How To Repair A Vhs Tape

Download Article

Download Article

Mold, clay, and droppings can build up over time in VHS tapes. If your old VHS tapes need cleaning, it's best to use a mechanical record cleaner. It can be somewhat catchy to detect a tape cleaner, but y'all can endeavour looking online or in secondhand stores in your area. In the event you cannot find a tape cleaner, you tin can gradually remove moving-picture show from a record to clean it manually. However, a tape cleaner is usually the safer option. After cleaning your tapes, shop them in a safe place and minimize handling to keep them clean over time.

1. 1

   Insert your VHS tape into the machine. You should brainstorm the cleaning process with your tape fast-forwarded all the way to the stop. Printing the push button to open your cleaner. You should be able to easily slide the VHS tape in. Close the cleaner and press the clean push button. Allow the cleaner to fully rewind the record, cleaning the movie as it goes. ^[1]

   • The precise directions for record cleaners vary, so refer to your instruction's manual to make sure yous're using your cleaner correctly.

2. 2

   Run the machine for a full bicycle. Close the cleaner and press the make clean push. Let the cleaner to fully rewind the tape, cleaning the film as information technology goes. Near cleaners will have a button y'all press to run a cycle. If you're unsure how yours works, refer to the instruction's transmission.^[two]

   Advert

3. three

   Employ a screwdriver to open the casings. Once the record has run one cleaning cycle, remove the record from the machine. Use a Phillips caput screwdriver to remove the screws from the casing that houses the film. After removing all the screws, split up the casings and so you can attain the reels and film found within. ^[3]

   • Sometimes, tapes will accept a sticker or seal on the side to continue the casing together. If your tape is sealed, use a small knife to gently piece open the seal to open the record.
   • The majority of tapes can be opened with a Phillips head screwdriver. However, if a Phillips screwdriver does non piece of work, use a flathead screwdriver instead.
   • Store the screws in a condom identify equally you'll demand them later on to reassemble your tape.

4. 4

   Remove mold and clay from the casings with booze. Dip a Q-tip in a small amount of isopropyl alcohol. Swab the sides of the casing and effectually the empty reel to remove mold, dirt, and debris.^[iv]

   • Avoid cleaning virtually the reel that the film is currently wrapped around. Only apply your tape cleaner to remove mold from the moving picture itself.
   • You can purchase isopropyl alcohol at most drug stores.

5. five

   Place the casings back together. After running the record through the cleaner again, you will clean the other reel. Therefore, do not screw the tape back together yet. Simply place the casings together again so they're loosely secured.^[5]

6. 6

   Use the cleaner to fast forrard your tape. Place your tape in the cleaner every bit you did before. This fourth dimension, allow the tape to fast forward completely to remove any mold remaining on the film. Only place the tape in the cleaner so press the cleaning button.^[6]

7. vii

   Clean up any lingering mold manually. Once the tape runs through the cleaner again, remove it and open it upwards. Again, dip a q-tip in isopropyl booze. Employ this to clean the empty real and around the interior of the casings. Remove whatsoever lingering mold, dirt, or debris.^[seven]

   • Call up not to clean virtually the reel that contains the film.

8. eight

   Spiral the casings together. Place the casings back together. Place the screws back in place. Utilize your screwdriver to securely screw the tape back together.^[eight]

   • If your tape had a sticker in identify as a seal, it is not necessary to reseal your tape after cleaning it.

9. 9

   Rewind the tape over again. Y'all should always end the cleaning process with a rewound record. Pop the tape dorsum in the cleaner i last time. Rewind it to the beginning. When you lot're done, your VHS tape should be clean and ready to sentry.^[9]

   • Keep in mind, no method is ever 100% successful. Very dirty or damaged tapes may non come completely clean. Y'all may need to consult a professional if your tape remains muddied or will not play after using a record cleaner.

Advertisement

1. i

   Permit tapes to dry out if they're wet. Never attempt to alter a dirty VHS tape when information technology'southward wet. Handling wet picture show can cause damage. If you observe an sometime VHS tape that's been damaged by water, identify it in a clean, dry out space. Allow information technology to dry completely earlier attempting to make clean information technology manually.

2. 2

   Put on cotton fiber gloves. Never handle picture with your bare hands. This is an easy way to damage a VHS tape. Put on a pair of clean cotton gloves before attempting to manually make clean VHS motion picture.

   • Make sure the gloves are clean. Dirt and debris on your gloves tin hands rub off onto your pic.

3. 3

   Pull out about a foot of record. Lift open up the side of the tape where you tin can see the film running from one reel to another. Very advisedly pull out most a foot of pic. Do not pull out more than a human foot of motion-picture show at a time, as this is likely to cause tangling.

   • It tin help to place one manus in the holes of the casing near the reels. Manually twisting one reel while pulling at the film will help the film come out slowly and gently, preventing damage.

4. 4

   Wipe downward the tape. To manually make clean the film, wipe downward both sides with a tissue or cotton fiber textile. Be very gentle when cleaning motion-picture show and avoid using chemical cleaners. Attempt to remove clay and droppings without the utilise of liquid-based cleaners.

   • Call back, this method is best used as a terminal resort. An electronic tape cleaner works best to clean VHS tape film.

5. 5

   Continue until y'all've cleaned all the tape. One time 1 foot of tape is clean, twist the reels to pull the make clean tape back in place. Then, gently pull out some other foot of tape. Again, clean both sides of the record with a tissue or cotton textile, wiping off whatsoever obvious clay and dust.

6. half-dozen

   Twirl the reels to get the tape back in place. Once you've finished cleaning the last foot of tape, gently twist ane reel. This should pull the tape back in identify. Keep twisting until the film is secured snuggly in the casing.^[ten]

   • Which reel you twist depends on whether the flick is fast-forwarded or rewound. Yous should be able to figure out which reel to twist based on which reel pulls the flick inward.

Advertizing

1. one

   Exist careful when handling VHS tapes. In general, the less yous handle VHS tapes, the better preserved they'll be. VHS tapes tin become damaged from being dropped or handled roughly. Be very advisedly when moving your VHS tapes and only handle them when completely necessary.^[11]

2. 2

   Store your VHS tapes in a cool, dry place. VHS tapes should be stored in a cool, dry out place. This helps foreclose the build upwardly of mold. Keep them away from direct sunlight and do not store them near windows. A comfortable room temperature is usually safe for VHS tapes.^[12]

   • Magnets and speakers can erase VHS tapes. Proceed your tapes abroad from these devices when storing them.

3. 3

   Rewind VHS tapes each fourth dimension y'all watch them. Leaving a tape paused in the eye can stretch out the picture show. Make sure to completely rewind VHS tapes afterward each use. This will preserve your VHS tapes over the years.^[thirteen]

Advertisement

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email accost to get a bulletin when this question is answered.

Submit

Ad

• Libraries, especially those that comprise moving-picture show, may have record cleaners. See if yous can rent one or schedule time to use one to clean your old VHS tapes.

• Information technology'southward always best to utilize a tape cleaner. Only effort to clean your record manually if you lot cannot secure a tape cleaner or find professional cleaning services.

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Advertisement

About This Article

Article Summary X

To clean a VHS record, start by making sure the record is dry, since cleaning it when it'southward wet can damage the picture. Then, put on cotton gloves then you don't contaminate the tape, and pull out a foot of film. Next, gently rub each side of the pic with a tissue. Once you lot've finished, twist the reels to put the film back in place before pulling out another pes of film and repeating the process. For tips on how to use an electric tape cleaner, go along reading!

Did this summary help yous?

Cheers to all authors for creating a page that has been read 72,285 times.

Is this article upwardly to date?

Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-VHS-Tapes

Share this post