Clean White iMac

Question

Level 1

145 points

Clean White iMac

I have a first generation Intel iMac. At nearly five years old, it is starting to get a little bit of a yellow tint. How can I clean it so that it is nice and white again?

Apple iMac Core Duo 2.0GHz 20 inch 2GB RAM, Mac OS X (10.6.5), iPod nano 4th gen.

Posted on Jan 3, 2011 12:52 PM

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Answer 1

den.thed

Level 10

91,504 points

Jan 3, 2011 1:35 PM in response to D. Shamburger

The synthetic polymer (poly-vinyl chloride) PVC yellows over time and the effect is accelerated by UV exposure and heat. > http://www.gcrio.org/UNEP1998/UNEP98p62.html

You can not and most likely any cleaning, polishing or any restoration work will probably do more harm that good. Besides, if you look real close at the iMac, it has a piece of clear plastic laminated over the white +(now yellowing)+ PVC.

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Answer 2

Jan 3, 2011 3:31 PM in response to D. Shamburger

Dennis is correct.
"Danger, Will Robinson"
Just look at http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/kitchen-and-bath/kitchenware/how-to-whiten-yellow ed-plastic/

The easiest solution is to do what Windows PC users do when their machine slows way down.
But a new one.

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Answer 3

D. Shamburger Author

Level 1

145 points

Jan 3, 2011 6:40 PM in response to D. Shamburger

Yes, I did realize it has a layer of transparent plastic, but wasn't really thinking about the fact that it's the white underneath that has yellowed.

I'll also probably be getting a new iMac (or maybe one of the MacBook family) this year.

Thanks!

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Answer 4

den.thed

Level 10

91,504 points

Jan 3, 2011 8:19 PM in response to D. Shamburger

Your welcome!

I like to think of it as antique white instead of yellow... 😉

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