How to Make Yellowed Plastic White Again
Ever discover how your old gadgets have turned an ugly yellow colour since you bought them? Old Macs, Commodores, Nintendo systems, and other machines look dreadful 30 years afterwards—but there is a way to brighten them upward once again.
Why Sometime Plastic Turns Xanthous (and How Y'all Can Arrive White Again)
This yellowing happens thank you to a flame retardant chosen bromine in those old ABS plastics. When exposed to UV light, those bromine molecules tin can destabilize and leech through to the surface, causing the plastic to plow yellow (or even brown if left long enough). Modern plastics have improved the chemistry so this process doesn't happen, merely those quondam machines from the 80s aren't so lucky.
Dissimilar retro machines volition yellow at unlike rates than others, even from the same line of products. Your Super Nintendo may be much yellower than your friend'southward, only considering they were from different batches of plastic. Here's what'south fifty-fifty weirder: sometimes, two pieces of plastic in the same machine can be different levels of yellow. The Super Nintendo nosotros'll exist using as our case today, seen below, has a much yellower base than top.
A few years agone, some enterprising and chemical science-savvy forum users discovered that hydrogen peroxide could assistance remove these free bromides from the plastic, restoring the original white colour. It isn't permanent, unfortunately, since there are still complimentary bromides deep in the plastic that can re-surface later on another few years. In addition, some people think the process makes those plastics more than brittle and fragile. Just if you're willing to put up with those annoyances, information technology's a cracking fashion to make your retro gadgets display-worthy again. They created a recipe of ingredients and dubbed the formula Retr0bright. Y'all tin read more almost it at the original Retr0bright page, and more nearly the science in this great blog post on the subject.
There are plenty of guides out in that location, only after trying it a few times ourselves, we found that—while most guides are quite decent (including the i linked above, and this fantastic video from The 8-Bit Guy on YouTube)—they gloss over some important details to make the process as smooth every bit possible. So today, nosotros'll show you how to de-yellow those erstwhile gadgets, using a super cheap solution you tin buy in a canteen.
What You Need
Since Retr0bright'due south creation, many people have come up with different methods for Retr0brighting their systems, with different advantages and disadvantages. The original Retr0bright recipe chosen for 10% hydrogen peroxide solution mixed with a few other ingredients to give it a more flossy consistency. But after a while, some people plant that this "recipe" was unnecessary: you can already purchase a creamy hydrogen peroxide solution in the course of hair developer (the 8-Bit Guy calls information technology "Retr0bright in a bottle"). Head to any dazzler supply shop and ask for 40 Volume Creme Developer and y'all're in business We're using this $3 bottle by Salon Care from Emerge Dazzler.
Note: Some people recommend submerging your plastic in a tub of ten% to 15% hydrogen peroxide liquid instead of using the cream (no college, or you'll increment the chance of blooming and streaking). Granted, this is easier (and a bit less probable to cause streaking), only it's more dangerous, not to mention expensive. Plus, it doesn't allow yous much control, as everything will exist covered—you can't avoid labels or other lettering. Equally long as you follow our instructions to the alphabetic character, the cream should work well, with minimal streaking.
Autonomously from your Retr0bright of choice, you only need a few other things:
- Rubber gloves: I highly recommend some sort of hand covering, since you don't actually want to get this stuff on your peel, equally it'll give you a nice chemical burn. You can get some from the beauty supply store besides if you don't have them already.
- Safety goggles: You should absolutely wear some sort of protective eye roofing, since you definitely don't want to get this stuff in your optics, as information technology can blind you. (Seriously,practise not skip these!)
- A paintbrush or tint brush: You lot'll also want a brush to apply the cream. An old paintbrush will work, merely you can also grab a tint brush for a buck or 2 along with the developer at the dazzler supply store—that's what I did.
- Cling wrap: You'll need this to prevent the cream from evaporating, which will assistance you get an even issue.
- Rubbing alcohol: You'll want to clean the plastic before you Retr0bright it. Relatively clean devices volition probably simply need water and a rag, but denatured or isopropyl alcohol is rather useful for getting some of those tougher scuffs and dirt marks off.
- A screwdriver (and whatsoever other necessary tools): Lastly, you'll probable demand a screwdriver to accept autonomously your gadget, along with any other necessary tools (some Nintendo systems require a special flake to get it open, for example). I as well utilise a magnetic screw tray to go along all those little screws organized, but that's optional.
- A UV low-cal bulb (optional): If y'all have the space, and don't want to get out it out in the sun (which requires more attention to avoid streaking), you can use a UV calorie-free in a divide room. I didn't opt for this method myself, merely I've heard good things about it.
One time you've got everything in one place, read through the instructions below very carefully before you get started.
Stride One: Disassemble Your Hardware
If at all possible, nosotros highly recommend disassembling the device in question before you start cleaning and Retr0brighting. Ideally, y'all will break it down to just the plastic parts you want to clean, with all the metal pieces and circuitry set aside. This volition make the cleaning much easier (since you lot'll exist able to hose it off), and avoid whatsoever bug with the Retr0bright harming the internals.
This process volition differ depending on what you're taking apart, so hit upwardly YouTube for a "teardown" video of your specific gadget—chances are, there are probably a few out in that location. Set aside the internals and make sure you don't lose any of the screws (again, this is where that magnetic screw tray comes in handy). Once you have just the plastic pieces left over, you're ready to start cleaning.
Stride Two: Clean the Plastic Thoroughly
Again, this pace volition differ a bit depending on what you're cleaning, but in general, I've found that a thorough cleaning of the plastic contains two or iii steps.
First, clean whatever dust, pilus, and dirt off the plastic with plainly ol' water. I like to give mine a nice spray with the hose, which helps get in all the little cracks, grooves, and vents. Dry it off with a rag when you're done. (You can likewise wipe information technology downwardly with a moisture rag if you'd prefer not to spray information technology with the hose—like if there are some internals you couldn't dismantle).
In one case the plastic is dry out, y'all'll probably find that there is still a lot of grime on it, not to mention scuff marks and other blemishes. To clean that off, I recommend taking a rag and some denatured or isopropyl alcohol and putting some elbow grease into information technology. A lot of the crud and scuffs should come right off, while others may demand some serious rubbing. Brand sure you stay away from lettering and other painted-on graphics, as the alcohol will impairment them! (For example, the red lettering on the front of an original Nintendo system will rub correct off with alcohol.)
You may find, even after your arm is sore from rubbing with booze, that some scuff marks don't come off. In this case, I often turn to the Mr. Make clean Magic Eraser. It will almost always go those scuff marks out, merely note that it is an annoying—which means it may remove some texture and finish from the gadget. If that worries yous, you can skip this step. Myself, I'd rather chance a slightly shinier spot on the plastic than look at black scuff marks. Information technology's up to yous. Just exist sure to start lightly, and rub harder only if you demand to.
Pace Three: Apply the Retr0bright
Once your device is clean of all other dirt and grime, it's fourth dimension to turn our attending to those pesky Bromides. Enter Retr0bright. You'll need ample sunlight for this part of the process, and then I recommend getting started early on in the morning so you can go as much time in the sun as possible—otherwise, you may accept to practice information technology a second day. Nevertheless, you may desire to do this first role in your garage or some other enclosed area, so the breeze doesn't blow the cling wrap around while you're trying to work.
Kickoff, I like to cover up any labels with Scotch record to protect them (specially the paper ones, which volition disintegrate when soaking in liquid or cream). If in that location are any painted-on letters, you may want to avoid those pieces, as the Retr0bright can fade or damage them. In general, I recommend only Retr0brighting the very light plastic pieces—smaller buttons or darker colored plastics are probably fine equally-is.
Adjacent, after putting on your gloves and safety goggles, lay out your cling wrap—you may need multiple pieces if your gadget is big, since it needs to cover information technology completely—and cascade some of the Retr0bright on the cling wrap. Spread information technology around with your brush, so pour the Retr0bright on the plastic. Brush it around also. Don't be agape to use a lot of cream, every bit you desire to liberally encompass every inch of the yellowed plastic. (You can even do the inside, if information technology's yellowed, though that may non exist necessary on some parts.)
So, put the plastic piece on the cling wrap and wrap it upwardly. The thought is to seal it up nice so you tin keep the Retr0bright from evaporating, which will cause streaking. Again, full plastic wrap coverage is important.
Repeat this procedure with your other plastic pieces.
Pace Four: Leave It In the Sunday, Rotate and Re-Apply Regularly
Once your plastic parts are all wrapped up, put them out in straight sunlight (or nether your UV bulb). UV exposure may have caused this mess, only it's also the cloak-and-dagger ingredient that will help us clean information technology upward. You lot'll desire to leave it out there for a few hours, so discover a spot that gets directly sunlight for most of the day if you can.
Here's the of import part: try to work out equally many of the air bubbles as you can and spread the foam evenly. Then, every one-half hour, rotate the pieces 90 degrees, and (with your gloves on) massage the Retr0bright around the plastic from outside the cling wrap. This keeps it moving around and stops air bubbles from staying in 1 place for too long, which is how you go a blotchy, streaky stop. If you don't do this, you volition go bad results!
Lastly, it'southward best to rinse the parts off (encounter the next step) and re-utilize a new coat later the creme starts to await more than like a foam, usually after two to three hours depending on how hot and sunny it is. This keeps the Retr0bright from drying out and causing blooming/streaking.
It sounds tedious, merely it's well worth the try. Later vi to nine hours, yous should run into a noticeable comeback, though you may be able to go past with less if your plastic was only a little xanthous.
Footstep Five: Rinse It Off, and Repeat If Necessary
Once the plastic looks like it's sparkly white once more (or if you run out of sunlight), unwrap the pieces and rinse them off, either with a hose or in a sink (far away from food). You will likely need to rub excess Retr0bright off the plastic, since it'll exist pretty thick and foamy and stuck on at that place, and so wear your gloves and give it a expert, long massage nether the water. Exist sure to get in all the tiny cracks and crevices, equally the Retr0bright will definitely get stuck in those areas and you'll need to scrub it out.
You can dry out the plastic off with a rag if you desire at present, or get out information technology to drip dry. In one case it's dry out, you lot should observe that it looks much ameliorate than before!
If, however, yous find that it'due south all the same yellower than you would like, feel free to repeat the procedure the next twenty-four hours. Some actually yellowish plastics may demand a few days in the sunday to whiten up. My Super Nintendo, for example, looked better after 7 hours:
But the bottom piece needed a whopping 24 hours in the sun to actually go back to where it should be. It was a lot of piece of work, and I did get some blotchiness on the bottom from not re-applying ofttimes plenty. Information technology isn't perfect, but overall information technology looks way amend than it did before:
So just keep doing information technology until y'all become the results you lot want.
Once you've thoroughly rinsed and dried your plastic, and you're happy with the results, you're all done! Re-assemble your gadget and it'll be merely similar the day you bought it, fresh and white from the factory. Recall, it will re-yellow after some time—even if it'south kept in a night expanse, since those free bromides are already loose deep in the plastic—only you lot can always go through this process again if information technology gets as well xanthous for you.
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Source: https://www.howtogeek.com/196687/ask-htg-why-do-old-computers-and-game-consoles-turn-yellow/
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