I'm a Retrobrite true believer

[DesertTortoise]

I picked up this little Panasonic Jet Flo last week. It came in superb condition other than missing it's secondary filter holder, one tool and it was badly age yellowed. But it runs so nice and, man, the suction this thing has vacuuming. It only has a suction floor brush with wheels, but it pulls the carpet right up into the nozzle, and sucks itself into the floor sometimes. I'll tell you what, none of my Kenmores do that with the floor brush if I get lazy and use a suction brush on the area rugs in the entry way and kitchen. Not even close. This thing has real suction despite it's small size.

The 12% H2O2 I ordered arrived yesterday so today I mixed some with some Oxiclean and splooged this all over the yellowed parts of the Jet Flo, set it on top of the evaporative cooler on the west side of the house and let it bake in the direct UVs of the Mojave Desert sun. A couple of hours later and nearly all the yellowing disappeared. I think one more session and the little guy will look like new. I also have to treat the handle on top of the vac.

Here are before and after photos taken the day I opened the box and a few minutes ago after treatment. I also include two other images so you can get an idea how small this vacuum is.

Btw, I think that Lux is the next candidate for a Retrobrite treatment, dontcha think?

 

[super-sweeper]

Wow! I'll try this if I come across a Sun-Tanned vacuum! 

 

[bebring]

Nice job 


 


The panasonic vacuum is really tiny

 

[suckolux]

Nice! Those really are nice little machines, easy to use/ live with. Consumers used to give them high marks.

 

[ronni]

Well done--the Jet Flo is in tip-top condition! Yes, I think the Model C133A/Epic 8000 is a good candidate for the Retrobrite treatment.

Please inform us from where you ordered the 12% H202 (hydrogen peroxide) and any precautions you took with the lettering.

 

[DesertTortoise]

There are a number of sellers on ebay selling 12% hydrogen peroxide. I just shopped price per unit volume and bought the biggest bottle offered, 24 oz.

As far as precautions, wear some heavy chemical proof gloves. I used to deliver gasoline so I have a few sets of these left over. You can find adequate gloves at Home Depot or Lowes. If some dribbles on your skin you'll know it! Just rinse it off with clear water. Wear eye protection. That's it. It doesn't bubble, fiz, smoke or threaten to do anything bad when you mix it. It's just kinda hot if you get it on your skin and you would not want to splash any in your eyes. I also had to take care to be very neat and clean up afterwards because you know doggies like to lick things we humans never would. Rinse whatever you treated off with lots of fresh water, and keep those gloves on until you know all the residue is gone.

 

[Gr8DaneDad]

hydrogen peroxide in concentrations up to 35% is available in most towns at the local beauty supply

 

[DesertTortoise]

That is a very good tip Tom. Thanks.

 

[ronni]

Thank you for the information, DT and Tom.

DT, In a previous thread you were concerned about harming the printed labeling (and perhaps striping, decals, et cetera). So, did you go over or around those items with Retrobrite?

 

[eluxca]

That's a very nice improvement! Did the peroxide etch the surface and make the polished plastic surface dull?

 

[DesertTortoise]

Nope. I Retrobrited the old Kenmore 4.1 featured in another thread at the same time I did the Jet Flow. I treated the Kenmore's graphics because that is unfortunately where much of the yellowing was. It didn't harm it at all. No etching, no dulling, no harm whatsoever. I have read where Retrobrite will lighten the lettering on some old computer key pads, but I didn't see any evidence on my vacs.

 

[jaker15]

JetFlo

I remember looking at that exact one on eBay a few weeks ago. Neat machine! I have a JetFlo 240 with the infamous Dual-Sweep power nozzle. The canister is super powerful and quiet, but the PN is dead due to a wiring issue. If I can figure out what wires go where, I might be able to revive it. 

 

[DesertTortoise]

The seller originally put it up for auction a month or two ago and I was watching it waiting for someone to bid on it. I was too busy at the time with other projects to buy it. I figured they would relist it and I would bid later on. When the auction closed they didn't relist it.

I contacted the seller and asked if in a month or so they would still be interested in selling it. They said yes. I contacted them two weeks ago saying I was ready and I was expecting a private auction, but instead they put it up where anyone could bid on it. Nail biter time. Luckily for me no one else bid and I got it for $19.95 plus shipping. Yay!

I can see the spot for a socket for a powered hose. Maybe down the line I can find the necessary socket and wire and set it up for a powered floor brush. It certainly has enough suction to make one worth while. Neither the Singer DLC/Ryobi/Kenmore 3.1 thing (the Little Gray Mouse) or the Kenmore 2.5 Swamp Creature I just finished restoring (see my other thread) can touch the Panasonic for suction. Not even close. It pulls suction like a full size canister. I really like this vacuum.