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How to Clean Grill Cloth ? - Printable Version

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How to Clean Grill Cloth ? - radiohenry - 05-10-2020

I read about Kirk soaking a small piece of grill cloth in dish soap and it looked pretty good afterwards.

 Is there a preferred method of cleaning grill cloth ? In this case the piece I want to clean has been salvaged from a cabinet that was too bad to save.
It is appx 22" x 22" chevron pattern.

                                                                  TIA,
                                                                       Henry

RE: How to Clean Grill Cloth ? - klondike98 - 05-10-2020

I have never been successful in cleaning grill cloth. Not to say it can’t be done but mine has always fallen apart when soaked. Probably it was just to rotted to save. I have tried twice. Good luck.

RE: How to Clean Grill Cloth ? - Radioroslyn - 05-10-2020

I'm w/Bob It's a hit or miss situation mostly dependent on it condition. I tried to clean one on a '39 GE console and it just fell apart.

RE: How to Clean Grill Cloth ? - radiohenry - 05-10-2020

Thanks for the replys. Guess I will have to give it some thought.
                                         Henry

RE: How to Clean Grill Cloth ? - morzh - 05-10-2020

Henry

See if you can find a remedy (don't even know if such exists) that could be simply sprayed upon and left without wiping to act as detergent.
Short of that...any mechanical disturbance or even running water through could damage old cloth.

If it is do or die thing.....I would use warm water....or even cold with mild detergent and the cloth on its frame (hopefully it is not cardboard) and simply immerse it in, let the solution ru off y itself and dry in aired cool place.
Maybe when rinsing the soapy water use gentle stream of clean water from a sauce pot.

RE: How to Clean Grill Cloth ? - RodB - 05-10-2020

Something else comes to mind. Try sandwiching the piece between 2 damp cloths then steam iron on low heat. Maybe the stream will do the cleaning.

I have been able to brush clean a grille cloth then a very light spray of clear coat to hold it together. It wasn't too dirty to begin with but got good results.

RE: How to Clean Grill Cloth ? - Phlogiston - 05-10-2020

Did they stop making it again?

RE: How to Clean Grill Cloth ? - Radioroslyn - 05-10-2020

No I don't think so. You can get dirt just about anywhere. Trust me I know!

RE: How to Clean Grill Cloth ? - Phlogiston - 05-10-2020

yeah, but nobody has made any for 4.5bln. years.

I would think that purchasing new cloth might even be cheaper than trying to clean the old stuff.

My experience with cleaning Philco cloth was on the yellow/red strip stuff - it shrinks.

RE: How to Clean Grill Cloth ? - radiohenry - 05-11-2020

Thanks all for the input. Kirk's post on the other forum got me wondering that's all. 
                                                              Henry

RE: How to Clean Grill Cloth ? - Brad Winder - 05-13-2020

I had a grill cloth dry cleaned once. It turned out good. But it was a heavier woven style, not fine fabric like the chevron cloth is.

RE: How to Clean Grill Cloth ? - PhilcoPhan1936 - 05-13-2020

My Philco 38-1XX has a heavier Chevron cloth. It had a water stain. I soaked it in warm water and Woolite. It turned out well. I was very gentle, and it did fray a little on the bottom edge, but I was able to salvage it and it still looks great. I wouldn’t try the thinner cloth. It literally disintegrates.

RE: How to Clean Grill Cloth ? - radiohenry - 05-13-2020

I wondered if Woolite might be a good choice. This piece of cloth might have come from a junked Philco 90  console. I think I only saved it because it was a good sized piece and you never know what you might need. It's hanging on a hanger with the spring clips out of the way in the cellar. When I read a post of Kirk's on the other forum I thought I might give it a try after all what do I have to lose?
                                Thanks again for all the different thoughts.
                                                               Henry

RE: How to Clean Grill Cloth ? - RodB - 05-14-2020

Let us know how it goes.

RE: How to Clean Grill Cloth ? - radiohenry - 05-14-2020

I will post before and after pix.When I get to it.
                              Henry