How to Clean a Dictaphone

Doctors often use voice recorders to dictate letters and medical reports.

Gone are the days when a secretary had to sit at attention in the boss's office, pen poised and steno pad open, waiting for her supervisor to speak. Nowadays, many business people regularly use a voice-recording unit known as a Dictaphone to record correspondence and reports for transcription by an assistant. During the course of ordinary use, a Dictaphone may become dusty and dirty and require cleaning for optimum functionality.

Things You'll Need

• Soft cloth
• Window cleaner
• Paper towels
• Canned air
• Head-cleaning cassette tape
• Cotton swabs
• Rubbing alcohol

Instructions

1. Wipe down the exterior surfaces of the unit with a soft, slightly damp cloth to remove dust and fingerprints from the handset, display, buttons and other areas. Allow it to air dry.

2. Spray a small amount of window cleaner on a dry paper towel and wipe down any stubborn marks or stains from the surfaces of the Dictaphone.

3. Use canned air to blow dust and debris from any crevices that are impossible to reach with a cloth or paper towel.

4. Run a head-cleaning cassette tape of the appropriate size through your unit to clean the inner workings of the machine. Alternatively, use a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to gently clean the head and rollers inside the unit.

Tips & Warnings

• Allow your unit to dry thoroughly inside and out before use.

• Unplug electric dictation equipment before cleaning to avoid the possibility of shock.

References

• Manual Owl: Sony Microcassette - Corder: Operating Instructions