Cleaning Stained or Aged Diffuser Material - umbrella, softbox, panels, cloth?

[analogs]

I have several of those diffusers, reflectors and umbrellas and after leaving them unused for months to years packed away, I noticed when opening them again that the frames of these fold out light modifiers or the gold/silver reflector cloth have left a yellowish or brownish stain on the diffuser or white reflector cloth.

Is it possible to remove the stain or make this white again and if so, how? I do not want to replace these, as I know I will still end up with the same problem as I do not use them enough.

Thank you.

 

[rob norton]

I have several of those diffusers, reflectors and umbrellas and after leaving them unused for months to years packed away, I noticed when opening them again that the frames of these fold out light modifiers or the gold/silver reflector cloth have left a yellowish or brownish stain on the diffuser or white reflector cloth.

Is it possible to remove the stain or make this white again and if so, how? I do not want to replace these, as I know I will still end up with the same problem as I do not use them enough.

Thank you.

Are they scrim jim fabrics? Back when I owned those they went very yellow.

I would do nothing. I don't have firsthand experience, only what I've read over the years, but deep scrubbing may lessen the strength of fire-retardant/heat resistance in the material.

This is less of an issue these days where tungsten lights aren't as popular but maybe will show itself again as larger LEDs keep getting hotter..

If heat isn't a concern then you can be more aggressive in taking care of the stain. But maybe the stains don't shift the Kelvin enough to bother you so it's not worth the trouble.

The worst is when the silver interior of the old softboxes starts leaving flakes everywhere whenever it gets set up.

 

[analogs]

Thanks for the reply Rob.

No, they are cheap softboxes or reflectors I have purchased online. I have heard that this is common when storing umbrella or foldable type softboxes or reflectors long term without using them.

I wonder if this is common with expensive brand softboxes, reflectors or umbrellas?

 

[Peter C.]

I wouldn't be surprised this is due to cheaper fabric. I know paper can yellow either by sun exposure or just by itself if it has acid in it. That's why they sell archival acid free paper. I've had an umbrella get rust stained because I stored it in my garage, where the constant change in humidity and temperature caused condensation then rust on the metal ribs. Generally speaking once the material is yellowed there isn't much you can do but chuck it. You have to accept that almost all of the equipment you buy will either become out dated, worn out, or degrade in storage. Its a means to make money, nothing more.

 

[rob norton]

Thanks for the reply Rob.

No, they are cheap softboxes or reflectors I have purchased online. I have heard that this is common when storing umbrella or foldable type softboxes or reflectors long term without using them.

I wonder if this is common with expensive brand softboxes, reflectors or umbrellas?

I'd say much less common but still can change over the years. You really have to pay to play with Chimera softboxes but they'll still be working twenty years later (so maybe they're actually the cheapest option of them all!)

If I was loading up on bowens mount stills photography softboxes I'd personally be looking into profoto gear unless the lighting manufacturer already provides decent options eg aputure.

But if it's acceptable that you're using cheap equipment in the first place then any potential issues should also be accepted.