weird white discoloration on palm rest (with pics)

[iamrawr]

so i've been trying to be very careful to not ruin the finish of my 2 month old MBP but today i saw this white discoloration on the left palm rest that you can only see at an angle. it's kind of annoying and im wondering if it can be fixed through simple means, besides taking it to the apple store (for now). oh, and if it's still under warranty can they replace/repair it, or is it too minor? how long would it take? thanks!

the left is a photo taken from my iphone at about a 30 degree angle.

the right photo is taken directly on top of the same area again using my iphone. dont mind the shadowy area on the right pic. i'm not a good photographer and it's just the shadow of my phone over the palm rest. it looks perfectly normal through human eyes.

 

[JustMack]

Can it be cleaned/wiped off?
It looks like the thing i had on the lid on my mbp, but i just got some screen wipes (sometimes baby wipes) and cleaned it off. No idea what it is but my macbook pro get's these white discolourations too from time to time but I can always clean it off until it gets it again.

 

[AdamRock]

its probably caused from the oil in/on your palms, just try cleaning it to the best of your ability then put like a skin on it.

you can find a cheap one from eBay.

 

[surfologist87]

Its probably just body oils and junk (yumm)
Try cleaning it off with a damp cloth and some very light or mild soap.
I use a cloth that is only damp with water on mine.
For more serious things, i get some alcohol wipes from the hospital (the ones they rub on your arms before a shot/IV) and clean with that then the cloth. If you put a little rubbing alcohol on a cloth itll be the same.

Alcohol will not hurt the aluminum.. But keep it off the screen just in case.

 

[neondrgns]

Sorry to say I have this too

and despite what everyone says.... it doesn't come off
I saw the discoloration after heavy use my 1st week with my mbp.
I got a moshi palm guard to not damage it any further

the aluminum is not the same throughout, that satin aluminum coating gets worn down

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1923231

this forum thread at apple says its oxidation

the guy says he fixed it with the screen wipes but I highly doubt that, I have done the same thing and it kinda just expands the white, if you look at it straight down you wont see it, but if you angle it , it is still there

 

[ihonda]

looks like i will be re-applying my wrapsol or moshi palmguard because i certianly dont want this happening to mine!

btw, you could track mr clean magic eraser its suppose to be great at cleaning marks on the macbook so everyone claims..

 

[aeboi]

those white stains came off of my old MBP so it's definitely YMMV when it comes to whether it comes off or not.

 

[neondrgns]

looks like i will be re-applying my wrapsol or moshi palmguard because i certianly dont want this happening to mine!

btw, you could track mr clean magic eraser its suppose to be great at cleaning marks on the macbook so everyone claims..

I heard this too, but I heard it was for the white macbook and that the aluminum body ones should be careful cause theres some chemical in it that might mess up the aluminum

 

[iamrawr]

Thanks for feedback and tips guys. Will apple offer to replace it under warranty? If so, how long would it take? Will I get it back the next day?

 

[aeboi]

Thanks for feedback and tips guys. Will apple offer to replace it under warranty? If so, how long would it take? Will I get it back the next day?

Apple will not replace it just because of discoloration.

 

[vaniteux]

Did you ever get those marks off? I had the same problem, try Mr. Clean Magic Eraser ... the marks came right off, looks brand new!

 

[NickZac]

Apple will not replace it just because of discoloration.

It is worth adding that they will replace it if the anodized coating 'chips' at the edges, but slight discoloration is not grounds for replacement. Severe oxidation, maybe. Anodized coatings are tough and discoloration, as most people know, can be done by the chemicals on our fingers.