Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 4: Using vinegar
• Method 2 of 4: Clean with bleach
• Method 3 of 4: Using baking soda
• Tips
• Warnings
• Necessities

Plastic is an artificial material that is resistant to dirt and heavy wear. Many items are made of plastic, including garden furniture, children's toys, shower curtains, dishes and storage boxes, and they all require regular cleaning and disinfection. If you know how to properly clean plastic, you will be able to keep your home clean.

To step

Method 1 of 4: Using vinegar

1. Mix vinegar with water. Mix one part vinegar with one part water in a clean, empty spray bottle. For example, with 250 ml of vinegar and 250 ml of water you get 500 ml of cleaning agent.
2. Spray the mixture on the plastic. Spray a generous amount of the vinegar mixture onto the plastic so that the plastic gets soaked. Vinegar works well to remove grease, mold and limescale and is also very suitable for disinfecting hard surfaces.
3. Rinse the plastic with water. Use clean water to rinse the vinegar mixture from the plastic. Then dry the plastic with a towel.

Method 2 of 4: Clean with bleach

1. Rinse and dry the plastic. Rinse the plastic thoroughly with water to remove the bleach residue. Let the plastic air dry by leaving it for 30 minutes or until it is completely dry.

Method 3 of 4: Using baking soda

1. Make a paste of baking soda and water. Make a mixture of 3 parts baking soda and 1 part water by mixing 3 tablespoons of baking soda with 1 tablespoon of water. Use a spoon, a dull knife, or an old toothbrush to mix the ingredients until you get a paste.
   • The paste should be as thick as toothpaste. So add more baking soda or water if the paste is too thin or thick. Adding more baking soda will make the pasta thicker, and adding more water will make the pasta thinner.
2. Let the paste sit on the plastic. Let the baking soda paste sit on the plastic for 20 to 30 minutes. The baking soda will loosen the dirt on the plastic.
3. Rinse off the plastic. Remove the last remnants of paste by rinsing the plastic thoroughly with clean water. This way you rinse away all dirt particles that the paste has soaked loose.
   • You can rinse smaller items in the sink.
   • Larger objects can be rinsed with a garden hose.
4. Wash the plastic with soap and water. Use a mild dish soap to clean the plastic.
5. Add dishwasher detergent. Put the correct amount of detergent in the detergent compartment in the dishwasher.
   • Read the owner's manual for your dishwasher to find out where the compartment is located, which detergent to use and how much detergent to use.
6. Switch on the dishwasher. Set your dishwasher to a normal dishwashing program and do not enable the option to heat dry the dishes. The chemicals in the plastic can be broken down by the heat, so it's best to let the plastic air dry.
7. Let the plastic air dry. Remove the item from the dishwasher when the appliance is ready. Place the item on the counter or on a drying rack to dry. It can take several hours for the plastic to dry completely.

Tips

• To make the vinegar mixture smell better, add a few drops of an essential oil such as lavender or citrus oil.
• Some cleaners clean better, so choose the one that suits what you want to clean. Baking soda is good for removing stale odors and caked-on dirt, bleach is best for sanitizing and bleaching, vinegar is good for removing grease stains, and the dishwasher is best for cleaning smaller plastic items.
• If you can't completely clean the plastic with a particular product, try a different one.
• Avoid getting bleach on your clothes and bare skin.

Warnings

• Bleach can discolor plastic that is not white.
• Check the recycling code on the plastic before putting it in the dishwasher. Some plastics should not be washed in the dishwasher because the chemicals can break down. Plastics with the codes 1, 2 and 4 are generally safe. Plastic that you eat or drink from is best washed off by hand.
• Use gloves to prepare and use the mixtures, especially if you are using bleach.

Necessities

• Cloths
• Water
• Buckets
• Gloves
• Bin
• Atomizer
• Baking soda
• Bleach
• Vinegar
• Dishwasher
• Dishwashing liquid