A rather silly question perhaps, but what cleaning products does one use to keep their HT radio external cases, knobs, and keypads clean and occasionally disinfected?
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Cleaning HT radios.
- Thread starter GlobalNorth
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mmckenna
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I agree with Trentbob, I use denatured alcohol. It won't hurt the plastic or the screen. It's used/sold as a plastic cleaner, and even recommended for cleaning plexiglass. It will easily remove adhesive residue and even ink pen/markers.
I've also used Simple Green and a tooth brush to really scrub them down if they get nasty.
Armor-All will shine them up like new.
At work and for COVID safety, I use disinfectant wipes when the radio arrives and before we return it to the user.
Back in early 2020, Kenwood/EFJohnson released this document about disinfecting radios:
I've also used Simple Green and a tooth brush to really scrub them down if they get nasty.
Armor-All will shine them up like new.
At work and for COVID safety, I use disinfectant wipes when the radio arrives and before we return it to the user.
Back in early 2020, Kenwood/EFJohnson released this document about disinfecting radios:
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I'm a big fan of Goof Off but I never used it in a communication Radio application. You know best but I would be very leery of Goof Off, it's a very strong effective cleaner. I guess that comes from the old days when I made a... few costly mistakes.
When I was in charge of the rental radios for the company I worked at, I used an orange (not the color) cleaner and a toothbrush. Wipe it down then use formula 2000(?) as a protectant. Again wipe with a clean dry cloth to get slickness off the radio.
After I was done, the radios looked new.
After I was done, the radios looked new.
mmckenna
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There are some really good citrus based degreasers that work well.
The Formula 2000 is a Armor-All type product and does a great job of shining up the radio. I sold off a bunch of my old UHF HT-1000s for a good price by spending the time to really clean them well. The Formula 2000/Armor All really makes them look like new.
And, yeah, wiping off the excess is a good idea, lest the radios get slippery and fly out of the hand.
clbsquared
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Lots of good advice has been given. I will add that I usually start with a soft bristle paint brush and remove any dust or dirt that’s accumulated in those hard to reach places. Like the grille, around the antenna and knobs. Most of the time, that does such a good job that I rarely do anything else. Unless there’s an obvious build up of gunk on it.
I have always used a mild detergent and a clean fleece cloth.
The stubborn stuff usually comes of with 'denatured' (rubbing) alcohol.
Get the dust off first with like a new paint brush.
That simple green is a good mild detergent, but about anything will work.
Dawn liquid dish soap even.
The stubborn stuff usually comes of with 'denatured' (rubbing) alcohol.
Get the dust off first with like a new paint brush.
That simple green is a good mild detergent, but about anything will work.
Dawn liquid dish soap even.
But it didn't work as good after that.
For the really gunked on crap I use those gun cleaning toothbrush things. I've used a purple version Simple Green-like product for years.
TMI
mmckenna
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Purple Power? That stuff works really well.
mmckenna
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That's pretty &#*$(# up right there.
Yep. I dilute it quite a bit and it's never ruined anything yet.
mmckenna
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My work truck gets parked under redwood trees most of the time. The tannin out of the bark tends to leach out in the rain and stain the crap out of the truck. I've found that purple power is one of the few things that gets it out. I used to have a big 2 1/2 gallon jug of the stuff in my garage. I think I'm out and need to get some more.
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