I've used Windex for grime and Mr Clean Magic Erasers for permanent marker removal. The Magic Eraser seems to take away the yellowing too, but it will take some elbow grease and will cause scratches on glossy surfaces. Maybe not the best options, but works for me in a pinch.

Most permanent marker ink is alcohol-based and can be removed with 70%+ cleaning or medicinal alcohol (50% alcohol will also work, but you'll need to rub the marker with a tissue). However, the alcohol can also dissolve certain paints or printed markings.

Another option is washing and scrubbing the parts in hot! water, but then some plastics may warp.

Using Marisol AP, an alkaline all purpose detergent for marine usage, diluted with hot water. Works great, but hard to source ashore.

I'd guess heavy duty floor cleaning agents are somewhat like it in their composition.

I just spent about 20 minutes cleaning up a really nasty Tandy machine with Shout and a magic eraser.

Cif cream is my go-to cleaner for them filthy beige boxes. 😀

I use 70-90% isopropyl alcohol mixed 50/50 with distilled water for almost all of my cleaning needs. For a case i spray the case with this let it set, wipe. For stubborn cleaning spray, soak magic eraser with same solution, rub gently. If that doesn't do it... same procedure and add more pressure. I also use microfiber cloths.

If I want a thorough cleaning, I go with water and dish detergent; for just a quick tidying I use cotton pads soaked in isopropyl alcohol.

I feel I need to echo what a lot of people are saying. For bigger jobs I'll break out the Dawn and hot water and take things slow and steady, but for getting rid of sticker residue (in the absence of goo-b-gone) I'll be very careful with some 90% Isopropyl Alcohol and scrub the living daylights out of the affected area. Works wonders in my case, I haven't had any issues with that strategy before, but then I also don't generally come into contact with brittle or fragile plastics.

keenerb wrote:

I just spent about 20 minutes cleaning up a really nasty Tandy machine with Shout and a magic eraser.

That came out great!

Yeah I was seriously bummed out about the condition of the system when I unboxed it.

I've spent a little more time on it and it looks absolutely spotless now, like it was just unboxed!

133MHz wrote:

Cif cream is my go-to cleaner for them filthy beige boxes. 😀

WOW. I would have grabbed that dirty old thing too, I wouldn't be able to resist it either. Awesome work on that case.

In that post you talked about using scouring pads, is that the metal ones or the green plastic-fiber ones like this:

A number of you are reporting success with isopropyl alcohol - is it just me or is the paint on these old beige boxes a little tougher and more resistant than newer cases?

I was beside myself wiping down one of my newer black cases watching the paint come off, just because why wouldn't they use a plastic that's black to the core for the bezel/cd cover?

maybe undiluted 90% was a little rough 🤣. lesson learned.

Retr0bright works wonders for yellow plastic surfaces.

beastlike wrote:

In that post you talked about using scouring pads, is that the metal ones or the green plastic-fiber ones like this:

The green ones, they're pretty safe for textured plastics like old PC cases but don't go overboard scrubbing - they can still cause damage.

beastlike wrote:

A number of you are reporting success with isopropyl alcohol - is it just me or is the paint on these old beige boxes a little tougher and more resistant than newer cases?

Indeed you should exercise caution when using solvents like alcohol on painted plastics, especially with modern, cheaply made stuff.

Snayperskaya wrote:

Retr0bright works wonders for yellow plastic surfaces.

Oxy Clean spray / gel works great too. just remember to wrap you yellowed plastic item in plastic wrap before laying it out in the sun.