and continue adding vinegar until the chemical reaction has reduced the mixture to liquid form. The oxygen that makes up part of the peroxide will lift the yellow from the surface. The products needed to whiten the yellow off the plastic are commonplace and relatively easy to use if they are available. Ideally, you should be washing it once a month. Faded plastic windows can usually be restored back to a clear and new looking standard by hand using the correct kind of products and techniques. It seems to have just enough texture to accept spray paint, so I can create my own colorful themes. Last Updated: January 3, 2021 This clear plastic is shatterproof, transparent, easy-to-use, and highly versatile. References. Add ¼ teaspoon of the laundry booster for every gallon of hydrogen peroxide that is used. Probably more often than you think. First, clean any dust, hair, and dirt off the plastic with plain ol’ water. To learn how to clean plastic by soaking it in vinegar, keep reading! Use a towel to soak up some of your new sodium acetate solution. Is there any way to take the yellow away? This article was co-authored by Susan Stocker. How to Clean Yellowed Fluorescent Light Covers. This is particularly true with plastic that is white. You have all been there. and scrub gently with a sponge. Acrylic or plexiglass is one of the popular materials used in commercial and residential products — and for a good reason. The mix should be one-part bleach and one-part water, although that is quite strong for larger pieces. Pour hydrogen peroxide over the plastic and scrub with the brush. If the yellow stains are in a plastic container, you can pour rubbing alcohol into it and let the rubbing alcohol sit for a few minutes. Once the stain is covered in juice, take the item outside and let it sit in the sun for a few hours before rinsing it. Let the plastic sit for a few hours before using a sponge or towel to rub the paste into the stain. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. You must identify why does the plastic turn yellow and apply the right solution to restore and clean it. Best wishes Lemon Stain Lifter. Retro-obsessed geeks have created a cheap, homemade solution for restoring old plastic. 4. Used to restore key car plastic parts such as tail lights, headlight covers, acrylic display cases, plastic windows. Bromine is a flame retardant that was used in many plastic casings, especially ABS casings used on old video games and other devices made decades ago. Lemon juice's acidity makes it an excellent stain lifter. After you've scrubbed the stain, rinse the paste off with warm water. 1. This will keep the paper towels moist which allows the bleach to go to work. Clean the Lens Then cover the paper towels with a plastic wrap to keep the mixture from drying out. Use a toothbrush to scrub the solution over the phone case. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. This requires plenty of elbow grease and time, but will take the yellow out with some scrubbing. Rinse your sponge with hot water and wipe down the area to remove excess soap. Just like any surface, there comes a time when acrylic needs to be cleaned. Apply the Solution. The window should initially be cleaned to remove any loose dirt and contaminants. Also, don’t forget to read the differences between silicone and TPU material. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 138,168 times. Whether the cause is from stains, sun damage, or something else, there are ways of how to whiten yellowed plastic and restore its original appearance. Any other color and the bleach will fade such colors. How Often Should I Wash My Plastic Shower Curtain? Clear away furniture and other objects from underneath the light cover. For baking soda, make a paste by mixing it with water, then apply it to the stains. If you have plastic light switches and plates, it’s very possible that they have become yellowed over time. Dry it off with a rag when you’re done. In order to clean your plastic with salt, rub it into the stain with a damp cloth until the discoloration begins to fade. Take off the light cover carefully. Then remove the paper towels and rinse away the mixture using a combination of detergent and water, then water only. You can focus on the areas that are yellowed or wipe down all of the plastic depending on its size. I soaked them in OC for 10 minutes and they turned white again. Allow to soak for 15-30min, scrub stains with a soft toothbrush. Add 2 Tbsp of Oxi-Clean / Oxi Magic per gallon of warm water. Cover the stains in rubbing alcohol to dissolve them. Pour some hydrogen peroxide onto a soft cloth. Rinse the plastic with clean water once you’re finished. I have used it on tablecloths with old stains as well. Required fields are marked *, 7337 Austin St 9A-D You can focus on the areas that are yellowed or wipe down all of the plastic depending on its size. Answering that question will help you avoid yellowing with many plastic items you have in the future. Restoring these back to their original clear state can be accomplished. Your email address will not be published. You should fill the bucket just enough so the plastic item can be submerged. Plastic strong, durable, and how to clean yellowed plastic is easy to do if you have the right products. Then wipe down the top layer of the plastic with very fine sandpaper. But first, you have to know what causes, and why does the plastic turn yellow. If you would rather try scrubbing the stain instead of soaking it, try using lemon juice, salt, or a baking soda paste to remove the yellow stain. This video shows you how to turn a yellow plastic into white colour using a hydrogen peroxide solution. Take 1 cup of baking soda into a bowl and add enough water to make a thick paste. What is the difference between granite and marble? Thanks for the tips! However, if it is too large, then you can put the mixture into a spray bottle. Also, I had no yellowed plastic to try it out on, or so I thought. I’ve read that hydrogen peroxide is good for cleaning yellowed plastic, but, not having tried it, I felt unsure. ". ", "I like that there were lots of options found around the house. Whether they're from foods, sunlight, or chemical reactions, yellow stains often show up on plastic. Sometimes it's just a pale gray mouse or keyboard slowly going beige; sometimes it looks like a severe "nicotine staining" and we assume there must be a smoker in that household (I've known nonsmokers to overestimate the … Step 2 Rub the peroxide onto the surface of the plastic. Your email address will not be published. You can also use an old toothbrush to scrub the hydrogen peroxide onto the plastic, if desired. If the item is too large or has areas that cannot be soaked, then dip paper towels into the solution and apply them to the surface of the plastic. Toothpaste works on our teeth because it is mildly … If you don’t have rubbing alcohol, you can also use hand sanitizer the same way. Mike Cote-November 6, 2018. The finer the sandpaper, the better as it will not scratch the surface. A small spill of a beverage, food, or oil that was not fully removed may cause that area of the plastic to turn yellow over time. You will need the following items. The result is that the plastic turns a distinctive yellow in color. How to Clean Your Headlights with Household Items. Item #1: a blue plastic strainer, stained around the bottom, probably from some fruit like cherries. The vinegar smell will disappear once the plastic is washed and left to dry. By. That will help with the smell of the bleach, and the sun will remove some of the stains. Put on your rubber gloves, and fill a bucket with the warm water and bleach. Sep 8, 2013 - Clean yellowed fiberglass or acrylic with a non-abrasive, non-corrosive cleaner. The good news is I found some items to experiment with. Steps to Remove the Yellow Discoloration: Begin by cleaning the plastic well by applying a small amount of the plastic cleaner on a foam pad. You can also allow the item to soak in the peroxide for up to two hours. Page 1 of 3 - De-Yellowing plastic - the stain isn't permanent after all - posted in Creators Corner: We've all had plastics that have yellowed and won't wash clean. The best way to restore a faded plastic window would be to use a designated plastic polish product. Mix enough solution and submerge the plastic. Here are … Plastic tub surrounds usually wipe clean easily because they feature a smooth surface with no grout lines to collect dirt. Although quite harsh, bleach is one of the best chemicals to clean plastic that have been yellowed over time. Other common reasons for the yellowing include stains that have sat on the plastic for a long time. Hydrogen peroxide is milder and safer to use than bleach, but it takes longer for it to work. If the stain didn't come off, you can reapply the same liquid and follow the same process, or you can try out a different method to see if it works better. Cleaning a Car Headlight with Toothpaste. Forest Hills, NY 11375, How To Remove Scratches From Your Phone Screen, How To Stop And Remove Pop Ups on Android Phone. You can also use alka seltzer as a substitute for denture tablets, as it will work similarly. There are different reasons why does the plastic turns yellow, but the most common one especially with older items is not with the plastic itself, but rather a chemical known as bromine. To remove yellow stains from plastic, try scrubbing it with common household items, like lemon juice, salt, or baking soda. Soaking paper decals and delicate labels is risky. A simple cleaning solution and instructions are as follows: Make a mixture of one cup of warm water (or 240ml) and a few drops of dish soap. Rub the solution onto the headlight lens. But if the yellowing is only on the surface, and is due to chemicals (aerosol, hair spray, cleaner fumes) smoke, or dirt, you can clean … Use circular motions all around the surface of the plastic. The bromine was added to the plastic during the manufacturing process and is designed to keep the oil in the plastic from burning when exposed to high levels of heat. Then drop the item into the solution. A magic eraser can sometimes work on yellow stains, as do many cleaning powders. Obviously, the toothpaste can easily clean the tea stains or coffee stains of the tea cup, and even remove the small scratches on the surface of the mobile phone, but from the actual test, the toothpaste can not clean the yellow stains off the phone case. Alcohol. In addition, if you clean away spills from plastics quickly before they have a chance to soak in, you reduce the chances of yelling from occurring. Add about 1/4 teaspoon of an Oxy-boosting detergent for every gallon of peroxide used. Clean yellowed plastic starts by lightly rubbing the surface with a soft cloth to remove any loose particles. You can purchase hydrogen peroxide at a drugstore or big box store. The downside is that when bromine is exposed to ultraviolet or UV rays from the sun, it tends to break down and work its way to the surface. Nobody wants an ugly yellow light switch. You have Yellowed plastic and all the cleaners on Earth do nothing but clean off dirt and old Nicotine but they are still yellowed. We know because we've been manufacturing acrylic displays for over 40 years. https://foodal.com/knowledge/cleaning/11-ways-remove-stains-plastic/, https://www.familyhandyman.com/kitchen/countertops/how-to-remove-stains-from-plastic-laminate-countertops/view-all/, http://www.momables.com/how-to-remove-stains-from-plastic-containers/, http://www.retrofixes.com/2013/10/how-to-clean-whiten-yellowed-plastics.html, https://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/removing-stains-from-plastic-cutting-boards, http://www.cookinglight.com/cooking-101/techniques/how-to-remove-turmeric-stains-on-plastic, Remover Manchas Amarelas de Recipientes Plásticos, retirer des taches jaunes sur du plastique, प्लास्टिक पर लगे पीले निशानों को हटाएँ (Remove Yellow Stains from Plastic), consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Hydrogen peroxide will help to lighten the yellowed areas significantly. However, there is a difference between whitening away stains caused by food and oil for example compared to when plastic yellows. Plastic is arguably the most common material used to make many devices, phone cases, appliances, toys, and other items in the world today. By using our site, you agree to our. If you’re trying to remove stains from a piece of plastic that can’t hold liquids, pour the white vinegar mixture into a container and then set the piece of plastic inside. "I had to use a combination of spraying with peroxide and baking soda paste to make it work. While there are products that are specifically designed for plastic, there are also household products that can work just the same. Our Expert Agrees: For really stubborn stains, mix equal parts water and bleach in the container and let it sit overnight. When it reaches the desired appearance, rinse the plastic thoroughly. Let it soak for up to six hours, then set it out in the sunshine or use a UV lamp. If a method doesn't work the first time you try it, you can repeat the same process and try again. Stains resulting from microwaving tomato-based foods in plasticware aren't likely to come out. How to Clean Yellowed Light Switches. If the piece of plastic can’t hold liquid, pour rubbing alcohol into another container and put the piece of plastic inside. Even if your night guard has turned yellow, you should follow the steps below to keep it thoroughly cleaned until you can replace it. You may have to restore the color with paint. Rinse well, then let it sit outside in the sun for two full days. Maybe posted here before but not sure I haven't searched. How To Clean Clear Phone Case That Turned Yellow?. Even a piece of metal I had used every metal polish known to man came clean … Depending on the color of the plastic itself, the yellowing may be subtle, or it may be obvious. Stir the solution. Stir the solution with a large spoon. Be sure you are wearing goggles and rubber gloves. The containers are often semi-opaque, waterproof and bug proof, and easy to label. Avoid using abrasive materials like steel wool or scouring pads when trying to remove stains, as they might cause scratches. You will need the following. Continue scrubbing in circular motions until dirt and grime is removed. And if bleach doesn't remove any yellowing, I sometimes paint the Tupperware! Make sure you spread the lemon juice into the nooks and crannies of a stained piece of plastic, such as the yellowing marks on a cutting board. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Alcohol has excellent cleaning … Spray the bleach on the surface, apply the paper towels, and then spray the bleach again. Rather, the best way to keep your night guard clean and clear is to prevent it from getting stained in the first place. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Wet the towel several times and continue rubbing the lens until all of the fading is removed. I do convert the pieces from food use to craft use. Clean yellowed plastic starts by lightly rubbing the surface with a soft cloth to remove any loose particles. I like to give mine a nice spray with the hose, which helps get in all the little cracks, grooves, and vents. Rinse again until you have a clean shower curtain. Use a nylon scouring brush to clean the plastic. Clear phone cases are generally made with a type of plastic or plexiglass, depending on the specific case.If you’re willing to spend a little more the plexiglass is generally a little nicer and it’s going to retain the clean look for longer. This method is recommended for cleaning yellowed plastic parts that can be dipped or submerged into a bucket or container. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Test the bleach out on a small section of the plastic before covering it entirely to make sure it doesn’t harm the plastic in any way. Like the previous poster said, you CAN paint it, but make sure you use a plastic-bonding paint (like Krylon Fusion) or it'll unevenly flake off and look bad. Move any furniture or other objects located underneath the light cover to ... 2. She is well known in the region for outstanding customer service protocols — winning the 2017 Better Business Torch Award for Ethics & Integrity —and her energetic support of fair wages, employee benefits, and green cleaning practices. After all, you come face to face with your shower curtain or plastic liner on an almost daily basis. Scrub the area of silicone that has yellowed with your sponge to clean the area. To learn how to clean plastic by soaking it in vinegar, keep reading! Apply it to the stained areas of your containers. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/54\/Remove-Yellow-Stains-from-Plastic-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Remove-Yellow-Stains-from-Plastic-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/54\/Remove-Yellow-Stains-from-Plastic-Step-1.jpg\/aid10102156-v4-728px-Remove-Yellow-Stains-from-Plastic-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"