Cleaning Your Pinball Machine

A big part of keeping anything in top-notch condition is cleaning and maintenance. You wouldn’t buy a car that you were proud of, only to let it sit in dirty disrepair. And you wouldn’t let your pinball machine do that, either; you have made an investment in it, and you intend to keep it as nice as the day you bought it. However, hiring someone to do it – and finding the right person for the job, someone who knows their stuff – can be expensive and frustrating.
It doesn’t hurt to spend a little extra for a professional “deep-cleaning” once in a while, but you can take care of the routine maintenance and keep your pinball machine looking great all by yourself by following just a few simple steps.

The first part of keeping your pinball machine clean is easy preventative maintenance: if something gets spilled on it, wipe it off right away (even if it means you have to quit playing!) so that it doesn’t run under the glass.
Dust off your machine periodically, like you would any piece of furniture, using a clean dry cloth. For removing smears and smudges from the playfield glass, you can use regular glass cleaner, but don’t use an excessive amount because you don’t want it running under the glass, either. If that happens, be it something you’ve spilled or just excess cleaner, you’ll have to remove the glass and clean whatever has been spilled on. And while you’re doing that, it never hurts to clean the machine’s back side.

Next is the playfield. You may have one of three types of playfields in your machine: one with Mylar, which is a sheet of protective plastic, non-Mylar, or a Williams “Diamond-Plated” field.
Regardless of what type you have, the first thing to do is wipe it down with a soft rag so that dirt particles don’t get trapped in the wax. Clean whenever you start to see ball tracks. Never clean your playfield with water!
Mylared playfields can be cleaned with something like Endust or Pledge. (Hint: if you have Mylar, be careful that your cleaner isn’t harsh enough to break down the glue and make the plastic start to peel up.)
Diamond-Plate playfields can be wiped down with glass cleaner, but their manufacturer recommends Novus Plastic Polishes #1 and #2.
Non-Mylared playfields require a bit more special care, and will need to be waxed with a brand such as “Wildcat” or “Mills” which are available through mail-order companies or distributors. Although the care is a little more detailed, many people prefer the look of a non-Mylared playfield.

Every now and again, you should unplug the machine, lift out the playfield, and carefully vacuum the inside of the cabinet (don’t get caught in the wires, though!)
Smudges on the outside of the machine, especially by the flipper buttons where dirt can accumulate quickly, can be cleaned with a regular household cleaner.
Clean the backbox in much the same way as the cabinet. Clean the front of your back glass just as you would the playfield glass.

Check each pinball for damage and wear. If you have a damaged ball, it will damage your playfield and is definitely worth replacing. You can clean pin balls with diluted glass cleaner if necessary, but again – if they’re scratched or their surface is marred in any way – replace them.
They aren’t costly and replacement could save your playfield!

The above tips aren’t for thorough deep-cleaning, but they will help keep your machine conditioned, looking good and working well.
When it’s time for a deeper clean, there are many resources available to help. When in doubt, contact the manufacturer!

Happy playing!

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