Cleaning 'Plastic'

[picturetaker]

I have a couple of 'newer' plastic cameras that have gotten all grungy. What is the best way to clean them. Not only the broad surfaces but down in the corners and edges. I have used Windex but it doesn't seem to do the best job. Appreciate any info you can pass on.

 

[Carol Flutot]

You can try some rubbing alcohol it may take some elbow
grease too...I have used alcohol countless times
removing grung & goo from customers cameras.
If you try other cleaners, be careful for some will melt the plastic.

Carol

 

[Sparky]

You can try some rubbing alcohol it may take some elbow
grease too...I have used alcohol countless times
removing grung & goo from customers cameras.
If you try other cleaners, be careful for some will melt the plastic.

Carol

Rubbing alcohol CAN be a bit dangerous on some surfaces, like clear plexi & rubber/neoprene. But lighter fluid (butane) is the king of gunk removers and will NOT harm 99% of plastics. I found this out from my picture framer after having some 6'x6' frames made with plexi glazing. I'd gotten some tape of ill repute stuck to the plexi and I asked them what I could remove it with - without damage. Butane was the answer. Since then, I've used it for all kinds of plastics (esp. rubber - which doesn't like alcohol too much) and it's worked a treat!

 

[Gerald Koch]

I have used Kodak lens cleaner which seems to work to remove finger grease.

 

[Shmoo]

There's a product that I found at a plexiglass shop called Brillianize which works great on plex...might work on normal plastic as well...

 

[Whiteymorange]

Butane was the answer

At normal pressure, Butane is a gas. I think you mean Naptha, or lighter fluid.

 

[Roger Hicks]

In decades of experience, lighter fuel has attacked more things that rubbing alcohol. What I normally use is pure potable alcohol, such as Everclear or similar, applied with a Q-Tip.

Of course, trike will take almost anything off and dissolves slightly fewer plastics than you might expect.

Cheers,

Roger

 

[Sparky]

At normal pressure, Butane is a gas. I think you mean Naptha, or lighter fluid.

White gas? Wow, crazy. I always thought it was butane in ligthers. Makes sense though, I suppose.

 

[Sparky]

In decades of experience, lighter fuel has attacked more things that rubbing alcohol. What I normally use is pure potable alcohol, such as Everclear or similar, applied with a Q-Tip.

Of course, trike will take almost anything off and dissolves slightly fewer plastics than you might expect.

Cheers,

Roger

Well, that's not been my experience - but one thing I HAVE found isopropyl (rubbing alcohol) to be great for is removing latex paint spatters on things that shouldn't have them (I hit my stereo with latex overspray once!).

 

[bjorke]

A shiny camera is like a shiny truck or SUV - a sign that it's not being used properly.

Windex on a q-tip for bits like the lens mounts or eyepiece. Otherwise, let it build a little character

 

[Roger Hicks]

Well, that's not been my experience - but one thing I HAVE found isopropyl (rubbing alcohol) to be great for is removing latex paint spatters on things that shouldn't have them (I hit my stereo with latex overspray once!).

Probably pure luck in what we tried cleaning...

Cheers,

R.

 

[BOSS565]

There is a commercial plastic cleaner made by Permatex. If your local hardware store doesn't have it try WW Grainger.