Hi8/8mm/Dig 8 head cleaning tapes - yay or nay?

[tmaximus]

Hi folks,

Please excuse my ignorance in advance.

Archiving old tapes. Got through about 20 and now they all just show a blue screen. I know they're not blank and I've tried a few from only a decade ago where there should be no chance of data loss (as they've been stored correctly)

So I have seen horror stories about camcorder head cleaning tapes ruining camcorders and have also been advised by a few professionals to go that route as opposed to trying to clean the head myself. Online videos only seem to talk about cleaning the big wheel at the bottom but I have been advised that that's not actually the head that is clogged.

1. Does anyone have a good link for actually cleaning the head?
2. Thoughts on cleaning it myself or what head cleaner tape to get if not.

Thanks!
Tom

[nicholasserra]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KCz59TCy8E