How do I clean a smoker stained system?

[Muscelli]

I bought a white japanese sega saturn recently, and the seller said the system had some yellow smoke stains on the system.. fair enough..

Well, it sure enough does have a good amount just like the seller described it.. I was wondering if there is some way to get rid of the yellow stains.

[chrisbid]

are you sure its cigarette smoke? the SNES is infamous for having stained cases that look like cigarette smoke, but are in fact a defect in the plastic where it oxidizes when exposed to sunlight. maybe the white saturn cases have the same problem.

[Muscelli]

are you sure its cigarette smoke? the SNES is infamous for having stained cases that look like cigarette smoke, but are in fact a defect in the plastic where it oxidizes when exposed to sunlight. maybe the white saturn cases have the same problem.

perhaps, the only thing that would make me think otherwise is that when I wipe the system with gojo or something the towel will turn a bit yellowish

[BocoDragon]

Hmmmm... this is just a guess but.... Mr Clean Magic Eraser might help.

[Damaramu]

I haven't heard of any way to whiten a yellowed system. You might be better off with just painting the outer case a new color. Or the same color.

[InsaneDavid]

The same way you clean smoker stained lungs - you really don't. You can try the bleach soak method that was described here before - can't find the thread though.

[mills]

Don't listen to these fools. Smoke yellowing can be removed. Someone here did a test to see if it was possible and it worked.

Basically they took the systems apart and put the yellowed casing in the dishwasher. Then they let it soak in a tub of bleach for a while. Take it out elt it dry a few days.

It worked.

[OatBob]

If it is true cigarette smoke, good luck cleaning it out. Disassemble the whole thing and clean it all. Mr. Clean magic eraser will permeate the plastic and remove some of the dirt below the plastic, but it will also erode and wear some on the top layer too, leaving you with a less authentic feeling texture. Don't use it if you're afraid of changing the way it catches light, shines, or feels. Unfortunately, in some cases there's nothing you can do.

Listed below is a good investigation into the cause of natural yellowing of many of the plastics found in home consoles.

Why Super Nintendos lose their color: Plastic discoloration in classic machines (http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/189)

[rbudrick]

Smoke yellowing can be removed, but the problem is, the misconception that the system is stained by smoke. Smoke residue is generally kinda sticky. Game systems just oxidize. While sunlight can make it oxidize faster, it is WAY more likely they system just oxidized from just existing. Almost all game systems that have yellowed have done it with no other intervention that air. I have NEVER seen a game system with stains from nicotine smoke, ever.

Most systems are oxidized all the way through the plastic, making it impossible to fix, though I have heard of someone fixing a PC Engine or something. Do a search for threads containing SNES and yellow...there's probably at least 5 threads on it already, some quite in depth.


The same way you clean smoker stained lungs - you really don't. You can try the bleach soak method that was described here before - can't find the thread though.

Those who quit smoking do end up cleaning the gunk out. The microscopic hairs or phyllae, or whatever in your lungs work stuff up out of your lungs constantly, hence why smokers often hock up a brown plegm ball in the morning, heh.

-Rob

[RugalSizzler]

The yellowing on a SNES does not come from smoking it comes from beig exposed to floresent lights. Or those lights that have a low radiactive activity
( you know those white lights ) .

Generally if your SNES was in the presence of this light it will turn yellow along with almost any other white computer object from late 1980's.

My fathers lab he has the white lights on all the time and all his aged stuff is yellow or parts of it is yellow.

My original computer from 198?'s which I had in 1991 or so and all the little parts I had around the desk with such light is yellow.

In japan they might say it is sun burned. This might be true since computers and real light does not mix and most computer labs have these white lights on all the time.

[Slate]

Some SNES Systems were made with recycled plastic, Wich is why they turn yellow.


Most systems are oxidized all the way through the plastic, making it impossible to fix, though I have heard of someone fixing a PC Engine or something. Do a search for threads containing SNES and yellow...there's probably at least 5 threads on it already, some quite in depth. -Rob

I read that thread! I can't remember the name of it, Though.

[FABombjoy]

Or those lights that have a low radiactive activity ( you know those white lights ) .

Radioactive lights? Bwhaaat?

[rbudrick]

The yellowing SNESes have nothing to do with flourescent lights. People have attested to yellowing SNESes where they had their SNES in a dark room for its lifespan. Also, people have taken BRAND NEW SNESs out of their boxes and they were yellow. Oxidization all the way. All it takes is air and nothing more.

Nintendo used a cheaper plastic for some of their parts, that's all.

Light and other elements CAN make a plastic oxidize faster, no doubt, but in the case of the SNES, it is simply an extremely neglibible factor.

-Rob

[Ed Oscuro]

Edit #2: I should read my sources!

Here's a good page about it:

http://www.coleparmer.com/techinfo/techinfo.asp?htmlfile=Zeus_UV_Properties.htm&ID=834

Basically, certain plastics can degrade, and ultraviolet will radically speed that process.

[Ed Oscuro]

Radioactive lights? Bwhaaat?
Eh, the spelling could've just as easily been "radiative lights," which is technically correct.

[FABombjoy]

Eh, the spelling could've just as easily been "radiative lights," which is technically correct.

I think most people would just say "dim" than "low radiative activity" :D

[DKTheArcadeRat]

I guess I am lucky that my snes hasn't yellowed yet?

[Ed Oscuro]

I guess I am lucky that my snes hasn't yellowed yet?
That must mean that your SNES has plastic less likely to discolor, and/or you have exposed it to less ultraviolet.

[Candycab]

My SNES yellowed in less than 5 years and it was never exposed to Florescent or Sun light. Light may have some impact but the reality is its the grade and type of plastic used that makes it yellow and get very brittle.

many carts also yellowed, also I have a quite a few N64 carts that have become discolored over the years aswell.

Sort of like how Mylar holds up better than regular comic bags, its all in how its made and what its made from.

[exit]

Radioactive lights? Bwhaaat?

OH NO! Radioactive Lights! AHHEEEE...

[agbulls]

Want to know why your SNES turned yellow?

It wasn't aliens, ultraviolet light or your mom's terrible cleaning habits.

For the real reason, read this article from vintage gaming. It sounds WAY more complicated than the simple answer: shitty plastic choice by Nintendo for the initial batch of machines that were made.

This link also has an extensive list of repair & restorations choices including ways to prevent "The YELLOWING" from occuring in the first place.

http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/189

[Slate]

OH NO! Radioactive Lights! AHHEEEE...

LOL Maniac Mansion!

[djh82uk]

Stuff that turns yellow due to smoke is usually hazy, perhaps it is a combination of smoke and oxidation.

I hate yellowed systems, I have tried and tried to do something about it, until I cut one open and found it was yellow half of the way through :(

DJH

[OatBob]

Why Super Nintendos lose their color: Plastic discoloration in classic machines (http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/189)


http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/189

Already linked.

[ASSEMblerEX]

If you are talking ONLY smoking tar stains, realize tar is an organic compound.
You can use any liquid that makes organic compounds soluble.
Just make sure it's safe for plastic, and nonexplosive (unlike ether).

I have heard that denture cleaners that claim to remove smoking stains
work good on the white saturn.