Grill Cloth Cleaning How To

jrbar2 · **Posted:** Dec Sat 10, 2011 3:26 pm

Hi Guyz,
I got a stained grill cloth in nice condition but
it needs cleaned. Any suggestions ???
THANKS !!!!
Joe

TexMac · **Posted:** Dec Sat 10, 2011 7:09 pm

If it is mounted to a backer board and the whole assembly can be removed so the cloth is attached to the backer board, I have had very good luck with immersing the whole thing face down in naphtha in a large glass dish. Just lift it in and out several times to wash it out. Let it dry under a heavy weight to prevent any curling of the board. I've done it with wood and cardboard backers.

Eliot Ness · **Posted:** Dec Sat 10, 2011 9:50 pm

While converting some of our old newsletters into PDF's I found this 1992 tip from one of members, Lewis Owens (R.I.P.) and thought I'd share it:

Quote:

Antique radio grille cloths that are dirty or stained can be cleaned. I have found Fantastic, 409, or Johnson’s Shout (a laundry stain remover), to be very satisfactory in cleaning soiled and stained grille cloths.

Carefully remove the grille cloth and place on a flat surface (cookie sheet). Use kitchen sink spray to gently wet the cloth, then spray on the cleaner and let stand three or four minutes, rinse gently with sink spray while slightly tilting cloth so rinse water will run off.

A soft bristly brush used lightly before rinsing may be helpful in loosening stubborn spots, and some cloths may require a second cycle of the procedure. To dry, place cloth on a nonabsorbent flat surface and remove excess water by blotting with paper towel or a bath towel. Finally, clamp so dried cloth will retain its original shape and avoid shrinkage and let dry, but not in direct sunlight.

My additional comments are to be aware that not all grille cloth is created equally. Some is much thinner and fragile while others seem to be a thicker and/or stronger weave of cloth. Once removed from the cabinet and/or backing board some cloth becomes very unstable when wet. My first experience gently swishing a loose piece of Philco cloth in a bowl of Woolite almost met with disaster. The wet cloth was very fragile and began to unravel around the edges. After shrinkage and unraveling I had barely enough to fit in the cathedral I was working on at the time and the original piece came out of a parted out console.

I have been planning to experiment using naphtha as TexMac recommended above. I believe Coleman lantern fuel is basically naphtha and is readily available. Just use caution because it is highly flammable.

ipaint2 · **Joined:** Nov Mon 28, 2011 2:27 pm **Posts:** 93

You need a fast drying chemical to prevent shrinkage similiar to a dry cleaning fluid. There was a product called Renuzits years back.

wrnewton · **Posted:** Dec Sun 18, 2011 7:30 pm

K2R spot cleaner. I saw it last in a big hardware store. Dry cleaning fluid in a spray can with chalk. Shake it up, spray on the grille cloth. If you mask properly you don't have to remove the cloth from the set. Allow to dry for half an hour. The fluid dissolves the dirt and the chalk absorbs it. When dry brush the chalk off with a soft brush. Might need to spray it on the back of the cloth, too. As speakers operate, they "breathe" air in and out through the cloth which acts as a filter, picking up dirt.

jrbar2 · **Posted:** Dec Wed 21, 2011 11:45 pm

THANKS Reece !!!

jason1141 · **Posted:** Dec Thu 22, 2011 11:51 am

I just washed two of them the other day. Mine weren't heavily soiled but they did need cleaned I just took the cloth only and washed it by hand in warm water with some laundry detergent and they turned out great. Obviously if yours are in fragile condition this would be a bad idea but if the cloth is in good shape and strong it should be ok as long as you are careful.

jrbar2 · **Posted:** Feb Tue 07, 2012 9:13 pm

I'm late with this;
THANK YOU VERY MUCH for your help !!!

wazz · **Posted:** Feb Mon 13, 2012 7:48 pm

I recently cleaned one by putting it in a tray of warm water and Dawn dishwashing liquid. The crud just floated out of it. Then carefully rinsed with clean water and dried between two bath type towels under something to hold the whole mess flat. Turned out alright and did not seem to shrink any. Vintage 1935 cloth. Laundry detergent may work, I had none, but some fancy types that have additives like "whiteners" "bleach" etc, I would maybe beware of. Or scents. Do you want your radio to smell springtime fresh?

Brett_Buck · **Posted:** Feb Mon 13, 2012 8:20 pm

wazz wrote:

Laundry detergent may work, I had none, but some fancy types that have additives like "whiteners" "bleach" etc, I would maybe beware of. Or scents. Do you want your radio to smell springtime fresh?

Given that a lot of them now smell like 30-year-old rat urine, I would be willing to chance it.

Brett

dereckbc · **Posted:** Feb Wed 15, 2012 4:54 am

I just did my first one and it was a mess and very fragile. I had excellent results using a Dry Cleaning method. There are several solvents you can use like Naphtha, kerosene, and even gasoline will work. Something a bit milder like Acetone, De-Natured Alcohol or double refined Mineral Spirits (artist grade) can be used with good results.

Here is how I did it. I found a glass non reactive dish large enough to lay the grill cloth in. I then got a piece of cardboard large enough to make two pieces to make a sandwich the cloth between the two pieces lined with clean rags to absorb and blot the solvent

Fill the dish with just enough solvent to submerge the grill cloth. Gently agitate for a few seconds, remove and place between the two pieces of cardboard line with clean cloth, and pressed to gether with a weight for an hour until dry.

Worked great. Be sure to do outdoors with plenty of air circulation, and let the cloth set outsider and air out until chemical smell is gone

Grill Cloth Cleaning How To

Who is online