Customer Reviews

Maxell VP-100 VHS Dry Tape Video Head Cleaner

5 star:		(46)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

WHAT IT IS: AN EXCELLENT DRY VIDEO CLEANER THAT WON'T DAMAGE YOUR VCR

When you use a VCR, some of the tape is left as a residue on the heads of your machine. This Dry Cleaning tape will remove most of that residue, if you don't wait too long to start using the cleaning tape. That is, when the replay quality of your VCR seems to be degrading, use this cleaning tape at once, and you will probably avoid having the heads professionally cleaned at your expense.

You can use this cleaning tape at least 100 times, and there is no chemical or abrasive material that you need to add. There is also no damage done to your video or audio heads by using this dry cleaning tape that I have ever noticed. There are 6 cleanings on the cleaning tape before you get to the end. When you reach the end, simply rewind and you can use it 6 more times. The package includes a sticker you can attach to the tape and mark-off each time you rewind the tape so that you will have some idea of when you have used it over 100 times, which means you have rewound it 16 times. In my experience, unless you play alot of rental tapes, it will last long enough to be rewound about 40 times. When it is wearing out, it won't clean-up the picture as well, and you will see that the picture shown while the cleaning process is in progress has lines and distortions through it that don't clean-up as the cleaning process is completed.

WHAT IF IT DOESN'T QUITE DO THE JOB?

If this Dry "Maxell VP-100 Cleaning Tape" doesn't completely clean-up the sound and picture, you can also try to use a wet cleaning tape. Maxell makes a good one that is also available here at Amazon. Be advised however, that using a wet tape usually will hasten the wear of your audio [1st] and then your video heads, which means that your VCRs lifecycle will be shortened.

Generally, I have found that a wet tape is usually needed only after playing either rental tapes or very old tapes. Also, tapes that were exposed to things like cigarette smoke or dust, without having the dust jacket on the tape, will be more prone to degrading, and leaving a residue on your heads.

BOTTOM LINE: IT HAS WORKED WELL FOR ME FOR MORE THAN A DECADE

I have been using this exact product for as long as Maxell has made them, which is back around 1990. I have seen the format on the TV monitor display that is shown during the cleaning process change several times over the years, but the actual cleaning process, and results are exactly the same as they have been for over a decade. The bottom line is, I have worn out at least a dozen of these, and I plan to buy more, as long as I play some tapes. Whether or not we all use DVDs, there will still be some VHS tapes that we don't have on DVD. This product insures that they will be more playable, and that the VCR will probably still have a clear picture after we use it.

[I AM NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY COMPANY OR PRODUCT]

I was very pleased with this cleaner. It came in a timely manner and it worked. I have had problems with other products to clean my VCR but this one worked like a charm. I highly recommend it.

It works clean and prefect. What else can be said but get it.

About 6 months ago I took my VCR in for a professional cleaning before I started transfering my tapes over to disc. I have used the Maxell head cleaner in the past with good luck. I cracked open a new one to use. When my tape got a little grainy I used it only to have a big clump of oxide or whatever it is that is used on the cleaner come off and clog the heads so badly that it rendered my VCR worthless with no picture. I took it back to the repairman and had it recleaned 'cause there was nothing I could do. Well I just started transfering tapes again and I opened up another new Maxell head cleaner. After recording a few tapes the picture was still good but I thought I would clean the heads anyway. I put in the brand new cleaner and again a big clump of junk came off it clogging the heads again so bad that I now have to spend the money to go back to the repairman. This is the last time I will use this product. Before I threw the box out I should have checked out the label. It's probably made in China these days.

After using old VCR tape, I lost images on my TV.
I used Maxell VCR tape cleaner just once and I can play my tapes again without problems.
I recommend this product.

After trying to view a bad library video tape, our VCR wouldn't play anything. All we had was "snow." I thought it was broken for good, but decided to give this product a try. It was a great price and took less than 2 minutes to complete. Our VCR is good as new!

Now that players are more for DVDs, most department stores no longer stock VHS movies/tapes. I still watch VHS movies, and need a tape head cleaner for the section of my combo player. This product has done the "job". My order was processed and was delivered before the estimated delivery date.

I use my VCR ALOT,and this product provides excellent cleaning every time.I have used this brand of cleaning tape for the past four years,and have never had a problem with damage to my VCR heads(unlike some other cleaning tapes apparantly.)I really reccomend this if you still have/use a VCR.

This is an excillent head cleaner. There are visual graphics on the tape that talk you through the process & you get a little chart that you can stick on the tape case which shows that you can get 100 uses out of it. Then just toss it out & replace it. This cleaner really improves the A/V quality on a VCR.

I FOUND THIS ITEM TO BE EASY TO USE AND VERY EFFECTIVE IN THE CLEANING OF THE VCR. THIS HARDER TO FIND ITEM WAS DELIVERED QUICKLY AND THE PRICE WAS GREAT, CONSIDERING VCRS ARE NO LONGER DESIRED. BUT THEYSTILL NEED TO BE CLEANED AND THIS PRODUCT IS GREAT.