Car Stereo Cleaning

Over time, you can expect that the interior of your car will start to collect dirt and dust. Especially if you have had your car for several years, you might notice a build-up of grime and grit that may often be overlooked at first glance. In many cases, this dirt is neglected and collects in the hard-to-clean areas of the car's interior.

One area in particular that collects a lot of dust over time is the car stereo. The stereo has a lot of buttons and grooves that are just magnets for dirt and grime. You probably can't even see just how dirty the car stereo is, but odds are good that your stereo isn't as clean as it could be.

There is no need to drive around with a dirty car, however. It is incredibly easy to clean your car stereo, and following a few tips can make the process even simpler.

• With a thin, sharp object (like a paper clip, toothpick, or maybe a pen), get into the deep grooves and cracks of the car stereo and carefully scrape away dirt and grit. This may take some patience, and be sure that you take care not to scratch the surface as you work.
• Using a cotton swab, go aver the area again. This will allow you to rub off the dirt that the sharp object you have already used may have missed. Because the cotton swab is small and has a soft tip, you can quite effectively remove built-up dirt from the stereo. You might want to put some water or a little all-purpose or window cleaner at the end of the swab for a more thorough cleaning.
• Using a window cleaner such as Windex, wipe with a soft rag over the surface of the stereo. This should remove any fingerprints, smudges, or remaining surface dirt from the stereo. Make sure everything is dry by going over it again with a dry cloth.
• If you have a CD player that is skipping and needs to be cleaned, you can try a cleaning disc that can be purchased at an electronics store. For more serious cleaning, one thing to do is to remove the CD player and spray with compressed air. This will ensure that all the dust gets out and your CD works like new again. If you have a cassette player, use a cotton swab and rubbing alcohol to carefully clean the tape head. Also wipe the tape guides and pins.

With a little effort and care, you can get your car stereo looking as good as new again.