atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Telephone Repairs & Equipment Cleaning telephones

Guys-
On occasion, I get old phones given to me. Most of the time they are pretty dirty and dingy. What do you recommend to clean and or disinfect telephones?
Thanks-
Jeff

Jeff:

The best way is to completely disassemble the plastic components and run them through the dishwasher. Granted, this will dull the finish but you can polish it back up. At least this will remove all oils and dirt, especially if you are painting the plastic parts.

We used to use kitchen wax spray to shine them up. I don't know if they even make that stuff anymore, but a little spray on a rag worked miracles.

If you are painting the parts, go one extra step and wipe the parts down with pure rubbing alcohol to remove any oils from your fingers while handling them prior to painting. Make sure that the alcohol has completely evaporated before you go any further.

If disassembly is too much trouble, the tried and true Windex or 409 and a soft cloth will do a pretty good job.

I use Novus

Ed, is this it? https://www.scjbrands.com/mailorder/

Yep, Jubilee it is,

I wonder if my sources in the hardware world can locate it for me...
I also have used Magnolia Glayzit but that's more of a finish after cleaning the phones.
I'm not looking to paint these; just clean them up a bit so they aren't so nasty looking.

I tear mine down then brush and soak them in Simple Green, rubout any spots before using Magnolia and after a few coats they look good to go.

Jeff -

Someone, (I think Magnolia) used to make a line of telephone cleaning products. You had one solution to wash the phone with and another to polish it. (And maybe even a third for something else).

We used to use it way back, but i don't think I've seen it in 25 years.

Sam

I still use Glazit by Magnolia at my shop. A thorough cleaning with isopropal alcohol and hit it with Magnolia and buff to a high shine. Doesn't work on the newer matte surfaces.

Simple green, goo-gone, soft scrub, sometimes Isopropyl, sometimes an ink remover (used to use Bo-Link but it is not longer being made. Now we use a product from Tower Hobbies for ink removal). Most of the new finishes are matte so that trying to polish them is pointless.

I have used PDI adhesive Tape Remover Pads to remove stickers and remove sharpie ink also; works great and not harmful. Then into the old soap and water.Available at most fine drug stores..

I have a bunch of stuff from Arrow Magnolia. Saleman sent me about four different cases when I told him I was refurbing phones. Anyway, Glazit is about the best you can get as a polish, works great. I also have an orange based cleaner that takes off any kind of adhesives and labels. Another "Fantastic" kind of cleaner is concentrated and will remove dirt and everything else. I just spray the plastics with it and wash them in the sink. There is also Virex telephone disinfecting spray for handsets and things that you can't put in water. Salesman said it is usually used to spray down pay phones. Kills everything.

-Hal

I have used goo gone on certain parts, to remove labels and things like that. I once had a computer case where I wanted to remove a bunch of stickers. I had to use a heat gun and scrape them off. It was a big mess.
We have a cleaner at the hardware store called Mighty Boss . I use it to clean our workbench where we do screen repairs. I don't know what is in it, but it works amazingly well. The bench is dark grey when I start, and bright white at the end of cleaning.

Armorall

I just called Arrow Magnolia and they only sell by the case. They did tell me that Graybar carries the Glayzit spray.

This is not necessarily for phones, but we use a pen called "Expo doctor" to remove labeling from blocks. It works great when changing lines on 66 blocks and when coming in behind someone who used a sharpie.
https://www.staples.com/webapp/wcs/...51&productId=89303&cmArea=SEARCH

I just called Arrow Magnolia and they only sell by the case.

Probably why I have a lifetime supply of that stuff.

-Hal

Send me a can of Glayzit then

My lifetime, not yours. I'll leave you a can in my will. :thumb:

-Hal

Jeff, if you are talking about primarily residential phones, one of the biggest grime culprits is grease. I get a large bowl of hot water with Dawn diswashing liquid and soak the parts in that for several minutes. It also works very well for the coiled cords which are difficult to manipulate with just a rag and cleaning fluid.

Hey, didn't Sandman used to sell a complete vlean/polisk kit with brushes, clothes, cleaners, polishes, everything but the kitchen sink? Probably still does, but I'm too lazy to look.
Used to tear down abandoned Wheelock Claxons and Bells and run the housings thru the home dishwasher. Sometimes it took 2 trips. And don't forget to run it with detergent and nothing else afterwards, unless you like living in the doghouse! I didn't once after "recovering" 1 from a machine shop! Man that sucker is small! (The doghouse) John C. (Not Garand)

I have tried everything for cleaning phones. Even the dishwasher approach and melted a bunch of housings on the dry cycle. I was upset. I Melted them all.

For ink and tape removal, Sandman stuff works well. Mr Sandman has a non toxic formula in small bottles, so use it sparingly. A small amount does the job.

For the tape and ink:
I have used a little Goop remover and Fingernail polish remover. Use the Non acetone base!

Orange juice cable cleaner for Gell filled pic works well too. This stuff removes dried on pine tar sap from you hands and tools. If you ever worked on pic cable you need a second set of tools. What a mess. This stuff also cleans the nasty without much liver damage.

Be careful with acetone based fingernail polish remover it with dull a shine finish.

The best stuff is The Arrow Magna Clean and then finish off with the Arrow Glaze-it for a waxed look gloss effect.

Again, if there is scotch tape and ink I spray it with Glaze-it then go back later with a brush and fingernails/sharp edge credit card to remove it.

A small scrubber brush with effort and time. Along with Old tooth brushes and poly propylene, felt or fine cotton.

You can get them babies looking like new.

Amway LOC and oily penut butter for ink and lables. Magnolia wax to top off.

Peanut butter?

oily peanut butter The oil is a good solvent for the adhesive and the consistency keeps it in contact Leave it sit for an hour or so and it loosens it right up.
Yes, it works but is a bit messy. I prefer the goo gone.

Hey guys, we refurbish all types of Avaya telephones including Partner and Merlin. Send them our way. See my profile for web site.

And to think that this all started because Jeff wanted to do a minor cleanup on some (singleline?) phones! John C. (Not Garand)

LOL, just cleaning some 2500 phones
Goo Gone is amazing, I did a cabling job at their former HQ/warehouse which is 5 minutes away from my house.

We use Simple Green also..buddy of mine told me about a trick and I tried it and it's great. Take a spray bottle mix 1/2 Simple Green and 1/2 Windex it cleans like mad...and no streaks leaves plastic nice...give it a shot. It's worth it. We found a product called Kleenmaster Brillianize that works great also anti static cleaner and polish for plastic. (800)283-6447 don't know if they are still in business but great product.