Look at the top of your typewriter. There should be a long, cylinder running across the typewriter. This is the roller; also known as the “platen”. Just behind the roller is a small, flat angled piece of machinery that tilts back slightly. This is the paper table. You want to place the top of your sheet of paper between the roller and paper table. There should be a small knob on the side of the roller. This is the roller knob. Turn this knob counterclockwise. This should feed the paper into to the roller. You should keep turning the knob until the top of the paper is just behind the keys.
On one side of your typewriter, there will be a carriage return lever. This is a metallic lever. Carriage level either move downward or to the side. Press your carriage level in the correct direction for your typewriter. This should get the paper to transfer to the next line. From here, push the roller to the right until the carriage stops it. Then, resume typing.
You can use whiteout to remove the unwanted letter or phrase. Then, feed the paper back into the roller until you reach the line where the typo occurred. Adjust the roller until the paper is positioned in such a way that you can type the correct letter or sentence over the whited-out portion of the page. Most electric typewriters have an autocorrect feature that functions somewhat like a backspace key. If your typewriter has an autocorrect feature, you can use this to fix typos. You can usually only correct single letter typos, however. If you notice you typed the wrong letter, hit the autocorrect key. The typewriter will move back a space and imprint a whited-out version of that letter over the black ink. You can then type the correct letter.
Cotton rags Gentle liquid cleanser Hard-bristled paint brushes A vacuum with a crevice tool. Car wax Typewriter oil
Dab a rag in the cleanser. Scrub the exterior of the typewriter until you’ve removed all dust and debris. Go slowly and use a light amount of force on the typewriter. Typewriters are often old machines, and you do not want to accidentally scratch the surface or damage the paint during the cleaning process. From here, take your hard-bristled paint brushes. Dust your typewriter’s keys, removing any loose paint or debris from the keys. Take the crevice tool of your vacuum and run it over the keyboards, gently inserting the tool between the spaces in the keys. This will suck up any debris or dust that fell inside the typewriter while you were dusting the keys.
Be very careful not to use too much. Less than a drop of oil should be sufficient.
As with cleaning your typewriter, be gentle. Harsh movements can cause you to damage the typewriter’s exterior, so do not buff with a lot of force.
If your typewriter has a carrying case, place it inside when it’s not in use. If you don’t have a carrying case, you can keep your typewriter in a drawer or another small, enclosed space free of dirt and debris.
Cool temperature can also have a negative effect on a typewriter. Do not store your typewriter in a cold place, like your garage, during the winter. Make sure your typewriter stays inside where it is warm.
