Care guide
Looking after your typewriter
the right habits
With a little care and regularity, your machine can last a century.
Here are the essentials we apply in our own workshop.
Swiss precision, Italian engineering, German sturdiness. Vintage typewriters were built at a time when objects were meant to pass down the generations. A properly maintained Hermes or Olivetti still works perfectly today, sometimes after more than 70 years of use.
You don't need to be a watchmaker to look after one: a few simple, regular habits are enough to keep their precision and their original elegance. Here is the good practice we follow at MaTypo.
01
Everyday care
A typewriter lives a long time when it is respected day to day. The single most important habit is to keep it clean: after use, cover it with its original case or a simple cloth, to protect it from the dust that works its way into the mechanism. If you are erasing on the page you are typing, swing the carriage to one side so that the debris does not fall inside.
Leaving the machine uncovered near a window, a radiator, or in a damp room.
02
Cleaning the type
Over time, ribbon ink builds up in the raised type on the typebars. The result: blurred letters with poor contrast on the page. To clean them, use a stiff-bristled brush, or even a matchstick sharpened to a point to lift the residue. A soft cloth and a little methylated spirit finish the job. For badly clogged machines, specialist products are still available (Korès paste or ampoules).
Any metal tool, which would scratch the type and ruin the quality of the impression.
03
Cleaning the platen
The rubber platen (the cylinder the paper rests against) deserves particular attention. Over time it hardens and loses its grip. To keep it in shape: a soft, slightly damp cloth, a little soap if needed, or a touch of methylated spirit for stubborn marks. Turn the platen slowly so the whole surface is cleaned evenly.
Abrasive products and any metal object, which would damage the rubber beyond repair.
04
Dusting the mechanism
Dust is a typewriter's number one enemy. It gathers everywhere and eventually clogs the mechanism, making the touch less smooth. To get rid of it: a can of compressed air or a hand blower, watching the pressure — too strong and it can dislodge or shift fragile parts. For delicate areas, a fine, long-bristled brush (a make-up or artist's brush) works wonders.
Brushes that shed, as the bristles end up trapped in the mechanism.
05
Oiling
Contrary to what you might think, oiling a typewriter should stay exceptional. Most vintage models are designed to run dry. Oil is only called for when there is real stiffness in the typebars or the carriage bearings. In that case, a single drop of light oil such as WD-40 on a soft cloth is enough. Wipe off any excess thoroughly.
Oiling “just in case” — oil attracts dust and ends up forming a paste that jams the mechanism. Better not to oil at all than to over-oil.
In summary
The 5 mistakes to avoid
The classic traps that can damage your machine, sometimes beyond repair.
Storing the machine unprotected
Dust always finds its way into the mechanism in the end. A simple case or a cloth is enough to protect it.
Using abrasive products
Strong alcohol, bleach, degreasers: all off-limits. They attack the rubber and the original paintwork.
Handling with metal tools
Risk of permanent scratches on the moving parts. Prefer wood, card or soft brushes.
Oiling too much, or too often
Oil attracts dust and ends up forming a sticky deposit that slows the typebars.
Forcing a stuck key
It bends the typebars. Better to clean thoroughly, or ask a workshop for advice.
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