Remove yellowing from the PlayStation 1 (Retrobright)
There’s something unsatisfying about a yellowed PS1 housing. The plastic was once grey-beige — and with Retrobright you can restore it. It works: hydrogen peroxide reacts under UV light with the oxidised flame retardants in the plastic and returns the original colour.
It takes a few hours, but not much hands-on effort.
What you need {#what-you-need}
- Hydrogen peroxide (12% or higher) — available at pharmacies, hairdressing wholesalers or online. Higher concentration = faster effect, but also more risk
- Clear plastic bag or film — to wrap the damp plastic in
- UV lamp or direct sunlight — activates the reaction
- Gloves and safety glasses — hydrogen peroxide is corrosive at higher concentrations
- Phillips screwdriver — to disassemble the housing
Hydrogen peroxide above 10% is corrosive. Always wear gloves and safety glasses. Work in a well-ventilated area. Keep the solution away from unintended plastic — it can damage decals, seals and paint.
Step by step
1. Disassemble the housing
Open the PS1 and remove all circuit boards, cables and metal parts. Only the plastic needs treatment. Electronic components must absolutely not come into contact with hydrogen peroxide.
2. Clean the plastic
Wash the housing parts with water and washing-up liquid. Dust and dirt can interfere with the treatment.
3. Apply hydrogen peroxide
Spread or spray the hydrogen peroxide evenly over the yellowed plastic. You can also submerge it in a liquid bath if you have a large enough container.
Wrap the treated plastic in clear film or a transparent plastic bag — this keeps it moist and increases effectiveness.
4. Expose to UV
Place the wrapped plastic in direct sunlight or under a UV lamp. Check the progress every hour.
Depending on the degree of yellowing the treatment takes between 2 and 8 hours.
5. Rinse and reassemble
Rinse the parts thoroughly with water once the desired colour is achieved. Dry completely before reassembling.
Put the console back together.
The result looks best if you treat all visible plastic parts at the same time — that way colour differences are minimal. Only treat what you can see; you don't need to do the back if it's always hidden away.
Will the yellowing come back?
Unfortunately: yes. Retrobright is not a permanent solution — the plastic has chemically changed and will discolour again with UV exposure. You can slow this down by keeping the console away from direct sunlight.