Best way to clean Tolex?
- Thread starter Boil
- Start date
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Paulie_Boy
Tele-Afflicted
Liquid shoe polish makes it look brand new.
I just use Windex for normal cleaning. I will say that some stuff doesn't seem to come off with anything. If black tolex has white scrapes on it from door jamb paint etc, usually Goof Off or something like that on a rag will do it. Dont saturate... just use a bit of the solvent.
Bob M
Friend of Leo's
It (Tolex) is stupid durable. I have used a small amount of paint stripper on it. I’ve used alcohol and paint thinner. Steel wool and Magic Eraser. They all work depending on what you are trying to remove. Once clean shoe polish (as already mentioned)will bring it back as will some of the auto vinyl products-Armorall, etc
corliss1
Poster Extraordinaire
I don't like to use anything that makes it artificially shiny.
Windex for most. Fantastik if you have to level up. I have a soft bristle brush that's probably 4"x4" to really scrub it if I need to.
Windex for most. Fantastik if you have to level up. I have a soft bristle brush that's probably 4"x4" to really scrub it if I need to.
No polishing products!
No armor all!
Soap & water!
A sponge with the 3m green pad side can dull the original slight shine, but a plastic scrub brush can get heavier grime off.
If no grime just light dish soap applied to a sponge then squeezed out in soapy water so you don't put a big gob of soap on the tolex you then need to keep rinsing off.
For a bigger project you might remove amp chassis and handles to avoid getting water under steel parts that rust.
I never use spray cleaners, and never use solvents, but YMMV!
BTW armor all changes the surface in a way you can't change back from.
Like putting mink oil on suede.
No armor all!
Soap & water!
A sponge with the 3m green pad side can dull the original slight shine, but a plastic scrub brush can get heavier grime off.
If no grime just light dish soap applied to a sponge then squeezed out in soapy water so you don't put a big gob of soap on the tolex you then need to keep rinsing off.
For a bigger project you might remove amp chassis and handles to avoid getting water under steel parts that rust.
I never use spray cleaners, and never use solvents, but YMMV!
BTW armor all changes the surface in a way you can't change back from.
Like putting mink oil on suede.
stratisfied
Friend of Leo's
A scrub brush is needed to get down in the grooves. Any trigger spray dleaner will do. Windex, 409, whatever you have will do. Whit paint scrapes from wall need to be scrubbed hard or use goof-Off or other late paint remover. Scrub, rinse, repeat until clean. Spray it with Pledge, Armor-All or other vinyl protectant for a new look.
craigs63
Tele-Holic
Stealing the thread - what's the best glue (corner of my Champ's covering seems to keep coming undone).
corliss1
Poster Extraordinaire
Contact cement. Not the green can that says it's good for the environment, the red can with all the toxic warnings
popthree
Poster Extraordinaire
Hand sanitizer + old tooth brush
Lowerleftcoast
Poster Extraordinaire
Clean Tolex?
A beer soaked bar rag has worked just fine.
when doing repairs , I always clean the cabs before i return the unit, I use a small scub brush and soapy water wipe immediately then use windex on a wipe to lift the dirt up , and finish it all off with an armourall dash board wipe it makes the cabnet pop .the wipes are not greasey and dry very fast
Nooooo! My thread!
ping-ping-clicka
Doctor of Teleocity
now there's a kink, "mink oil on suede". That process is officially known as SUEDE BE GONE.
I just checked and Toltex IT is not mentioned on my can of HUBERD'S SHOE OIL.
Ringo
Poster Extraordinaire
Simple Green diluted about an ounce or two in a quart spray bottle, soft bristle scrub brush to get in to the grain. Magic Erasers work well too, you can clean grill cloth with it too. As mentioned, tolex amp covering is not naturally shiny. Use some 303 vinyl dressing or Meguiars vinyl protectant if you must use something on it.
INFANT
Tele-Holic
I've always used Fantastic or a similar cleaner on Tolex. Usually spray it on and wipe it off with a cloth. On aggressive Tolex, such as the teal striped Peaveys, I'd used a scrub brush instead of a cloth to get into the craters. Always finish off with some armour all. When I am done, the amp almost looks new.
beyer160
Poster Extraordinaire
I have an amp with orange tolex that's clearly seen some gigs. I tried 409 and scrubbing the crap out of it, and it didn't make a lot of difference. I saw a YouTube video that recommended Meguiar's convertible top cleaner, so I dropped $7 on a bottle and gave it a whirl. Holy CRAP does this stuff work! A single spray on/scrub with soft bristle brush/wipe off sequence got nearly ALL the black crud off. It didn't seem to change the tolex like Armor All, either. I don't know what's in this stuff, but it works.
Hmmm I have some of that for the car, will try it.
