How to Get White Plastic White Again After It Yellows

Elaine asked: How do I clean yellowed plastic to make it white over again?

White plastic turns yellow over time due to a chemical reaction that occurs when information technology is exposed to lite, oils, etc. There are a couple of dissimilar ways to get rid of this discoloration, ranging from easy to more than difficult. Look through the methods to find one that works best on your particular project. Some are more practical for larger projects, while others are ideal for smaller pieces. If your plastic turned yellow from bleach or food coloring, those are actually dye stains. For those, employ our guide How to Clean Food Dyes from Plastics.

Bleach Method

Y'all Will Need:

• Chlorine bleach
• Water
• Saucepan or large bowl
• Gloves
• Newspaper towels
• A spray bottle

Steps to Whiten the Plastic:

1. Fill a bucket or big bowl with one role bleach and one part water. Fill it enough so that it will cover the yellowed pieces when they are submerged. Or, if the item cannot be submerged, only brand a small batch.
2. If the items cannot be submerged in the bucket, put on gloves, and then soak paper towels with the bleach solution and comprehend the yellowed plastic with the moisture paper towels. Press the paper towels firmly against the surface of the plastic and permit them stay there until the plastic has whitened. Re-moisture the newspaper towels with the bleach solution as needed to keep them moist. This can hands exist done by putting the solution in a spray bottle, simply be sure not to let the solution spray onto any surrounding areas or it may bleach them likewise.
3. If the items can be submerged, then put them into the saucepan or bowl.
4. Let the items to soak until they return to the original white color.
5. When they have reached the desired level of white, remove from the solution and rinse with clean water.
6. Wash with a mild detergent and allow the pieces to air dry out completely.

Sanding Method

You Volition Need:

• Superfine sandpaper
• Water
• Soft cloth

Steps to Whiten the Plastic:

1. For this method, the goal is to lightly sand off the top layer of the plastic that is discolored to reveal a new, white layer.
2. Brainstorm by wiping down the plastic slice completely.
3. Rub the superfine sandpaper over the surface to remove the yellowed portions.
4. When finished, wipe with a moist cloth to remove whatever dust.

Comet Method

Y'all Will Demand:

• Comet
• Water
• Bucket or large bowl
• Dish detergent
• Scrubbing sponge

Steps to Whiten the Plastic:

1. Beginning past moistening the plastic pieces.
2. Place some Comet cleaner on the scrubbing sponge and commencement scrubbing.
3. This requires enough of elbow grease and time, just volition take the yellow out with some scrubbing.
4. When the yellowish is removed, launder the slice in water and dish detergent.
5. Rinse completely with make clean water and allow it to dry out.

Peroxide Method

You Will Demand:

• Hydrogen peroxide (the regular three% kind)
• Oxy laundry booster
• Sunshine or UV calorie-free
• Water
• Bucket or large basin
• Rubber gloves
• Goggles

Steps to Whiten the Plastic:

1. Begin by protecting yourself with condom gloves and goggles.
2. Fill the saucepan with hydrogen peroxide.
3. Add ¼ teaspoon of Oxy laundry booster for each gallon of peroxide.
4.  If the items can be soaked, place them into the solution and allow them to soak. If they cannot be soaked, wet a paper towel with the solution, squeeze information technology out so that it'southward not dripping, flatten it out again, and printing it against the detail. Information technology should stick in identify on information technology's own, but if not, you lot can cover it with plastic wrap and tape the plastic wrap in place.
5. The soaking fourth dimension volition vary with nigh pieces whitening in 2-half-dozen hours. The mixture will last for upwards to four days before it needs to be replaced.
6. Fix the items under a UV light or out in the sunshine.
7. When the item has reached the desired whiteness, remove and rinse thoroughly to remove any remaining cleaning production residue.
8. If necessary, wash with dish detergent and water.

Additional Tips and Ideas

• While bleach tin exist an constructive color remover, information technology may weaken the plastic over time.
• Painting the plastic pieces (if they're not food storage containers) with a clear acrylic varnish will help prevent them from turning yellow again.
• For plastic pieces that are discolored from food dyes, see our article nigh How to Clean Food Dyes from Plastics.
• For additional information well-nigh removing stains from plastic food containers, come across our article near How to Clean Plastic Food Containers.

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