Shines like new?

[Oldenbroke]

As I gaze lovingly at all the kit on my AV rack, the sun breaks through the

clouds and.....where the heck did all that muck and dust come from?!?

I have just had a discussion with work colleagues (all female) about how

best to clean electronic equipment, and answers ranged from microfibre

cloths to isopropanol spray. I am now curious to find out how you proud owners

of shiny boxes keep them clean. Bored at work? Me? Never!

 

[nws56]

Yes, those shiny black glass cabinets / stands look gorgeous for the first few hours. And then the dust begins to settle....

So I'm now condemned to a cleaning ritual every other day ; my wife refuses to go anywhere near all that expensive and fragile (she thinks ) equipment .

And the best tool for this job is one of those large microfibre cloths rinsed in plain old warm water , it also does the delicate front of the LCD tv .

Nothing wrong with doing housework...it's all in the mind.

 

[John Duncan]

I have a little camera lens brush which I use on my turntable - looks like a lipstick (as somebody here helpfully pointed out).

 

[Oldenbroke]

Seems like the microfibre cloth is the way to go. The brush end of the vacuum

was my preferred option, but not enough room to fit it in all the narrow spaces.

My wife is of the same opinion - 'it's too delicate, I wouldn't like to touch it!'

At least my rack has clear glass so can get away with once a fortnight

(or is that quarterly)! Small price to pay for the pleasure, I suppose.

 

[Anonymous]

Have a salt-crystal lamp in the corner of the room. No honest!

These lamps produce negative ions which bind with positively charged air-borne dust particles, so they attract the dust, keeping it away from other electrostatic charges (eg shiny new a/v kit).

Typical purveyors of such lamps are usually alternative therapy places which claim other benefits besides, mainly through improving air quality.

Oh and they give off a cool ambient glow - nice.

 

[Oldenbroke]

I have often thought that there should be some form of electrostatic gizmo on the market

specifically for the job, but this suggestion just screams out to be tested!! Do you have one

yourself and can validate the claim, before I google for my local crystal healer?

 

[John Duncan]

Dust is primarily human skin, which is emanating from your body at about 7 million flakes a minute. No really. Best thing is to stay out of the house, I'd say.......

 

[Oldenbroke]

Excellent point John. Can you recommend some quality binoculars to enable me to still enjoy

my system from a lounger in the garden? Just how far can remote control signals go before

ceasing to function? Or... could I get away with a 60 inch blower to divert the 21 million flakes

a minute from self, wife and sprog (and whatever 2 cats produce), and half a dozen crystal lamps,

as it's getting a bit nippy outside?

 

[Anonymous]

Could always pay homeage to Kubrick and sit down in a sealed spacesuit. Would trap the flakey skin alright. Just empty the space boots afterwards.

 

[John Duncan]

Oldenbroke:
Excellent point John. Can you recommend some quality binoculars to enable me to still enjoy

my system from a lounger in the garden? Just how far can remote control signals go before

ceasing to function? Or... could I get away with a 60 inch blower to divert the 21 million flakes

a minute from self, wife and sprog (and whatever 2 cats produce), and half a dozen crystal lamps,

as it's getting a bit nippy outside?

You know those roller fluff removers you can get for your suit? Use one of those after showering (but before getting dressed) - works for me.

 

[Anonymous]

Oldenbroke:

I have often thought that there should be some form of electrostatic gizmo on the market

specifically for the job, but this suggestion just screams out to be tested!! Do you have one

yourself and can validate the claim, before I google for my local crystal healer?

I do indeed have one, though I use it in the room where the PC is. It does reduce the amount of dust in the air and thus the PC and monitor aren't as dusty as they might be (though not entirely dust free). It is recommended that the lamp itself is wiped periodically with a damp cloth to remove the dust it has attracted.

http://www.bestcare-uk.com/lamps.htm

 

[Messiah]

You are all missing the simplest solution - keep the blinds closed!

 

[SpiceWeasel]

Well I use a micro fibre cloth for cleaning my plasma screen, but I found using it on the shiny surround tended to just move the dust around rather than removing it. So I tried one of those Pledge fluffy dusters, a quick wipe over and it's spotless. Really good for anything shinny like TV surrounds.

I also have one of these, I bought it originally as I get hay fever quite bad in the summer. Not the quietest thing in the world but not to bad on the slowest fan speed. I have mine on 24/7 and it works wonders for my hay fever. Also has the added benefit of removing 99.9% of the dust in the room so excellent at keeping all your gear alot cleaner for longer.

 

[timwileman]

wrap all your av and hifi kit up in clingfilm, sorted

 

[nws56]

SpiceWeasel ; that microfibre cloth needs to be damp in order to trap the dust on it !

 

[Oldenbroke]

Messiah, you have the wisdom of the ages!

John - like the sticky roller idea! Do you think spray on glue would work as well?

I see the roller losing its stick between turning the amp on and loading a disc!

Tim - unfortunately the clingfilm wouldn't last too long wrapped around my

875. Jury out, but damp microfibre and salt-crystal 'ambilight' (sorry Philips)

most favourable....unless you know otherwise?