Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 2: Soak the plastic
• Method 2 of 2: Scrub the stains
• Tips
• Warnings

Whether caused by food, sunlight or chemical reactions, yellow spots often appear on plastic. There are many ways you can try to deal with these stains, such as soaking the plastic in bleach, rubbing alcohol, or hydrogen peroxide. If you'd rather scrub the plastic instead of soaking it, use lemon juice, salt, or a baking soda paste to remove the yellow discoloration.

To step

Method 1 of 2: Soak the plastic

1. Dip the stains in rubbing alcohol to dissolve them. If you have a plastic container with yellow spots, you can pour rubbing alcohol into it and let the alcohol sit for a few minutes. If you cannot pour liquids into the plastic item, pour rubbing alcohol into another container and put the plastic item in it.
   • Rinse the plastic item with soap and water after throwing away the rubbing alcohol.
   • If you don't have rubbing alcohol, you can use hand sanitizer in the same way.
2. Dissolve denture cleaning tablets in hot water to remove discoloration. Buy denture cleaning tablets from a chemist or department store and dissolve 2 tablets in hot water. Pour the mixture into or onto the stained plastic and let it soak until the stains are gone. Clean the plastic with soap and water.
   • You can also use Alka-Seltzer effervescent tablets as they work in a similar way.
3. Use bleach if you want a product with a strong bleaching effect. Use 1 tablespoon (15 ml) per 250 ml of water and mix everything. Cover the plastic with the bleach mixture and let the mixture sit for 1-2 hours. Discard the bleach and wash the plastic with soap and water.
   • Try the bleach on a small area of ​​the plastic before treating the entire plastic to avoid damaging the plastic.
4. If you have any concerns about bleach, use white vinegar. White vinegar works very well on plastic and has a similar effect to bleach, but it is not harmful. Mix 1 part white vinegar with 1 part water and pour the mixture onto the plastic. Let the white vinegar soak into the plastic for a few hours, then clean the plastic with soap and water.
   • If you are trying to remove stains from a plastic item that you cannot pour liquids into, pour the vinegar mixture into a container and put the plastic item in it.
   • The vinegar smell will disappear when the plastic is cleaned and dry.
5. Immerse the plastic in hydrogen peroxide to treat discoloration. Hydrogen peroxide works well with plastic that has completely yellowed instead of having some yellow spots. Fill a plastic bag with enough hydrogen peroxide to submerge the plastic item. Put the plastic object in the bag and place it in direct sunlight. Wait 3-4 hours and then rinse the plastic with clean water.
   • You can buy hydrogen peroxide at pharmacies and department stores.
   • If you are handling a plastic mechanism, remove any non-plastic parts before putting the item in the hydrogen peroxide.
   • You can also use an old toothbrush to scrub the hydrogen peroxide in the plastic if you prefer.
6. Rinse the plastic thoroughly to remove the residual liquid. After you have removed the stains with the liquid of your choice, rinse the residual liquid from the plastic under running water. You can also use soap if desired.
   • If the stains are still visible, you can use the same liquid again and follow the same process or try a different method to see if it works better.

Method 2 of 2: Scrub the stains

1. Rub salt on the stain with a damp cloth to help remove the stain. Wet a cloth or towel with warm water. Sprinkle salt on the cloth or the plastic itself. Use the cloth to rub the salt into the plastic and remove the stain. Keep rubbing until you see the stain disappear.
   • Afterwards, rinse the plastic with clean water.
2. Make a baking soda paste to treat yellow spots. Put some baking soda in a small cup or container. Slowly add water and mix until a paste forms. Apply the baking soda paste to the plastic and let it sit for several hours. Rub the paste into the stains with a sponge or paper towel, then rinse the plastic.
3. Apply lemon juice to the plastic to allow the sun to remove the stains. Cut a fresh lemon in half with a knife and rub the lemon over the plastic so that the stains are covered with juice. Place the plastic outside in the sun and leave it there for several hours to a day. The sunlight should help get rid of the yellow spots.
   • Make sure to apply the lemon juice to the nooks and crannies of a stained plastic item, such as a chopping board with yellow spots.
4. Test products from the store to see if they work properly. Some cleaning products you can buy at hardware stores and department stores work well for removing yellow stains. Look for products for the type of yellow stain on the plastic to see if a particular chemical might work. Follow the directions on the packaging. You often have to use a paper towel or cloth to apply the product to the stains.
   • With a miracle sponge it is sometimes possible to remove yellow stains, and with lots of cleaning powders too.
5. Wash the plastic thoroughly to remove the residue from the cleaners. Rinse the plastic under the tap and, if desired, use soap to remove the residue of the liquids or paste. If the stains are still in the plastic, you can repeat the process and scrub the plastic again.

Tips

• If a method doesn't work on the first try, you can try again and repeat the process.

Warnings

• You probably won't be able to remove stains from plastic items caused by heating foods with tomatoes in the microwave.
• Do not use abrasive materials such as steel wool and scouring pads to try to remove stains as they can scratch the plastic.