Cosmetics

Well, dirty is very bad... needless to say. More of a problem, is that no one wants to fix these anymore. Authorized Canon repair centers are staffed by people who are younger than your camera. They do not have the knowledge to fix these. So cosmetics are VERY important, not only in making your classic look great - but to help spot small things that can be attended to right away and save your camera.

To clean the exterior of the camera body, first blow off the dust - with a blower brush (or use a soft water-colour brush). Wipe off all smudges and fingerprints using a clean, lint free cloth - I use my wife's contribution of terry-cloths. If smudges remain on the eyepiece, use a Q-tip. Also Q-tip's are great for getting into the nooks and crannies. (Never go inside with those). Liquid lens cleaner can be used frugally when required. But, be careful not to let any seep inside!

Don't actually touch the mirror or anything in the mirror box unless you absolutely must. Just use a blower to remove any dust. Always keep a cover on the body, when the lens is off. You can use a 49mm lens cap for this.

The film chamber is another place you should tread very carefully. But you gotta remove dust which may scratch the film. Use a blower brush to clean. Don't press on the film rails, pressure plates or that very, very fragile shutter. If you do mess with the shutter, you can still use your camera as a door stopper.

Dust on the Upper Side of the Focusing Screen?

Remove the top cover and see if you can use compressed air to blow it away.