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I'm in trouble.....removing dev stains from white plastics

hoffy

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Up until recently, the top of the washing machine has been my wet area for all darkroom processes. Up until now, I have been pretty careful to ensure that spills are cleaned up straight away....

Well, as advised (not very welcomely by the wife), I have managed to spill and leave some dev (I am assuming, as its a deepish brown stain) on the washer. This has stained the plastics.

What would be the best way of removing this stain? I have tried a bit of bleach (wet a cloth with some laundry bleach and let it sit for 5 minutes), but it has barely touched it.

Cheers in advance!
 
hoffy said:
...
What would be the best way of removing this stain? I have tried a bit of bleach (wet a cloth with some laundry bleach and let it sit for 5 minutes), but it has barely touched it.

Cheers in advance!
Click to expand...

Boy, are you in deep do-do I hope you didn't own up to it, or your options are severely limited....

A few options come to mind:
1. Blame the dog
2. Buy a new washing machine
3. By her some diamonds / gold / something else really expensive
4. Run away
 
I found ordinary domestic bleach & toilet cleaner removes most stains from my print trays. Or you could try farmer's reducer.
 
It may be a silver stain from spent fixer, so try Paul's suggestion use a ferricyanide bleach then wipe with strong fresh fixer.

Ian
 
try NC-160 then Jiff. and you can be assured it will come out. god knows what NC-160 is made of but that stuff has removed every photographic chemical stain ive made even stains which are years old.
 
Have you thought about upgrading to a new model of wife?
 
If none of the above works then try denatured methyl alcohol... but DON'T drink the unused leftovers. Remember methyl is poison.
 
Dear hoffy,

Something that has always worked for me (but unfortunately not for another fellow recently) is to cover the stain with a paper towel soaked in undiluted household bleach and walk away.

Good luck,

Neal Wydra
 
What's the material? Plastic or painted metal?

If it is painted metal and it is smooth, you can use rubbing compound to rub the stain out. Just don't use very aggressive one or use way too much force. It can rub the entire layer of paint out.
 
Well - if I had to crack a joke about it - a nice wire brush attached to a power drill at about 2500 rpm should be enough to remove that stain!!!


 
I'm afraid that I don't have very helpful suggestions, but it is worth pointing out that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Try an old towel underneath your trays. To get the stains out, try vinegar in addition to the above suggestions. Otherwise, paint over the stains before your wife sees. The stains will magically disappear.
 
DramaKing... about your sig. Ansel was a very innovative photographer he would have digitized like a sex-crazed nympho on ecstacy!!
 
Repaint the top of the washer. Or turn the washer on the side so you don't notice the stain...
 
I would have been cheaper to grovel.

Steve
 
My darkroom is right next to the washer and dryer, along with the sink I use for rinsing. I have ruined 3 duvet covers and many shirts and socks by dripping fixer on them as I pass by with a print I am anxious to examine in the light. My family is frequently Not Pleased with me. But I could refuse to do the washing altogether, and just stay in the darkroom instead. Now I move all clothing well out of my path.

(OT: In a film I recently saw, AA went from his darkroom into the kitchen to microwave a print so he could see the drydown. And yes, this is the microwave for food. I felt better about my own furtive forays into the kitchen for the same purpose.)
 
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