How to clean computer wire

March 12, 2011 4:56 PM

How to clean rapidly informatic wire (rj11,rj45) ?

One of my friend will make an artistic works with informatic / computer wire.
I've found a lot of wire, but they are really dirty.
Is there a way to clean them rapidly without altering them ?
We may use them for their first purpose after ...
I think that my first idea to put them in a bath of bleach (javel water) (Cl2 + 2 NaOH). Is not a good one ...

regards
Bussiere

posted by bussiere to computers & internet (5 answers total)

A sponge.
Water.
Soap.
posted by Rendus at 5:01 PM on March 12, 2011

Some disk soap and warm water should do the trick.

Also, a technical nitpick: RJ11 and RJ45 are the names of the connectors that go on the ends of the wire. Most computer and phone wire you find is Cat3, Cat5, Cat5e, and Cat6 (Cat means "Category").
posted by sbutler at 5:07 PM on March 12, 2011

Uggg... disk? I meant dish.
posted by sbutler at 5:08 PM on March 12, 2011

Apply water/solvent to a folded up square of paper towel and then grasp the wire with the towel and pull the length through with the other hand. This is a lot better than just dunking the whole thing in a bucket as you don't get any water inside the jacket, which would result in the insulator getting wet and probably never drying out completely.
posted by Rhomboid at 5:45 PM on March 12, 2011 [1 favorite]

Seconding Rhomboid. I've used window cleaner--works quite well. :)
posted by luckynerd at 9:22 PM on March 12, 2011