Type rubber
The type rubber or type cleaner consists of a kneadable mass, usually natural rubber , and is used to clean types of typewriters .
Over time, contamination from ribbon abrasion and ink clogs the fine indentations of the types, making the writing illegible and unclear. To clean, you press the type rubber on the types. The impurities stick to the rubber and are thus pulled out. The type rubber itself cannot be cleaned, you simply knead the impurities into the rubber. Over time and depending on the frequency of use, this changes its color from normally green to purple. But even an old type rubber still works without any problems, provided it has not lost its kneadability due to the hardening of the material.
Type rubbers are also used to clean stamps and clichés or printing blocks .
A brand name that has been known in Germany for many decades is “Typutz” from Läufer .