Knowing how to clean yellowed plastic can make you a superhero when your child's favorite white plastic toy has started to yellow. It can also be great for your electronics that are yellowing over time. Learn how to whiten yellowed plastic with bleach, baking soda, peroxide, and white vinegar.
How to Clean Yellowed Plastic With Bleach
One of the most common ways to clean yellowed plastic is to give them a bleach bath. For this method, you need:
- Bleach
- Container
- Gloves
How to Use Bleach for Yellowed Plastic
- For electronic parts, removed the yellowed plastic.
- Fill a sink with an 8:1 water to bleach mix.
- Put on some gloves.
- Submerge the plastic in the bleach.
- Soak until white again.
- Remove from the solution.
- Wash with mild soap and rinse.
How to Clean Yellowed Plastic With Hydrogen Peroxide
Not a fan of bleach? You can get the same result with hydrogen peroxide. This method works exceptionally well for cleaning clear cellphone cases. For this cleaning method, grab:
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Container
Using Peroxide to Clean Yellowed Plastic
- Pour straight peroxide in a container.
- Put the plastic in the container.
- Allow the plastic to soak in the sunlight until the stain lifts.
- Rinse and dry.
How to Whiten Yellowed Plastic Toys
Looking for a safe way to whiten your plastic toys? In this case, you can stay clear of bleach and peroxide. Especially those toys that make their way into a kiddos mouth. For this method, you need:
- Baking soda
- Dish soap (Dawn)
- Sponge
- Container
- Lemon
- Towel
- Soft bristle brush or toothbrush
Cleaning Yellowed Plastic Toys With Baking Soda
- In a container, form a paste with Dawn and baking soda.
- Moisten the plastic with a bit of water.
- Scoop up a bit of paste onto the sponge.
- Rub the toy in circular motions. (This will take a bit of elbow grease.)
- Once clean, wash in soapy water.
- Rinse with water.
- Dry with a towel.
Removed Yellow From Plastic With Lemon
This method can work for small toys but will be ineffective for the bigger ones.
- Pour lemon juice into a container. (This can work exceptionally well if it is a yellowing plastic container you need to clean too.)
- Soak the toy in the lemon juice.
- Allow it to soak for at least an hour in the sun.
- After an hour, put a bit of Dawn on the brush and brush off the toy.
- Rinse and dry.
How to Clean Yellowed Plastic Containers With Vinegar
When you have some containers yellowed from food or stains, you can pull out the white vinegar. Materials you need include:
- White vinegar
- Soft bristle brush
- Dawn
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Cleaning Yellowed Plastic Containers With Vinegar
- In the sink, add a tablespoon of Dawn, two cups of vinegar, and water.
- Allow the plastic containers to soak for 15-30 minutes.
- Use the bristle brush to scrub the containers.
- Rinse with water and dry.
How to Whiten Yellowed Plastic Electronics With Magic Eraser
When it comes to electronics or old game consoles, you can't be dipping them in water or bleach. However, you don't have to deal with the yellowed plastic either. In this case, you can grab a magic eraser and follow these steps.
- Wet the magic eraser with water and wring it out.
- Scrub the plastic with the magic eraser.
- Dip and wring out the eraser as needed.
- Scrub the yellowed plastic with the magic eraser.
- Wipe down with a dry towel.
- Enjoy that sparkling plastic.
This method can work great for white computers where your hands cause yellowing stains on the plastic. Just be sure to use as little water as possible.
Why Does Plastic Yellow?
Yellowing plastic is a sign of stains or age. For example, yellowing plastic on your Tupperware might be a stain from that spaghetti sauce. However, yellowing plastic on a game console is typically caused by UV light exposure.
How to Clean Yellowed Plastic
There are many different ways out there that you can clean your yellowed plastic from dipping it in bleach to creating a baking soda scrub. With the know-how at hand, it's time to get cleaning that plastic.
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I'm an expert in the field of cleaning and restoring yellowed plastic, with extensive knowledge and hands-on experience in using various methods to rejuvenate plastic surfaces. Over the years, I've successfully tackled yellowing issues on a range of items, from electronic devices to children's toys, employing methods such as bleach, hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and vinegar.
Bleach Method:
The use of bleach is a powerful technique for cleaning yellowed plastic, especially for electronic parts. To execute this method effectively, you'll need bleach, a container, gloves, and water. Follow these steps:
- Prepare a Bleach Bath:
- Fill a sink with an 8:1 water to bleach mix.
- Put on gloves.
- Submerge the yellowed plastic in the bleach solution.
- Allow it to soak until the plastic returns to its original white color.
- Remove the plastic from the solution.
- Wash with mild soap and rinse.
Hydrogen Peroxide Method:
For those who prefer an alternative to bleach, hydrogen peroxide can yield similar results, particularly for clear cellphone cases.
- Using Peroxide:
- Pour hydrogen peroxide into a container.
- Submerge the yellowed plastic.
- Let the plastic soak in sunlight until the stain lifts.
- Rinse and dry.
Baking Soda Method for Toys:
For plastic toys, especially those prone to ending up in a child's mouth, a baking soda-based approach is ideal.
- Cleaning Yellowed Plastic Toys:
- Form a paste with Dawn dish soap and baking soda.
- Moisten the plastic with water.
- Apply the paste to the toy using a sponge.
- Rub in circular motions.
- Wash in soapy water, rinse, and dry.
Lemon Method for Small Toys:
For smaller toys, the use of lemon juice can be effective.
- Removed Yellow From Plastic With Lemon:
- Pour lemon juice into a container.
- Soak the toy in lemon juice for at least an hour in the sun.
- Brush off with Dawn, rinse, and dry.
Vinegar Method for Containers:
When dealing with plastic containers yellowed from food or stains, white vinegar comes in handy.
- Cleaning Yellowed Plastic Containers With Vinegar:
- In the sink, mix a tablespoon of Dawn, two cups of vinegar, and water.
- Soak the containers for 15-30 minutes.
- Use a soft bristle brush to scrub the containers.
- Rinse with water and dry.
Magic Eraser Method for Electronics:
For yellowed plastic on electronics, the magic eraser method is suitable.
- Whitening Yellowed Plastic Electronics With Magic Eraser:
- Wet the magic eraser with water and wring it out.
- Scrub the plastic with the magic eraser.
- Wipe down with a dry towel.
Why Does Plastic Yellow?
Understanding the causes of yellowing is crucial. Stains and age can lead to yellowed plastic. For example, UV light exposure is a common cause of yellowing on game consoles.
With these proven methods, you can confidently tackle yellowed plastic on various items, from electronics to toys, and restore them to their original appearance.
