How To Clean The Controls On Your Amplifier

Step 6 Cleaning

Carefully, clean the contacts and carbon with a pencil eraser.  Do not push too hard, and clean the eraser on a piece of paper when it gets too dirty.  Do not use any cleaner or solvent except rubbing alcohol or cleaner designated for this type of control.  Make sure to blow off any eraser particles left on the control before assembling the part.

Comments

[Lenny24]

This step may change the resistance or the wattage of the potentiometer.
So be careful you dont do this too often

[Teslaphonics]

That's true, I've seen some people "clean" pots with sandpaper. They don't work at all after the carbon is removed from the phenolic backing.

[Prometheus]

Sandpaper has no place in contact-cleaning when it comes to electronics....Electrical sometimes, but not electronics. "Carbon Tracks" (such as those laid on phenolic for radial and linear varistors) should never be cleaned with an abrasive. The surface itself MUST be smooth for "noiseless" operation. A soft cloth and solvent can be used, but not sandpaper (O_o).

If they are using things like sandpaper on it, then you need to take it away, as well as any sharp objects, before someone or something gets injured. As said below; if a blast of "TV tuner cleaner/lube" or similar product, followed by moving it through it's range-of-motion several times does not solve the "scratchy pot", then just replace it, as the brush or substrate may simply be worn-out.

Automatically replace it if the maximum resistance is not within 10% of it's rating (or 5% for motor speed-controls and non-television audio equipment is my standard). If there is a lot of "play" in the shaft of a radial varistor (indicating wear), just replace it.

[uberdum05]

Would methalyted spirits (denatured alcohol) work for cleaning contacts? :)

[Prometheus]

That's one of the things it was made for, it's just not as strong a solvent, you you might have to work a little more at it, but that would be the second-best thing. In the case of a potentiometer or similar sliding contact, you want some lubrication that won't interfere with the electrical properties.

For cleaning contacts like nintendo cartridges or audio jacks, etc., denatured alcohol is perfect.