Cleaning a Pasta Maker

kittycat204

I was lucky enough to find this pasta maker http://www.amazon.co.uk/Marcato-Atlas-Light-Machine-Silver/dp/B0009U5OSO/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top/275-7520031-4680048 at a car boot sale this weekend for a £1. Bargain. No rust, just lovely.
Except it is dirty, i think there is dirt from when the previous owner used it because some looks like flour/semolina. Some looks like dirt from it sitting around for years.
i found the manual online http://www.fantes.com/marcato.html and others on how to clean it. they all specifically say not to put it in water because this can stay in the small parts and rust it.
Any ideas how i can clean it without water? I have had alcohol suggested because this evaporates?
Any help would be very gratefully received.

Justamum

Whenever I wash anything metal which might rust (some of my cheaper baking tins for instance) I always put them in the oven on a low heat, or residual heat from baking. That dries out all the water from any hidden parts. Would you be able to do that with this? I've looked at your link and it looks like it would be fiddly to clean, and how on earth do they expect you to be able to clean it without using water?!

Memory_Girl

I agree - wash and dry in the oven.

The make up a couple of batches of "sacrificial pasta dough" and run and run them through until they come out clean of grubbiness - this will also "oil" the moving parts with the oil from the pasta.

MG

nuatha

I'd use isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and a toothbrush for the parts you can get at, then follow MG's idea of sacrificial dough (possibly running a few slices of dry bread through the rollers first)
I always have IPA on hand, it gets used for cleaning anything I can't use water on, electronic components to vinyl records.

Toxic_Lemon

Nice bargain!!

In addition to above, use a cotton bud.

System

I used to wash my pasta maker in the sink with soapy water but now she says she wants a shower like normal people.

Toxic_Lemon

!!!!!! wrote: »

I used to wash my pasta maker in the sink with soapy water but now she says she wants a shower like normal people.

:rotfl: :T

meg72

Congratulations on your bargain.I have had one of these for about 15 years and it has never been washed.

However mine hs been cleaned everytime I use it so never gets actually dirty.

I would use one of the micro cleaning cloths and give it a good rubbing. Do the sacrifice pasta as recommended but dont waste an egg in this just flour and water, then use your micro cloth or paper towels through the rollers, largest setting. Think it will come up OK.
Good luck

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

Congrats on the bargain.
I want one of these as well.

Emuchops

Be sure to give the 'sacrificial pasta' to someone who deserves it.