We are often asked how we clean the surface of these very old printer's blocks. We do not recommend the use of abrasive cleaning solutions. The product we use is Nev-R-Dull. A lot of elbow grease could be required for some very oxidized surfaces. However the rewards far outweigh the effort. This product can be found at most Hardware and some Grocery stores. If there is a tough ink on the surface, you could use a paint thinner to remove most prior to cleaning. The finished product is worth the effort.