"Cali Ruchala" <macvaya@remove.this.mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:macvaya-2211022325270001@dialup-65.57.15.247.dial1.chicago1.level3.net..
.
> Well, I got my hands on a snow white. She needs some TLC but
> more than that she needs a change of clothes. :-)
>
> Anyone have some tips on trying to clean a decade+'s worth of
> grime off the outside? It also looks like a bottle of maple
> syrup melted on top and dripped down the side (then sat in
> an attic to harden to the consistency of amber), so an abrasive
> cleaner or sponge will probably enter the picture at some point.

Ah yes. A grungy case. Believe it or not, I actually enjoy cleaning the old
systems that I collect. It lets me get caught up on my thinking. Anyway, the
tools that I use are:

1. A sink full of hot soapy water.
2. A facial buff puff (the soft white kind.)
3. A medium sized soft or medium bristle paint brush.
4. A soft bristle toothbrush
5. A bottle of Windex
6. Lighter fluid
7. Sponge
8. Safety style razor blade

Before you clean the system, take it apart. Remove the case from the base and
the keyboard from the case. I usually start the cleaning process on the
keyboard. I prefer to remove every key cap and wash them all by hand, using
the paint brush but you could probably do an OK job by just dropping the
keyboard into the hot soapy water and scrub the keys off that way. Either
way, rinse it off well, and set it (on end) on a towel, near a heater vent
and allow it to dry for a few days.

Next, wash the case off in a fresh bath of hot soapy water in the sink.
Depending on how dirty it is, you may want to scrub it with a sponge first,
and then progress to the buff puff, paint brush, and finally the tooth brush
to get into the crevices. Do the same with the case lid. The paint brush is
great for getting grime that's in the textured ridges of some computer cases.

If there are stickers on the case, remove them with an old razor and the
lighter fluid. The lighter fluid loosens the rubber cement that is left be
hind. A paper towel and the lighter fluid is also good for removing stubborn
grime.

I have a second soft bristle paint brush that I use to dust the inside case
off -i.e.. the motherboard, power supply, etc.. If your motherboard has
greasy grime on it, then drop it into a fresh bath of soapy water too. Use
your "wet" paint brush to gently brush the dirt off. Rinse well, and allow it
to dry, on end, for a few days before you use it. Make sure that it's dry
before you give it power.

After everything is clean and dry, put it all back together and continue
working.

E.