hi - this is really my first project so I wanted to get some ideas & consensus tips on best way to go about cleaning a vintage box without messing anything up.  I just got a really cool sony cfs 65s, radio & line-in works awesome, speakers sound lush & full for a box that size & age.  haven't tested cassette yet as i just got it last night but the mechanisms function so i'm hopeful.  cosmetically it has the normal wear, few minor nicks on the chrome/plastic around speaker grills, some minor discoloration on the plastic around the knobs & buttons on top of the unit and the battery compartment although not too crazy bad, definitely has some caked up rust on the battery terminals, more so on the flat terminals than the springs.  haven't tested yet w/ batteries but i'm assuming it won't work.  tuner and cassette window have no cracks but are a bit cloudy, figured i could use compound that i use on my car headlights.  i did a general clean with some pledge wipes and started to clean the battery compartment w/ some rust removal stuff i had laying around the house & scrubbed with an old toothbrush & although i made a little headway,the rust wasn't coming off that easy.  what are some good products for the various cleaning i need to do to spruce it up...plastic, chrome plated plastic around speaker grills, battery terminals, etc.?  i'm not looking to do a full restoration or anything at this point but i know i can freshen it up a bit.  i've heard some differing opinions on cleaning rust build up on battery terminals, vinegar, baking soda, clr, etc. but i wanted the advice of people here who obviously know what they are talking about when it comes to this.  i actually scored another box (same model) that i could use for parts & such if needed...it actually might even be in overall better shape than the one i have now, i know the battery compartment is in better shape just based on pics alone, could i swap out the battery terminals from one to another?  thanks in advance for helping a newbie, apologies for the long post & multiple questions but im pretty ocd when it comes to projects like this, want to make sure it is done right.  thx!

btw - i did go through this forum before i posted this but as i kept going i was just getting more & more varied opinions so figured i would just start a fresh new post. thanks again, very happy to be a part of this community.

I use a cleaning cloth (electronic) for computer screens or micro cloth

I little spit and elbow

I take my time does have to be perfect either

also if it has been around a lot of smoke I give up those ones

my main concern is having it fully functional

this is only my opinion...

thanks soundboy, box really does sound sweet, if i can get the battery compartment cleaned up & will be real cool but i'm not going to go too crazy with some of the little imperfections.

over time while I listen to them I clean little areas

Depends how brave you are!...I like a box stripped down and the casing soaked in the sink in hot soapy water and given a good clean with something none abrasive. Nicotine comes off with a bit of elbow grease.

Don't like rust so I'd fit new contacts, not usually too difficult tho may need a bit of soldering.  If not I'd have a go at it with a file to get it down to the base metal.

alcohol free baby wipes and cocktail sticks for the nooks and cranny's, then use smooth dry cloth for the after shine.....it really is that simple

thanks for the ideas all, appreciate it.  i went out & got a round file & did some work to the battery terminals, threw in some fresh batteries & the son of a gun worked!  psyched! also, i found a local repair guy who said he should be able to get the tape player going without much problem so once i get that going it's going to be way cool.  as a novice collector, i gotta say, this thing does sound nice, not a lot of bells & whistles & i know it doesn't compare in overall quality to some larger, more advanced boxes but it's louder than i expected & pretty crisp, very minimal if at all static when turning knobs & i opened it up and did a decent preliminary cleaning....meters look great, tuning dial perfect...all in all a great buy for $70 and it means a lot to me because it is a box that was fancied by the clash...now if i can just find a 9191 at a reasonable price.

dope!  yup, those are on my list too.  a friend of mine close to the band said there are talks for a limited rerelease replica of the cfs 65, totally clashified out like what you see on the new sound system box...that would sweet!  9191 is the next one i really want, that was used on the cover of b.a.d.'s just play music 12" & numerous pics of mick with it. i've seen a few very clean ones on ebay over the last wk but $400+ is a bit out of my range.  im looking for more in the $200 range, doesn't have to be super clean but would like a functioning one that wouldn't need much fix or restoration. some i've seen are only shipping in the u.k. but i have a friend who lives in oxford so i'm gonna have him keep an eye out & if i see one on gumtree maybe i can facilitate the sale through him.  wish me luck