DIY state gate repair: this is how you solve the display problem yourself

With the new year, a few older Mac models will drop out of the Apple exchange programs. Also in the case of the "State gate" problems, where MacBooks up to four years old can get a new display for free, that's the case. If you have an Apple MacBook (Pro) that is over four years old and whose display coating is partially peeling off and thus creating spots and streaks, you can help yourself with the following tips. But be careful: DIY Staingate repairs are done at your own risk. In the following, I only show measures that have helped some users and do not accept any liability for any damage.

DIY Staingate repair: Remove MacBook display streaks yourself

In various forums and, above all, in discussions on the iFixit website, you can find information on various chemicals and products such as disinfectant wipes or liquid solutions that are supposed to help with the so-called Staingate. With them, various tests can be used to remove the coating of the MacBook display, so that the spots, streaks and stripes also disappear. To be performed for example here the following substances and products:

• Treatment with Nigrin metal polish paste and subsequently Rubbing alcohol (Isopropanol) should be effective, but need several applications and therefore take a long time
• Seems to work too Listerine mouthwash or similar antibacterial solutions
• Appropriate tests with antibacterial cleaning wipes should also have been successful

To solve the Staingate problem yourself and to free the display of the MacBook (Pro) from streaks and stains, Listerine mouthwash or disinfectant wipes can be used.

• Furthermore, cloths of the US brand “Clorox” should help, but they have nothing to do with the manufacturer's chlorine bleach, but are also antibacterial cleaners; more comparable to Sakrotan cloths
• Cleaning cloths that contain benzalkonium chloride should work pretty quickly (about a quarter of an hour); for example from the US brand "Purell"
• W5 cleaning wipes from Lidl are also listed as a discount solution ("W5" is a Lidl own brand)
• Also diluted bleach like that of DanKlorix can help; One user used the diluted “Toilet Bleach” with a cloth (dishcloth) to remove the coating from the MacBook display within two minutes

Bleach can also be used in diluted form for a DIY Staingate repair; It is best to start with a high dilution and then use stronger mixtures if the former do not help.

Better not to use paint thinner or acetone!

In the linked thread of the iFixit forum there is not only positive feedback on some aids, chemicals and cleaners. While paint thinning showed no or only a slight effect, a warning is issued against acetone or acetone. Although it can peel off the coating of the display, it should not act on the display for too long. A quick removal and cleaning of the display is therefore absolutely necessary if you really want to try it out. Otherwise the display can be damaged; dents can form and the glass become milky, which in the end is even worse than the streaks of the Staingate.

Acetone or acetone should not be left on the display for too long - if at all - as this will damage it.

One more note: I am neither a chemist nor have I tried the above measures myself. Take a look yourself in the iFixit thread for DIY state gate repairs on Apple MacBook (Pro); some of the advice comes with before and after pictures as well.

Jen Kleinholz( Founder & Sir Apfelot )

Jens has been running the blog since 2012. He appears as Sir Apfelot for his readers and helps them with problems of a technical nature. In his free time he drives electric unicycles, takes photos (preferably with his iPhone, of course), climbs around in the Hessian mountains or hikes with the family. His articles deal with Apple products, news from the world of drones or solutions for current bugs.