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I'm sure that when ever any of us get a 'new' typewriter we clean it to the best of our abilities. It gives a chance to get to know the machine better and appreciate the mechanism better.
But once it is in use how often would you clean your typewriter? Are you of the opinion that if it isn't broken don't fix it, or do you have a regular cleaning shedule?
I only ask because I recently bought some supplies to clean a Royal Quiet Deluxe that I bought. That cleaning session was last Sunday. Today I noticed a sticking key on my Olympia SM3. So the cleaning fun began again.
So how often do you clean your typewriter?
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No schedule. Too many typewriters! It must depend on a few things:
amount you've used it
where it was and whether it had a dust cover on
how long it was sitting around before you got it
how thoroughly you cleaned it the first time
how long since you've used it
who used it last - i.e., was it kids!?
I do think some of them just like to be given a bit of a touch-up now and then, just to remind them everything is okay. If you read the old 'care of your typewriter' instructions, they advocate giving it a brush-down every day (assuming you're using it every day) and cleaning the type heads once a week. And that's when it was new and there were repair men all over the place! So i thin if it looks ilke it needs a clean and you feel like it, give it a clean.
Last edited by KatLondon (14-9-2015 13:18:51)
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I definitely don't have a cleaning schedule for my machines, and would classify most of my cleaning sessions as a "as required" duty. For example, I have a SG1 that I cleaned fairly well and installed a new ribbon in before cranking out close to 100,000 words on it; looking at it now I don't see any need for cleaning it again yet. It certainly helps that I don't use erasers or liquids to correct typing mistakes.
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As often as it gets dirty.