When a dynamics track sits unused for a summer or a semester, it may become dusty, depending on how it is stored. Or, a semester of student use may make a track somewhat grimy or gritty. If a track is dirty, it is a good idea to clean it before doing additional experiments, as grit or dust may affect the quality of the data.
We recommend using a soft, damp cloth for cleaning tracks. If necessary, a small amount of dish soap in water can be used to clean sticky spots. For tape residue, we recommend Goo Gone. Note that some solvents will fade or erase the ruler markings on the track. In particular, rubbing alcohol can affect the ruler markings dramatically.