Just wondering over time if the aluminium will show signs of wear from oil and sweat on the palm rest.
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Can your hands ruin the macbook pro finish?
- Thread starter Woodcrest64
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I've been using mine over 4 years, averaging 12-16 hours a day. It still looks new. I occasionally wipe it down with a damp cloth.... that's it.
I've seen some of my friends' computers and their palmrests are dirty, but I took a quick wipe and it did go away. Can't say the same about the plastic ones.
Have you tried cleaning it with alcohol and a soft cloth? You may find it just has built-up dirt on it. As it's aluminum, there's no surface to chip off. It's aluminum all the way through.
swingerofbirch
macrumors 68040
The plastic keys will look shiny over time. But the aluminum holds up well. It seems like it's plastic that absorbs or is at least affected somehow by oil.
Our fingertips polish the keys which makes them shiny. Happens pretty much to all keyboards with use and time...
Yup, keyboard is your only concern. Aluminum on my 2009 looked brand new when I sold it this summer.
It gets dirty quick (though if you wipe it frequently it shouldn't pose as an issue)
This is exactly the reason why I always get the Moshi palmguard.
This is exactly the reason why I always get the Moshi palmguard.
After nearly wrecking my antiglare screen with alcohol, I tend to go for the damp cloth or special windex for electronics. I think the aluminum itself has a very thin finish on top of it, because ever since I wiped my palm rest with alcohol, it seems to have gotten a little less smooth (less than the rest of the laptop, at least). I'm sure alcohol doesn't dissolve aluminum, but I would avoid using it on any sort of electronics, regardless. (unless its well mixed with water)
I didn't suggest using alcohol on the screen. Alcohol won't harm aluminum. While using water is sufficient for most cleaning, using alcohol to clean tougher spots is perfectly safe. Cleaning the outer aluminum body surface is not cleaning "electronics", as the electronics are inside.
I keep a clean microfiber cloth in with my MBP, at the end of the day I spend a full six seconds wiping the palm rest, keyboard, display, and if needed the lid.
I realize that's a lot of work, and can be stressful, but it keeps my Macs looking new.
Ha... Ha... Ha...
I realize that's a lot of work, and can be stressful, but it keeps my Macs looking new.
Ha... Ha... Ha...
I know, I'm just cautious after my incident with alcohol.
I was just saying that there might be a thin finish applied to the aluminum.
No, been using the Late 2008 Aluminum MacBook since it first came out and nothing of that sort.
I've found the finish of Macs very durable. Oh sure I take care of it, but my point is it's not fragile. As mentioned earlier, if you have a need to remove grime, a water moistened microfiber will remove it, except the most stubborn spots. For that moisten the cloth with alcohol and it will remove the stubborn stuff.I know, I'm just cautious after my incident with alcohol.
Better yet if you wipe it daily as I do, water is all you'll ever need.
The mistake I've seen others make is to procrastinate & ignore keeping it clean weekly, or they let it go even longer. Then the cleanup job is a far greater task. I wasn't kidding when I said it only takes me six seconds.
That's because I don't eat or drink while using it, that avoids a lot of headaches.
The powder coat (paint) chips off quite easily on the sharp edges of the unibody. Despite statements to the contrary, it's obvious that the surface is powder coated (otherwise it wouldn't chip ).
This has been happening for years as well.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/209679/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/925608/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/645492/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1314170/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/841853/
).This has been happening for years as well.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/209679/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/925608/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/645492/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1314170/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/841853/
The powder coat (paint) chips off quite easily on the sharp edges of the unibody. Despite statements to the contrary, it's obvious that the surface is powder coated (otherwise it wouldn't chip
This has been happening for years as well.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/209679/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/925608/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/645492/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1314170/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/841853/
I won't go against this evidence, but all the dents, dinges and chips of my Al Mac have been done due to other factors. As per my hand usage, my Mac doesn't experience said effects.
The silver body is scraping off. And no its not dirt, I hope it was haha
You can see the black parts under the silver.
I had a dell with an aluminium finish and after three years half of it is chipped away and pitted from where I place my wrist. Totally gross and I don't want the same to happen to my rMBP! However some suggest it's to do with using a two pinned plug v a three pinned one. My mac has a 3 pin plug and the Dell was 2 pins (the third pin was plastic) so we shall see!
I'm sorry to bump this thread, but in the year that I have had my MacBook Pro, I have absolutely ruined the finish on the palmrest, probably from sweat on my hands. If I would have known that this would happen, then I would have bought a Moshi Palmguard, but the damage is done now. Advice to any and all Mac users with very sweaty palms: Get a Palmguard from Moshi so that this does not happen!
