How to bleach yellowed plastic correctly and safely?

In the modern world, plastic is found in every home; household appliances, windows and window sills, small interior elements and even children’s toys are made from it. Over time, they fade and lose their splendid appearance, so you need to know how to bleach yellowed plastic at home. Plastic products begin to turn treacherously yellow due to exposure to sunlight and other natural factors. Frequent and thorough cleaning will not help to avoid this problem.

Preparing plastic for bleaching

Before the procedure for getting rid of yellowness, you need to prepare the surface for processing. If we are talking about a refrigerator, then remove all small parts; they will need to be soaked overnight in a special solution. The door itself and the side panels should be thoroughly cleaned of soot and grease that settle on all kitchen surfaces. Sometimes after this procedure the refrigerator becomes 1-2 shades lighter, but you shouldn’t stop there.

Use a regular soft sponge and liquid cleaners: plastic is very easy to scratch, especially if your kitchen appliances have a glossy surface. In supermarkets you can find special wet wipes for removing grease and dirt from delicate surfaces. They are ideal for processing equipment. Frequent wet cleaning will help slow down the rate of yellowing.

The following products will help whiten yellowed plastic:

• laundry soap;
• alcohol;
• vinegar;
• hydrogen peroxide;
• chlorine;
• technical soda.

Gentle methods

Using laundry soap is the most gentle way to bleach plastic products. It will only help if the yellowness is more likely due to a greasy coating than due to changes in the structure of the material itself under the influence of external factors. Grate half a bar of laundry soap and dissolve in warm water. Treat the surface of the yellowed refrigerator or window with a sponge soaked in the solution, leave for half an hour and rinse with plain water.

Advice

Never use hard sponges or cleaning powders to avoid scratching the surface of the refrigerator.

Alcohol guarantees better results than soap solution. Wipe the entire yellowed plastic surface with a cotton pad soaked in ethanol. Be sure to open the windows to ventilate the room, and don't forget to wear gloves.

Regular 9% vinegar will not help. You need 70–80% vinegar essence. Acid is dangerous to the skin and health in general. Make sure the room is ventilated and wear thick rubber gloves.

Aggressive methods

In advanced cases, you can clean yellow plastic utensils using hydrogen peroxide (perhydrol). Soak a cotton pad in peroxide and completely treat the plastic, previously cleaned of grease and dust, with it. The procedure should be performed at least 3 times. To enhance the effect, it is recommended to prepare a solution based on peroxide and hair bleach. 2 tbsp. l. dissolve peroxide and clarifier in 1 liter of water. Use a moistened sponge to treat the entire refrigerator and it will shine white again.

Chlorine and baking soda help bleach small items that can be removed and soaked in the solution overnight.You can use any substance containing chlorine: bleach, stain remover, etc. If the result does not satisfy you, dissolve 1 tbsp. l. technical soda and laundry detergent in a liter of water. Soaking in this product for 10 hours or more will help even in the most advanced cases.

Useful tips

Windows and window sills are the most “vulnerable” plastic products, as they are exposed to continuous direct sunlight. How quickly plastic turns yellow depends not only on its quality, but also on its handling. Do not smoke in the apartment, as tars are absorbed by the plastic surface. Cigarette smoke will ruin not only appliances and windows, but also wallpaper and furniture. And you can put a napkin on the windowsill, which will not only protect it from damage, but also decorate the interior of the room.

Do not forget about frequent wet cleaning: grease and dust are gradually absorbed into the plastic. The more often plastic surfaces are wiped with soapy water or special cleaning wipes, the later it will begin to change its color. Carrying out light cleaning for prevention is easier than washing plastic from many years of yellow plaque.

As you can see, there are many ways to clean plastic. Each housewife can choose the most suitable and affordable method for herself. By following all the instructions, you can keep your windows and household appliances looking shiny for a long time.