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How to Stop Cassette Tape Decks From Eating Tapes

One of the problems of listening to music on a tape deck is the risk the tape deck would somehow snag the tape itself and tangle it. If this didn't cause the destruction of the tape, it forces you to spend some time untangling the mess and respool the cassette. The reason the tape deck "eats" the cassette is because of the accumulation of dust in the player. In order to keep this from happening, you need to clean the tape deck periodically.

Things You'll Need

  • Isopropryl Alcohol
  • cotton swabs
  • Tape head demagnitizer
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Instructions

    • 1

      Open the tape deck covers. If it is possible to take the covers off, do so.

    • 2

      Coat one end of the cotton swab with the isopropryl alcohol. You don't want the cotton to be dowsed in alcohol, but you want to make sure to have enough the alcohol to clean the heads.

    • 3

      Rub the cotton swab on the recording and the playback heads in the player. This is what the tape runs across when it is playing. Also, be sure to rub the swab on the small rubber wheel which helps the tape move over the playback head. The cotton of the swab should be light gray when the cleaning is complete.

    • 4

      Reattach the tape cover. Place a tape demagnetizer in the tape deck and demagnetize the heads. The demagnetizer looks like a cassette tape. Be sure to follow the instructions on the demagnetizer.

    • 5

      Let the equipment wiped down with the alcohol to dry. Once the tape deck is cleaned, play a tape to test.

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Recording Music

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