VHS cleaning?

[Ithilad]

Hi, I was suggested by someone to clean a vhs tape of mine before I start capturing it to the computer, but I'm at a loss on how to do that. How can I clean a vhs tape.

thnx

[Tommyknocker]

I would have it done professionally since it may entail disassembly of the VHS cassette.

[Ithilad]

Professionally... sounds expensive
heh o well, thnx

[Jester700]

Do NOT try to clean a VHS tape. Some cleaning solutions you might try will dissolve the tape's binder and really make a mess. I expect the guy meant to clean the VCR's heads, which is reasonable. Get a wet VCR cleaning system and go for it if you want, though with modern tapes & vcrs I haven't seen a need to do this for years.

[Tommyknocker]

I beg to differ. Cleaning VHS tapes is quite common, as it usually precedes copying to digital format, or restoring old video. Try doing a search, as I am sure you will find the procedure quite reasonable. And if you friend meant cleaning the VCR itself, do this professionally as well, as liquid tape cleaners are somewhat hard to find, and abrasive cleaners can do more harm than good if used incorrectly.