If you like your kitchen to look neat and pristine, you'll know that keeping white plastic appliances as white as possible is key. You want them to look shiny, clean and new to keep your kitchen looking fresh. Unfortunately, though, over time, white plastic appliances can be prone to discoloration and staining from smoke, dirt and even from light. This can make a kitchen look dingy and dirty — even if that isn't the case!
Luckily, there are methods to help get white plastic on kitchen appliances white again after turning yellow with age. This means you can extend the life of your appliances by keeping them looking newer for longer — saving money and the environment! There are several ways to clean staining from white plastic appliances, so you're sure to be able to find the right one for you.
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Vinegar Plastic Soak
If you're trying to remove yellow age stains from a plastic appliance you use to prepare or store food, you may not want to use a harsher chemical solution. If that's the case, you can use a vinegar soak to remove stains in a food-safe manner, according to the Washington Post. This is a method that works better for smaller appliances, like handheld blenders, as the solution needs time to soak and permeate the plastic.
Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water and fill a container with your solution. Then, place your appliance into the solution until the stained or yellowed part is totally submerged. If you can't get your whole item to be submerged, check on it and turn it over during its soaking time.
Leave to soak for several hours or overnight if possible. After you remove your items from the solution, wash well with dish soap and water to remove any remnants of vinegar.
Scrubbing Appliances With Baking Soda
Another food-safe method of removing yellow age stains from plastic appliances is by using a manual scrub. The Sun recommends using a solution of dish soap and sugar, but an even better option is baking soda. Baking soda has absorbent qualities than can help pull stain-causing minerals and other impurities out of plastic appliances to help restore their bright, white appearance.
Mix baking soda with water to create a thick paste, then work this into your plastic using a nylon scrubbing pad. Scrub your appliance thoroughly, then leave the paste on for several minutes. Rinse it off under running water and examine your stained appliance to see how it's looking. You may wish to repeat the process to achieve an even more effective stain removal.
Removing Yellow Stains Using Bleach
If you're looking at a larger appliance like a fridge or dishwasher or an appliance that doesn't come into direct contact with food, you may wish to use a stronger cleaning product to remove yellow stains. According to Matilo, a bleach solution can be very fast and effective at removing any yellowing or age stains on white plastic.
You'll want to dilute your bleach in order to prevent any damage to your plastic. A ratio of 1 tablespoon of bleach to 1 cup of water should be ideal. Wearing gloves, wipe this mixture over your yellowed plastic. Leave for a few moments, then wipe away with water.
If mixing your own bleach plastic cleaner sounds too tricky, there is also a range of commercial cleaners to remove yellow stains from plastic appliances. They can be purchased from any store that sells home goods, including Home Depot.