MBA 11 Silver Finish is showing wear/discoloration dirt left palm rest

You guys know where you rest your left hand when typing (after about a year of use), that area has discolored into brownish/black dirt, i tried wiping it with a clean white cloth and it won't come off. Tried it with lil water and didn't work, alcohol too didn't work.

 

There is no finish. The MBA chassis is a unibody frame built of solid, pure aluminum. The outer layer will typically have a different texture and appearance than what you would find if you scratched below the surface because it is aluminum oxide. Have you used any cosmetic or hand lotion products that may have reacted with the surface? I would recommend trying to use a toothbrush for scrubbing action against dirt.

 

magic eraser is another good option, but the idea is as bog said, to scratch the aluminum oxide

 

The palmrest can get discolored after a certain amount of time. I know that for my old 08 unibody mbp I noticed discoloration and palm prints left behind after a year of use and that was just how the sweat from my skin reacted with the aluminum.

 

^ this is why I put palm guards on all of my laptops.

 

Exactly thats why for my new MBP I ordered the Moshi Palmguard.

 

That's exactly it, now for the solution, can it be remove by using toothpaste or the mr clean eraser?

 

At least for me I wasn't able to remove it completely. I used alcohol and magic eraser but still could not get it completely clean and there was a visible palm print.

 

I think I will get a palm guard.

 

I would try tooth paste or a small amount of abrasive paste with a cloth. The case is a solid piece of aluminium so wearing away a minute layer of metal, thus removing the stain, would not show up too bad.

 

The only issue with using a mild abrasive is that it would leave behind scratches. They could be covered up with some finish but it would still physically alter the metal (instead of just chemically). Would Goo Off for metal be something that might work? I know human sweat, lotion, and other things are chemically reacting with the metal but something like Goo Off might be able to wipe away any surface reaction without scratching the metal.

I use the stuff all the time around the house and even on some stove top metal plate guards (the metal things that go under the heated portions of a stove top) which spilled over liquids chemically reacted with the metal. It cleaned them up rather nicely.

 

Simonize it. Turtle Wax it. Anything you use for a car finish you can use on this. Cleans and shines like crazy and sweat beads up on it so you wipe it down next time it happens,

 

pics or it didnt happen =P

 

the computer will be obsolete in about 5 years.. and you'll keep getting dirt on it as you continue to use it.

why the bother? really?

 

I guess many of us want to delay the inevitable a little bit.

 

I personally keep mines clean, give it a cleaning every 2 weeks because I like my electronics looking brand new, also helps that I sell my every year or two and having it mint condition helps with the sale.