Out, damned spot!
August 14, 2009 2:55 PM Subscribe
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.
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.
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, 2009
posted by mostlymartha at 3:01 PM on August 14, 2009
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, 2009
posted by chairface at 4:20 PM on August 14, 2009
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, 2009
posted by genesta at 4:24 PM on August 14, 2009
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, 2009
posted by halogen at 4:53 PM on August 14, 2009
Best answer: 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, 2009
posted by Ery at 5:17 PM on August 14, 2009
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, 2009
I do this with my headlights (which start to get hazy with age) regularly.
posted by wongcorgi at 5:30 PM on August 14, 2009
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, 2009
posted by clerestory at 7:43 PM on August 14, 2009
Response by poster: 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, 2009
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, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Solomon at 2:56 PM on August 14, 2009