- 1). Remove any tape from the player.
- 2). Dip a cotton swab in alcohol. Make sure the swab is damp, but not dripping. Press the cotton on the neck of the bottle to be sure no excess liquid runs out. You don't want liquid pooling inside your tape player.
- 3). Rub the swab on all the parts that come in contact with the tape as it runs, including the metal rollers, or capstans, the rubber guide rollers and the tape heads. The swab should then be dirty. Get a clean swab and repeat steps 2 and 3 until the swab no longer becomes dirty when it comes in contact with the parts. Do not dip dirty swabs into the alcohol.
- 4). Push "Play" on the tape deck. The rollers should turn. Repeat steps 2 and 3 to clean the rollers as they turn. This will ensure you get all sides of the roller and not just the side showing when you stopped the tape.
- 5). Let the tape player dry. If you try to use it before the alcohol has evaporated, it can rub the oxide off the tape, ruining the tape and clogging the gears that you just cleaned.
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