Cleaning Portable CD Players

Portable CD players are pretty wonderful things, after all they can go just about anywhere with you that you want. This doesn't always mean that this is a good thing, since this also provides an excellent opportunity for your portable CD player to get dirty. Luckily cleaning portable CD players can be rather easy, if you only know what to do.

• Wipe and knock. Begin cleaning your portable CD player by wiping off the exterior casing of any dirt and grime that may be on it. After you have done that, flip the player upside down and gently knock out excess dirt that may have gotten inside the machine.
• Vacuum. Over time, or simply through accident, dirt can get inside of a portable CD player. One of the easiest ways to get the majority of the dust and dirt out of the interior of these players is to use a portable vacuum cleaner. However, you do not want to use a big powerful machine that can suck up a bowling ball. Rather you want something that is a little less powerful, and more useful with delicate items. When you are choosing the vacuum to use, make sure that it has a plastic brush, or something similar, that you can put over the end of the nozzle to protect the CD player. In addition, prior to vacuuming you need to remove any accessories, batteries, and battery cover to prevent the risk of loosing anything.
• Compressed air. Once you have finished vacuuming the CD player, it is time to use a little compressed air. Be careful as you are using this, and don't simply jam the air nozzle into the CD player and empty the can. The reason for this is that the pressurized air in the can is very cold, and you can end up damaging the delicate electronics if you are not careful. Rather, you should use light, quick, controlled or aimed shots of air to help clean the CD player. As you are spraying the air, make sure that you are holding the can between six and ten inches away so that you don't leave a propellant "film" over everything, and so that you can still get enough pressure to clean everything.
• Let it sit, and then wipe down. After you have used the compressed air, allow the CD player to sit for about ten minutes. This will allow the CD player to warm back up to room temperature, and be better prepared for any further cleaning that you have to do. Before you reassemble your CD player, take the time to wipe down the exterior once again, using either specially formulated electronic cleaning wipes, or a barely damp clean wash cloth. This will help clean off any remaining dirt and grime. Let everything dry before you reassemble the CD player, and then enjoy!