Out, damned spot!

August 14, 2009 2:55 PM

How can I clean my besmirched kindle?

Stain on white Kindle case. Do not want!

Ok, I just got a kindle and it's awesome. However, i've gotten it a little dirty and I prefer it clean. 

I was trying to clear up a little mark with the spit-and-fabric technique when unfortunately, some reddish/pink dye from my skirt (cheaply made, alas) got onto the white border. I tried scrubbing with windex, a damp paper towel, and a washcloth with soap Toni avail. There remains a faint (but real) light pink stain on the upper left corner. 

How can I clean this properly? I'm guessing a thin coat of white out maybe be folly, but would that work? Any and all guidance apppreciated. 

posted by fantine to grab bag (10 comments total)

Try rubbing alcohol.
posted by Solomon at 2:56 PM on August 14

I've had good luck getting smudges off of white computer keyboards with a q-tip dampened with acetone-based nail polish remover, so that might work
posted by mostlymartha at 3:01 PM on August 14

Be careful with nail polish remover -- it can actually erode a microscopic amount of the plastic so that a shiny surface becomes dull.
posted by phatkitten at 3:22 PM on August 14

Did you try hydrogen peroxide? It's a decent bleaching agent and shouldn't damage the plastic.
posted by chairface at 4:20 PM on August 14

That dye's got to be water soluble - surprised you haven't been able to shift it. My weapon of last (and often first) resort for such tasks is good old WD40.
posted by genesta at 4:24 PM on August 14

Stay away from acetone: I've had plastic surfaces accidentally ruined by nail-polish remover. I've had success with Mr. Clean magic eraser, but you might have to shine and buff the surface afterwards yourself (one of those four-sided nail files worked for me, assuming it's a glossy surface), and it'll look pretty much like new to the untrained eye. You might just be out of luck.
posted by halogen at 4:53 PM on August 14

Get a colorful silicone skin for your Kindle so that the inevitable marks are not so painful. (I got mine from decalgirl.)
posted by Ery at 5:17 PM on August 14

Try Isopropyl alcohol, if not, the color has probably stained the plastic and you'll most likely have to use some sort of polish/sanding that will remove a thin layer of the casing. If the casing is originally glossy you should be able to polish it back to its original state.

I do this with my headlights (which start to get hazy with age) regularly.
posted by wongcorgi at 5:30 PM on August 14

Mr. Clean magic eraser - it's quite good at getting color smudges off of plastic surfaces, in my experience.
posted by clerestory at 7:43 PM on August 14

Thanks for the tips, y'all - annoyingly, I'm on vacation in a rather remote location and lack most of these items, but I'll be back home tomorrow.

I'm hestiant to try anything that would render the casing "shiny" - it's matte, like an old beige monitor, so I don't want to make it shiny!

Ery, I've had my eye on the DecalGirl skins (I haven't even had my Kindle for 2 whole weeks yet!) and this incident has spruned me faster to order one of those.

I will report back with results!
posted by fantine at 9:18 PM on August 14