftdvl]

I recently bought a 1985 Sharp boombox and not only does it look beautiful but the radio works amazing. But when I tried a new cassette it sounded dirty and bad. I have to do a general cleaning because it has a LOT of dust, but will the audio come out clean with that? Also the balance pot does not find a midpoint, or it is left or right, although with the radio it works correctly. Wish me luck!

[@Zakuma101]

But its nice having the physical peripheral, especially when they come with unique packaging or in unique colors.

[@mihaitoderici4315]

NEVER MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEANT

[@pepsisuicide5060]

a m e r i c anfootball

[@passsacaglia]

Nice! I have a B&O Beocord 5000 cassette player and it worked perfectly just some months ago then I haven't used it. Just moved it. For some reason when I turn it on, now the capstan roller is spinning when power on? and when I press in a tape it tries to play and 1 sec after it just shuts off? Any idea why?? All the best!

[@miguelsalami]

I can't believe I'm buying cassette tapes again after all these years. My 1971 JVC KD-10 wants to play them so badly I feel guilty not buying New/Old Cassette tapes to play. It was either this or buy a turntable & start buying records again.

[@discotee]

I always thought for pinch rollers you shouldn't use alcohol to clean. While cleaning my capstan some alcohol got on the pinch roller and looked like it stained it? Maybe it just needs to try. I played a cassette and it was fine.

[@Bandelp]

OMG i have that boombox at 0:07 its older than i am

[@Nerdperson555]

Can you also use the methods here to clean walkmans/portable cassette players?

[@musicman195959]

@JPizzicicleParody - My $300 Sony dual cassette deck was destroyed when a tape wrapped around the roller pins. The playback head system got stuck and when i finally got the cassette tape out,the system broke. I am crushed. I love my cassette collection. I have 240 cassettes give or take and converting them to cd is out of the question. I will just buy a less costlier cassette deck when i get the money next year.

[@llollercoaster]

Awesome! Now can you tell me how to clean my beta max player! or maybe how to fix my walkman!

[@msj3639]

Can this also be done if some of those parts are rusted?

[@edigsfox]

Thx, it worked

[@NeeenO7]

wooooooooooooooooow i haven't used my cassette player in years.. i can't believe cassette players used to be the big thing LOL and the walkman is what everybody wants!! thank God for the MP3's

[@Bublerkin]

hmm I drank all my alcohol two days ago. I need more vodka

[@xblast196]

next time on howcast: how to maintain a good 8-track player :)

[@romulosendoromulo]

Thanks!

[@IbanezRG10]

Thank you so much ;)

[@kid4eva94]

yep ur so right

[@lucattsur]

I dont recomend you to use COTTON, USE INSTEAD OFFICE PAPERS (i dont know the correct word to english, but are the majro used papers in offices bond paper maybe is the word) COTTON has those like little hairy could damage. Use office paper with the alcohol.

[@Lillylafrog]

I recommend not cleaning the rubber wheels unless you really have to. One of my tapes broke because it gripped onto it (I didn't wait for it to dry completely too so take that with a grain of salt)

[@graysonschiller3288]

What is the mechanism called that pushes the tape head and roller up/down?

[@Raidr5]

that would most likely be the play button, just make sure your cassette player is powered off/unplugged before you press play to clean it.

[@MrGrumpygit488]

Technics cassette decks are a pain to clean!

[@joeferris5086]

I don't know about some of this. You gotta be careful getting alcohol on rubber guide wheels bc it can disintegrate them.

[@thechosenone9965]

walkman playhead getting dirty super fast. what should I do?

[@caturtri7524]

Onyone please. It's safe to use alcohol to pinch roller..?? Someone said that dry pinchroller caused by alcohol can eat your cassetes

[@user-js4dt9qg2t]

Alright. I have a question. I have an old german "Sound 1080 S" and when I insert the tape into it and press play, it produces a medium-loud noise (hum). I have tried a cassete player cleaner tape multiple times and it did nothing. Do you guys know what the problem might be, and did i damage the head with the cleaner tape (heard it from rumors) ?

[@damiendroid8447]

This is probably some kind of electrical interference from old parts inside the player itself I would assume, check videos about improper grounding or electrical hum on tape players. They might be a bit more helpful

[@patcox2816]

@@damiendroid8447if

[@isaacleon5795]

Does this work for portable cassette players?

[@zanestracner]

i would like to know as well

[@realvivifromloona]

Yes

[@Emman498]

so much worthe it better than an iPod

[@Boky505]

@overdriven77 Well hearing that you're 16 seriously made all of our day's better, good for you, I'm not even born yet but I preffer cassettes over mp3 and classic rock over modern pop.

[@brazilrulez123]

witch one is it

[@joshuapowell1868]

God bless you God loves you

[@idontfuckinknow5600]

Hey I need help I have a CD player that also works as a cassette player ,but when I put in a cassette itz not reading and all I hear is static. Can you help me please?

[@derykian6029]

Try a forum such as Tapeheads. KZbin comments aren't usually for issues

[@to.kanali]

i have a lenoxx cd cassette player 105 but i dont know how to fix the cassette player!!!

[@brazilrulez123]

what is the name

[@supergamer2401]

The magnetic tape inside the cassette can be damaged by a variety of things without even making physical contact. the sound quality is also inferior to that of a cd. ps what do you mean when they started warping and cracking cds can last forever as long as you dont leave them lying around. Yes cassettes can take a bit more damage but that is because the actual tape is put in a protective case because it is so easily damaged. you could just as well put a cd in a case and it wouldnt get damaged

[@idiot1321]

supergamer2401 CDs have disc rot problems over time.

[@mojorisen74]

I've had several CD's both store bought in the late 80's and CD-rs that have stopped reading because of disc rot. They were in pristine shape with no scratches and kept in their cases.

[@djsoulfilter]

I miss MiniDiscs. They were protected by the plastic housing.

[@TheElectricDreamer93]

I still do, but I lost all my cassettes :(

[@ThanhNguyen-rj6ed]

What is the model number of the cassette deck in the video ?

[@TheDarkhelmet95]

Kenwood KX-W4050

[@purwanto47]

I do

[@Tren4Gainz]

0:45 THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID

[@Maxsarkar]

I bought a cassette deck of Tascam on Saturday

[@applesus431]

I know how to clean one but mines just making weird squeaking noises and I'm worried that it's gonna die soon 😭😭😢

[@luisprieto9991]

How to make a cassette player spin forward

[@Poodleinacan]

@verastaki ... Where the hell were you putting those CD? In plain sunlight? In your car, in plain summer heat?... No wonder they all broke.

[@DavidBrown-zp5br]

I thought Panasonic owned the patent rights to the original cassette design, ergo it wasnt “royalty free?”

[@AnthonyIsCoolio78]

itz 2009 howcast.....GET WITH IT!!!

[@purwanto47]

I DO

[@nile2566]

I didnt know the guides need cleaning too

[@GenXtasy]

Thats a Q Tip

[@TheMagpyeTrader]

Q-Tip is a registered trademark for a particular kind of cotton swab. It would be like calling all tissues Kleenex.

[@Megadedly]

DVD? you mean CD?

[@JPizzicicleParody]

i di it inn my Aiwa cassette player and now it started to eat my tapes.

[@rogeliolopez2190]

If the pinch rollers or capstans were really wet with alcohol when yoy played a tape then the tape will stick to the pinch rollers or capstans and will become dinner for the aiwa. If it was dry then very possibly you need to demagnetize your tape deck if you have never done so.

[@rogeliolopez2190]

If you played a tape while the pinch rollers (the rubber wheels) or capstans (the metal pins that make the rubber wheel spin) were still soaked in alchohol then the tape would stick to one of them and soon become dinner to your tape deck. If it was dry then either you need to demagnetize your deck or the belts in the mechanism have perished and become tar and the pinch rollers are still moving but not the intake reel and the it will end up eating your previous tapes.

[@oORlxOo]

wow thats soooooo old

[@ihasmdb389]

don't put in your favourite tape right away tho. i dont want the alcohol to maybe attack it

[@WorldPeacePrincess]

Oui! moi =P

[@paveldaddy]

Would brake cleaner do also? Coz' I don't have rubbing alcohol in handy

[@RoadCaster]

Hello from 2022

[@bjarne5491]

Didnt work

[@DOOMGUYBFG64]

Bruh i have that same cassette tape

[@ajgr62]

me, HAHAHA!

[@MrCacciLLo]

There's some bad advice here, don't use Alchool on the Rubber Pinch Rollers ever

[@robertshanks3674]

please DON'T use alcohol on rubber rollars

[@banjostring9610]

Rubbing alcohol and ipa (isopropyl alcohol) are different. Rubbing alcohol is diluted ipa. For a decent job you need ipa. 99.9% You can use rubbing alcohol but firstly because it is diluted will take longer and second, you need to know what the dilut is

[@Hyatt58]

What is this??? I love the 80's??!!!

[@Evanh52]

Can you do a how to on moving out your moms basement because people are going to need to do that after they clean their cassettes

[@that80stoast43]

Am I the only one in 2021 with an walkman? '-'

[@rustycutlets]

No.

[@ddrfreak7714]

how is this relevent at all 2day

[@Aiden-kh9vj]

ddrfreak7714 pretty relevant

[@olliecrow3547]

@@Aiden-kh9vj yep, most relevant.

[@stevek.1979]

what's a cassette player

[@jriley1992]

You're too young...

[@gibsonwand8747]

@@jriley1992 I'm 13 and own a walkman and some tapes, there's not really a "too young" No hate, No beef

[@65sgboogieman8]

Studio Papa that’s a little suspicious that you feel the need to state that info there, buddy boy

[@shadoskill]

its this thing invented millions of years ago! XD

[@migueldisla2332]

Cleaning that middle part don't work it speeds up the sound of the recording thus making the song sound like the chipmunks this is bad advice thank you for messing up my boombox

[@sorindncs]

They are cassette RECORDERS, recorders not players!!!

[@GreatIraqYoutube]

both

[@watsonwrote]

Or you can use an MP3 player and FLAC or other lossless format. The audio quality is unmatched and you can have thousands of songs with you in the palm of your hand, easily sorted.

[@TheMagpyeTrader]

So, they have my personal cassette recordings from the public radio station on MP3 online?

[@GeyloFollen]

Funny where all your mp3 songs are going to be in 50 years...my cassette collection will last 4eva

[@mooo483]

Does anybody stil use a cassette player.

[@olliecrow3547]

@Duribethin lol, I love the rebuttal. I occassionally play cassettes.

[@IgnacioSanchezWebDesign]

Yes! I love them! It's a pity younger generation didn't get the opportunity to know that.

[@vietNguyen.]

Are you drunk ?? You repeat yourself in some sceme

[@AlexBennettSHOW]

whats a cassette? lol

[@jiro4559]

What's lol?

[@geico1212]

hahahaha yeh this is out dated

[@flectz]

wh othe fuck uses cassette

[@olliecrow3547]

More people than you're aware of.

[@GreedDog]

haha come on now no use cassette Player so this video was super useless