My HP41CV just arrived. Cleaning tips?

[rprosperi]

(12-03-2017 11:07 PM)Trond Wrote:  Hi again everyone!
I just received my first 41C (of any kind) specifically HP 41CV. My feelings are a bit mixed about the condition: at first I thought I had to send it back because some of the keys (notably the Enter key) seemed to stick. The Enter key took a moment to come fully back out the first time I pressed it. BUT it seems to get better the more I press it. I wonder if the packaging materials were pressing the buttons down in shipping. On the other hand, there are no scratches or dents at all. It feels solid. It seems to work as it should. It also came with three books (Owner's manual, opersting manual, standard applications) plus calc pouch with zipper all for a little over $200.

I still think the unit feels a bit......dirty. Any cleaning tips here?

Do not use alcohol, acetone or any strong cleaners or solvents on the keyboard, it will likely remove part of the labels on the bezel. Many folks recommend mild detergent/water solutions; use with moistened (not dripping!) toothbrush or I prefer (lots of) Q-tips.

If the machine was not used for a long period, the keyboard will likely work better as you use it more. While it's possible there was some kind of spill inside (e.g. soda or coffee) you can usually tell as there is sticky crud around the keys.

Once you have removed the serious dirt, you can also use small amounts of Armor All using a soft cloth; it cleans the plastic and leaves a nice finish.

The key is to just take your time cleaning it slowly and lovingly. Plan to spend an hour on it. It may not take that long, but the results will be much better than if you try to do it in 5 minutes.