01
Always use paper
Never strike the type directly onto a bare platen. A second backing sheet is useful when an older platen has become hard.
Typewriter Maintenance & Care Guide
Workshop guide · El Granero · Est. 2013
Typewriter Maintenance & Care Guide
Keep your typewriter clean, dry, covered and moving. Use the right ribbon and paper, and never force a mechanism that has begun to resist.
The essentials
Small habits prevent most problems.
A restored manual typewriter normally needs less intervention than people imagine. Most avoidable damage comes from damp storage, dirt mixed with old lubricant, the wrong chemical, or extra force applied to a part that is already resisting.
02
Keep it dry
Drinks, humidity, damp walls and sudden temperature changes are much more dangerous than ordinary typing.
03
Brush away dust
Remove dust, paper fibre and eraser crumbs before they combine with old oil inside the mechanism.
04
Use the controls
Use the carriage release when repositioning the carriage by hand. Do not push against the escapement.
05
Cover it clean
After use, protect the machine with its case or a well-fitting cover once everything is clean and dry.
06
Never force it
A jammed key, lever, carriage or knob is a diagnostic clue. More force is rarely the repair.
Golden rule: clean first, lubricate only when there is a diagnosed reason, and stop when a mechanism resists.
Cleaning
Start dry and gentle.
For ordinary home care, a soft brush, clean microfiber cloth and patience are usually enough. A barely damp cloth may be suitable for some exterior surfaces, but vintage paints, decals, plastics and key legends react differently.
Keys and body
Wipe gently. Never soak seams, openings, decals or key legends, and test any product in an inconspicuous place.
Type slugs
Brush away compacted ink and paper fibre slowly so the typebars are not bent or scratched.
Inside
Use a soft brush first. If air is used, keep it low-pressure and controlled so debris is not driven deeper.
Avoid
Do not use WD-40, silicone spray, penetrating oil, acetone or strong all-purpose cleaners as routine care.
Ribbon, paper & platen
Be kind to the striking system.
A faint impression usually means that the ribbon is dry, incorrectly threaded or set to the wrong colour position. Hitting the keys harder does not solve the cause and increases wear.
Ribbon
Replace it when the print fades. Check that it passes correctly through the vibrator and that the reverse mechanism moves freely.
Original spools
Some machines require their original metal spools. Keep them and rewind fresh ribbon onto them when necessary.
Platen and rollers
Age can make rubber hard, shiny or uneven. Use paper every time and add a backing sheet when the platen is especially firm.
Lubrication
Less is more.
A typewriter is not something to oil on a calendar. Sluggish typebars often indicate dirt or dried residue, not a shortage of oil. The segment should normally remain clean and dry.
- Never spray lubricant into the mechanism.
- Keep oil away from the ribbon, platen, feed rollers, belts and paper path.
- Clean and diagnose first; use only a minute amount of suitable oil at a known friction point.
- If hardened grease, grinding, repeated skipping or stiffness remains, the cause belongs on the workbench.
Storage & transport
Stable, dry and out of direct sun.
A case protects a machine during transport; a well-fitting cover protects it between typing sessions. Neither should trap damp. On the coast, keep the machine indoors, away from open windows and exterior walls that collect moisture.
Between sessions
- Brush away visible debris.
- Cover only when the machine is dry.
- Keep drinks and plant watering away.
- Type periodically and notice changes early.
Long-term storage
- Remove the paper.
- Follow the original manual for paper-release and carriage-lock settings.
- Do not carry a portable by the case handle until the case and latches have been checked.
- After transport, inspect before forcing any control.
Know when to stop
Some problems belong on the bench.
A carriage that will not advance can have several causes: a transport lock, a margin setting, a failed drawband, lost mainspring tension or an escapement problem. Treat the symptom as a clue rather than assuming one universal repair.
Stop DIY work when
- A part grinds, skips repeatedly or feels bent.
- The drawband has broken or the mainspring has lost tension.
- The paper feed no longer grips.
- A lever, knob or casting has cracked or come loose.
If you bought it from us
Contact us before opening or dismantling the machine. Restored machines normally include our one-year warranty; rare or delicate antique machines may have a 90-day limited warranty when this is stated in the listing.
Short answers from the workshop.
How often should a typewriter be serviced?
There is no universal calendar. Service it when the action changes, after impact or transport damage, when corrosion or old grease is present, or when adjustments and parts are involved.
Should I oil my typewriter regularly?
No. Clean and diagnose first. Oil only a specific friction point when there is a genuine reason and you know the correct location.
Can I use WD-40 or a general-purpose spray?
Not for routine maintenance. Sprays migrate, collect dirt and are difficult to control around paint, rubber, the escapement and the segment.
How often should I change the ribbon?
Change it when the print fades after you have checked the colour selector and threading. Ribbon life depends on use, material and storage rather than a fixed number of months.
Is one sheet of paper enough?
Usually, but a second backing sheet provides useful cushioning when an older platen has become hard. Never type directly onto a bare platen.
Type what you love—and keep it typing.
If something feels different, stop before a small adjustment becomes damage. Send photographs and a short description, or bring the machine to our Fuengirola workshop.
El Granero Typewriter Company · Fuengirola, Málaga · Type What You Love