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How to Clean Old Cash Registers

Many people find old cash registers less of a product from bygone days and more of a classic example of mechanical perfection. Restoring the brass of an old cash register to its glory days can make it shine, but there is also the chance of damaging both the outer shell as well as the inner mechanism. A careful cleaning of the cash register is not for the faint of heart as it requires patience, a steady hand and the ability to know where to clean and how to clean in the most effective way.

Things You'll Need

Lacquer
Two soft cloths
Shallow dish
Dishwashing liquid
Chamois
Machine oil
Springs
Paint
Brush
Brass polish
Brass plating kit
Sandpaper
Soft rag

Instructions

- 1
  Take out all of the screws from the cash register and place them aside.
  
  Take the cabinet apart and remove all of the trim.
  
  Dip the soft cloth into the shallow dish that has been filled with dishwashing liquid in warm water.
  
  Wash the cabinet with the wet soft cloth.
  
  Dry the cabinet with another soft cloth.
  
  Wash the trim with the cloth that has been dipped in the soapy water. Dry the trim with the other cloth.
  
  Polish the trim with brass polish.
  
  Dry the trim using the chamois.
- 2
  Repaint the indicator keys as needed. Put new springs into the indicators. Oil the indicators with the machine oil.
  
  Remove the key arms. Sand the key arms and replate them using the brass plating kit.
- 3
  Remove the counter from the casing. Sandpaper, then paint the counter.
  
  Remove the printers from the casing. Clean the printers of ink with a soft rag and replace them into position.
- 4
  Remove the case drawer and the wood base from the casing. Repaint the cash drawer. Repaint the wood base.
  
  Reassemble and adjust the cash drawer back into its original position above the wood base in the cash register's casing.
- 5
  Reassemble the cash register cabinet around the casing. Use new, polished screws to hold the cabinet together. Lacquer the cabinet and screws.

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