Re: Cleaning Old Apple Cases and Peripherals

[Warren Ernst <wernst@gmail.com>]

On Feb 14, 5:30 am, Mike Willegal <m...@willegal.net> wrote:
> My recomendation for case cleaning.
>
> Scrub with a soft brush and GoJo (hand cleaner for auto mechanics)
> followed by a run through the diswasher.  The yellowing, if present, is
> caused by oxidation of the plastic and can't be removed without removing
> the surface layer of the plastic or painting or it - something you
> normally don't want to do.
>
> Regards,
> Mike Willegal
>
> rhohler wrote:
> > What is the recommended way (as in cleaner, etc) to clean and/or
> > restore an Apple II style case?  Yellowing seems impossible to remove,
> > but dirt and everything else should come off.  Any ideas or
> > suggestions?
>
> > Additionally, I have a few old items that were kept in a smoker's
> > house.  Does anyone know how to get the smoke smell out of old
> > hardware such as a external modem?
>
> > Rick

I find the "Mr Clean Magic Eraser Sponge," available at supermarkets
everywhere, does an amazing job on marker, grime, dirt, and old
adhesive on plastic computer cases. You just wet it and rub gently on
whatever surface you want cleaned, and then wipe it with a paper
towel.

As has been said earlier, Yellowed Case Syndrome is actually the
plastic reacting to its environment. In my experience, cigarette smoke
and exposure to fluorescent light tend to make a system more yellow.
Ironically, years of direct sunlight exposure also seems to  do it
sometimes, yet sunlight is great for removing odors from one.

I second the dishwasher approach, though adding a little Glass Magic
or Lemon Clear, both of which are dishwasher additives that remove
limescale and hard water deposits from dishes and the dishwasher
interiors, can help brighten a case somewhat. They can also strip the
colors off the Apple Logo and the silkscreened Apple IIGS logo, so be
careful.

-Warr