What's a good method / product for cleaning Tolex?

[Jackroadkill]

Hi all, just wondering if any of you have any tricks up your sleeves when it comes to cleaning 40-odd years' worth of nicotine stains, beer and dust out of the Tolex on your amps or cabs.  I'm in the process of giving an old cab a new lease of life and although I have all of the functional aspects of this well under control I'd like to get the exterior cleaned up a bit, too.  Years ago I worked in a music shop and we used a foaming cleaner for this, but I don't remember it being particularly effective, even when combined with a good helping of elbow grease and a scrubbing brush.

 

If anyone has any tip, I'd be very grateful.

 

Cheers,

 

JRK

[Sean]

Isopropyl Alcohol is my go to for most cleaning jobs. 

You can try it neat or what I do to make my own kitchen cleaner spray that cuts through grease is put about 5-10% isopropyl to water and a squirt of washing up liquid in a spray bottle. We've got quartz worktops (not recommended btw) and it does a good job on those. I add a couple of drops of tea tree oil but that's optional. 

Another thing I use (but not in the kitchen) is TFR (traffic film remover), it's nasty so wear gloves and dilute it. 

 

Both are really cheap and will last you ages. 

 

 

Edited 18 hours ago by Sean

[Phil Starr]

The trick the old music shops used to smarten up old gear was WD40, I've tried it on black vinyl and it does kind of work but I suspect it's more of a quick fix rather than a deep clean. 

 

I'd be trying out any solvents on a bit of the cab that didn't show however, most plastics are going to be Ok with most solvents but with older gear you don't really know what they've used. Theirs a hierarchy of solvents that retarers try working up from distilled water to soapy water, detergent , methylated spirits, isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol and so on, Working on tiny areas with a cotton bud is good as you can see the dirt on the bud and make sure the fabric isn't being damaged. Once you are confident you can use the product you've settled on to clean the reat of the cab. 

 

Beware of too much water, old cabs might be made of chipboard or MDF both of which will swell and break down if they get wet, old vinyl won't be completely waterproof. Whisking up soapy water and just using foam is a thing and I've found 1001 Carpet Cleaner works well.

 

Start slowly and take care, most gunk comes off in the end without using anything special. good Luck  

[Chienmortbb]

I have used Sticky Stuff to good effect in the past. It is designed to remove sticky labels but does not seem to damage surfaces and I have used it all over the house as well as for Tolex/Vynide.

 

However, try the cheaper options first.

Edited 8 hours ago by Chienmortbb

[bertbass]

Black shoe polish!

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

I haven't used Tolex since the 1990s but if I did I try this to keep it looking good, it works wonders for my car: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AAZ1OAE

[chris_b]

20 hours ago, Jackroadkill said:

Hi all, just wondering if any of you have any tricks up your sleeves when it comes to cleaning 40-odd years' worth of nicotine stains, beer and dust out of the Tolex on your amps or cabs.  I'm in the process of giving an old cab a new lease of life and although I have all of the functional aspects of this well under control I'd like to get the exterior cleaned up a bit, too.  Years ago I worked in a music shop and we used a foaming cleaner for this, but I don't remember it being particularly effective, even when combined with a good helping of elbow grease and a scrubbing brush.

 

If anyone has any tip, I'd be very grateful.

 

Cheers,

 

JRK

 

Method spray and a sponge. . . . . .

 

ps the lavender one.

Edited 3 hours ago by chris_b

[KiOgon]

In the 70's when I worked for VOX we had big white aerosol cans of 'Foam Cleaner', still got some somewhere 😉 right good stuff 👍

[KiOgon]

32 minutes ago, KiOgon said:

In the 70's when I worked for VOX we had big white aerosol cans of 'Foam Cleaner', still got some somewhere 😉 right good stuff 👍

Probably late 60's now I think about it and it was Ambersil Groom - to my surprise still available!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ambersil-7003A-500ml-Upholstery-Cleaner/dp/B0032I2SMK?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&psc=1&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

[Jackroadkill]

Thanks all, that should get me going!