james
Well-known member
I decided this was the best forum to post this in, as the vacs are over 20 years of age.
Some time last year, in a thread about an Electrolux 612, I posted a picture of my 600's. I receieved a few comments asking about the colour of the 615, as it was very badly sun yellowed.
This led me to want to restore the machine back to its original cream colour.
I had not long before discovered, via a Commodore Amiga forum, that there was indeed a way to remove the sun yellowing from white plastics.
Its taken me a while to actually get around to doing this experiment, but I made some "retrOBright" following a recipe last month or so.
Simply made from hydrogen peroxide [12%ish], some thickening agent [xanthan gum], a little glycerine, and then some "oxi" washing powder just before applying the paste [this acts as a catalyst].
The past is spread over the affected area, and the piece placed under UV light for a few hours. I, ironicly, used sunlight, which caused the yellowing in the first place! It needs to be intense sunlight, daylight and shadey areas will not do.
Within an hour I could tell the difference!
Constant supervision and re-application is needed so not to let it dry out.
It is then thoroughly washed off with water at the end/ after a few hours.
Therefoes its best if the machine be completely stripped and all electronics and electrics removed.
I took my 615 to bits, [naughtily left the motor in, and just carefully washed the paste off after] and had a go, below are some pics of before and after
If anyone would like to know more please ask, I'm sure there are many yellowed vacs and other white/ whitish plastic appliances out there that the owners thought could never be restored!
Please be warned though, DO NOT get this on your skin! it will turn as white as a piece of paper! It does however soon scrub off! Also starts to irritate skin...
It can also have bad effects on the text on the vacuum, or keyboard buttons etcc where it starts to blur. It can also cause patching effects on the plastic if it is over exposed or left to dry out.
I constantly checked my machine every 10 mins or so and STILL had a few little bits of text blur, and a few pactchy bits you cant really notice.
I believe this may work on other coloured plastics, but it can leave bleaching marks.
I don't believe it will work on plastics that have lost there colour, ie a CREAM henry bucket that has been bleached WHITE by the sun. Only items that have YELLOWED it will work on
Some time last year, in a thread about an Electrolux 612, I posted a picture of my 600's. I receieved a few comments asking about the colour of the 615, as it was very badly sun yellowed.
This led me to want to restore the machine back to its original cream colour.
I had not long before discovered, via a Commodore Amiga forum, that there was indeed a way to remove the sun yellowing from white plastics.
Its taken me a while to actually get around to doing this experiment, but I made some "retrOBright" following a recipe last month or so.
Simply made from hydrogen peroxide [12%ish], some thickening agent [xanthan gum], a little glycerine, and then some "oxi" washing powder just before applying the paste [this acts as a catalyst].
The past is spread over the affected area, and the piece placed under UV light for a few hours. I, ironicly, used sunlight, which caused the yellowing in the first place! It needs to be intense sunlight, daylight and shadey areas will not do.
Within an hour I could tell the difference!
Constant supervision and re-application is needed so not to let it dry out.
It is then thoroughly washed off with water at the end/ after a few hours.
Therefoes its best if the machine be completely stripped and all electronics and electrics removed.
I took my 615 to bits, [naughtily left the motor in, and just carefully washed the paste off after] and had a go, below are some pics of before and after
If anyone would like to know more please ask, I'm sure there are many yellowed vacs and other white/ whitish plastic appliances out there that the owners thought could never be restored!
Please be warned though, DO NOT get this on your skin! it will turn as white as a piece of paper! It does however soon scrub off! Also starts to irritate skin...
It can also have bad effects on the text on the vacuum, or keyboard buttons etcc where it starts to blur. It can also cause patching effects on the plastic if it is over exposed or left to dry out.
I constantly checked my machine every 10 mins or so and STILL had a few little bits of text blur, and a few pactchy bits you cant really notice.
I believe this may work on other coloured plastics, but it can leave bleaching marks.
I don't believe it will work on plastics that have lost there colour, ie a CREAM henry bucket that has been bleached WHITE by the sun. Only items that have YELLOWED it will work on
)
