Do you have a box of old cassette tapes sitting around in less-than-ideal storage conditions? Have they been covered in dust, subjected to moisture, or just left to slowly decay? That’s OK (maybe)! Just because your tapes have been neglected and mostly forgotten, they might still be repairable. I have to warn you: cleaning your old tapes isn’t difficult, but it is tedious.
Supplies to Clean Cassette Tape
All you’ll need to begin cleaning your cassettes are a few household items, some moxy, patience, and a decent amount of time.
- Rubbing Alcohol (90% or higher)
- Q-tips or cotton balls
- Lukewarm water
- Latex gloves (or some alternative if you’re allergic)
Once you have all of your supplies, the real fun begins! Find a spot in your home where you can spread out and won’t bump into stuff. You’ll especially want some room to wiggle your elbows around. Now we’re ready to party.
Step 1: Wipe down the casing with some warm water.
You’ll want to make sure that the casing itself isn’t covered in a bunch of muck. Really get into the crevices and the spokes that turn the tape.
Step 2: Clean the tape that’s been showing for however many years.
If your tape is in the middle of its play cycle, you’ll want to go ahead and clean that area first. You don’t want that dust and grime to make it into the casing and ruin the rest of the tape. Grab your rubbing alcohol** and dip your cotton swab in it. Start gently cleaning the film with small circular motions. Don’t press too hard, but make sure you put enough pressure to remove any foreign particles. Also make sure to get both sides of the film.
Step 3: Rewind the tape.
Once your tape is in good enough condition to put it into a tape player, you’ll want to rewind the tape. Once it’s all the way rewound, you’ll repeat step 2 for the length of the cassette tape. Yes, this is going to take a long time. Yes, it’s tedious. No there are no shortcuts.
To make step 3 go faster, you might be able to rig up some sort of motor that turns the tape for you. We don’t necessarily recommend doing this, but you can try if you want. For example, you might be able to attach the tape to a clamp and use a power drill (on a very low setting!!) to turn the tape for you. Crafting something like that will allow you to spend most of your time cleaning instead of manually turning the tape. Either way, you’re in it for the long haul on this project.
Cleaning tapes isn’t difficult--you just need household items and time--but you do need a bunch of patience. I recommend getting yourself a nice yoga-style playlist, put on some headphones, and turn the process into a little meditation.
Good luck!
**Special note about the rubbing alcohol: you want to use a higher percentage than normal. The reason is because it evaporates faster than lower percentages, leaving less residue behind after cleaning. A lower percentage might leave water and particles behind. Go 90% or higher if possible.
FAQs
Wet a Q-tip or cotton ball with rubbing alcohol. Then, use light pressure and circular motions to clean the tape. Wait until it is thoroughly dry before using a microfiber cloth the same way to complete cleaning for that portion of the tape.
Can you clean a cassette tape with rubbing alcohol? ›
You don't want that dust and grime to make it into the casing and ruin the rest of the tape. Grab your rubbing alcohol** and dip your cotton swab in it. Start gently cleaning the film with small circular motions. Don't press too hard, but make sure you put enough pressure to remove any foreign particles.
Can you clean cassette with wd40? ›
If necessary, you can use WD-40 BIKE Degreaser which will easily remove stubborn stains.
Do old cassette tapes go bad? ›
In perfect circ*mstances, cassette tapes will only last about 30 years if properly stored away from heat, humidity, and UV rays. Whereas a CD stored in the same conditions can last over 100 years. Two common factors for cassette tape deterioration are heat and tape recorder malfunctions.
Can you refurbish old cassette tapes? ›
It's possible to remove dirt and debris from cassettes with water damage if you do this correctly, however, professional cassette tape restoration is the best option. To replace a cracked or damaged shell, the tape needs to be carefully removed from the old housing and placed into a new one.
Will isopropyl alcohol remove tape residue? ›
Alcohol to the rescue.
Consider using a little rubbing alcohol, which is a non-solvent for pressure-sensitive adhesives. When you apply rubbing alcohol, the adhesive residue will lose its adhesion and will precipitate. This can also work with acetone, or nail polish remover.
How do you lubricate a cassette tape? ›
Serviceable cassettes (held together with screws) have points that benefit from a good DRY silicone lubricant. Spray a little in the cap (away from your face) and give the propellant time to evaporate then apply sparingly with a cotton swab or toothpick at plastic to plastic friction points.
How do you clean a vintage cassette deck? ›
How do you clean the heads of a vintage audio cassette deck properly? Use a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol - the highest percentage available (at least 90%). Clean the erase head and the record/playback head by rubbing gently up and down along the face of each head.
What is the best grease for cassette tapes? ›
Generally for tape decks: Silicone grease for plastic-plastic contact. Lithium grease for metal-metal contact.
Should you lube a cassette? ›
Your cassette in particular will gather dirt and grime as it sticks to your chain lubricant. Thoroughly cleaning and re-lubricating your cassette as well as applying water displacing spray will ensure smooth shifting and a longer life for your expensive components.
That's right, the cassette tapes of your youth have been slowly degrading over the last several decades and there's nothing you can do to stop it – only prolong it. Because whether you like it or not, 30 years is the average life of a cassette tape.
Why does my cassette tape sound so bad? ›
Older cassette tapes can dry out over the years, losing some of the inner lubricant that helps them play smoothly. When those belts dry out, your tape can do weird things, i.e. sound like it's playing in slow motion. Or singing “Under the Sea.” Another nostalgic reference …
What causes cassette tapes to squeal? ›
If a tape with sticky-shed syndrome is played, the reels will make screeching or squeaking sounds, and the tape will leave dusty, rusty particles on the guides and heads. In some cases, particularly with digital tapes, the symptoms are more subtle, causing intermittent dropouts.
Can cassette tapes get wet? ›
Magnetic tapes can remain wet for several days as long as water is cool and clean ▪ Older tapes may not survive long immersion in water ▪ Metal particulate (MP) and metal evaporate (ME) tapes (used for high density records, high grade video, and digital applications) and acetate-based tapes do not withstand long ...
