[NTLK] Saving/Restoring/Cleaning Newton Surfaces?

[apenultimate]

Took Peter's suggestion and looked up some Youtube videos on how to de-gum these surfaces.  It seemed like by every measure the isopropyl alcohol was the most effective.

Used it on my MessagePad 100, and it readily de-gummed the surface of both the unit itself and the case it slips into.  No more white mold, and the tackiness is pretty much gone.  The only downside is that the word "MessagePad" at the bottom of the unit was slightly faded at one end.  I realized this could happen from the Youtube vids.

The MP 2100 was a different matter.  The application of the alcohol only slightly de-gummed the surface.  It's still pretty tacky to the touch.  It is *slightly* better, and there are some areas that feel normal.  I have decided not to do any more, because the lettering on the front is being worn off slightly.

Thanks for everyone's help!  Isopropyl can work (without wearing off the coating entirely), but it will fade the lettering on the units and in some cases might not work very well.

Idomeneus

On Sun, Aug 23, 2026, at 11:11 AM, apenultimate wrote:
> Hi All,
> 
> Former member here, returning after many, many, many years.
> 
> Was cleaning up my closet today and I have a few Newtons that have been in storage and whose "rubbery" surfaces have started to degrade and feel sticky and a few have a bit of what seems like white mold on them.  In particular, I have the following:
> 
> 1) Newton 2100 whose surface is unnaturally sticky as heck, and bits of the surface might be peeling off if you press your fingers too hard against it.  Might have some mold or other contamination on the surface.
> 
> 2) Newton 130 whose surface is better, but still it's starting to get sticky to the touch.  Might need some cleaning.
> 
> 3) Newton 100 (don't think it's an OMP, at least), whose surface is like #1 above and whose backside and cover case is definitely full of white mold.
> 
> 4) A second Newton 2100 whose surface is fairly normal and clean, but starting to get that "sticky" feel.
> 
> Any recommendations on how to clean these up a bit, and what compounds/soaps to possibly use to make them more clean, less sticky, and more comfortable to use?
> 
> I also have an eMate that is fine as far as surface feel goes (eMate is plastic of course, so . . .).
> 
> All turn on when plugged in and work fine.  The screens of the 100 and 130 are extremely hard to see (you need to put a flashlight on them to see the screen clearly), and the first 2100 above is trending that way (it is very faint, but mostly readable with the green backlight).
> 
> Any thoughts are appreciated!
> 
> Idomeneus
> 
>