Yellow stains often appear on plastic either from food, sunlight, or chemical reactions. There are many ways to treat these stains, such as soaking the plastic in bleach, rubbing alcohol, or hydrogen peroxide. If you'd rather scrub the stain than soak it, try using lemon juice, salt, or baking soda paste to remove the yellow stain.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Soaking the Plastic
Step 1. Wet the stain with rubbing alcohol to dissolve it
If the yellow stain is in a plastic container, you can pour some spirit into it and let it sit for a few minutes. If the stained plastic can't hold the liquid, pour the spirit into another container and put the plastic in it.
- Rinse the plastic with soap and water after the spirit is removed from the container.
- If you don't have spirit, use hand sanitizer in the same way.
Step 2. Dissolve the denture cleaning tablet in hot water to correct the discoloration
Purchase denture cleaning tablets at a drugstore or grocery store and dissolve 2 tablets in hot water. Pour the mixture into the stained plastic and let it soak until the stains are gone. Rinse the plastic with soap and water.
You can also use alka seltzer as a substitute for denture cleaning tablets because they work the same way as these tablets
Step 3. Try using a whitening product that has a strong bleaching agent
Mix 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of bleach per 1 cup (240 ml) of water. Cover the plastic in the bleach solution and let it sit for 1-2 hours. Rinse the plastic with soap and water after the bleach has been removed.
Test the bleach on a small area of the plastic before applying it all over the plastic to make sure it won't damage the plastic
Step 4. Use white vinegar if you don't want to use bleach
White vinegar works on plastic in a similar way to bleach, but is less harmful. Mix white vinegar with water before pouring the mixture into the plastic. Allow the plastic to mix with the white vinegar for a few hours before rinsing it thoroughly with soap and water.
- If you're trying to clean a stain on a plastic that won't hold liquid, pour the white vinegar mixture into a container and then place the plastic inside.
- The vinegar smell will disappear once the plastic has been washed and dried.
Step 5. Moisten the plastic with hydrogen peroxide to correct the discoloration
Hydrogen peroxide works effectively on plastic that has completely turned yellow instead of just one spot. Fill a plastic bag with enough hydrogen peroxide to completely submerge the plastic. Place the plastic in a bag containing hydrogen peroxide and dry it in a place that is exposed to direct sunlight. Wait for 3-4 hours before washing it off with water.
- You can buy hydrogen peroxide at a pharmacy or grocery store.
- If you're cleaning some sort of plastic mechanism, be sure to remove all non-plastic parts before soaking them in hydrogen peroxide.
- You can also use an old toothbrush to rub hydrogen peroxide onto the plastic, if you prefer.
Step 6. Rinse the plastic completely to remove any liquid
After you have cleaned the stain with the liquid of your choice, use clean, running water to rinse the liquid off the plastic. You can also use soap, if you wish.
If the stain doesn't go away, you can reuse the same liquid and go through the process again, or try a different method to see if it works better
Method 2 of 2: Scrubbing Stains
Step 1. Brush the salt onto the stain using a damp cloth to help it loosen
Moisten clothing or towels with warm water. Sprinkle salt all over the fabric, or pour it directly onto the plastic. Use the cloth to rub the salt into the plastic and help remove the stain. Keep scrubbing until the stain appears to be gone..
Rinse the plastic with clean water when you are done
Step 2. Make a paste of baking soda powder to use on the yellow stain
Pour a small amount of baking soda into a small bowl or similar container. Add the water little by little, stirring with the baking soda powder until it turns into a paste. You can apply the baking soda powder paste to the plastic before letting it sit on the plastic for a few hours. Use a sponge or paper towel to rub the paste into the stain before rinsing it out.
Step 3. Rub lemon juice on the plastic so that the stain can be repaired by the sun
Cut a fresh lemon with a knife and rub it over the plastic so that the juice covers the stains. Take the plastic outside and dry it in the sun for a few hours to a day. Sunlight can help remove yellow stains.
Make sure to spread the lemon juice into the nooks and crannies of stained plastic parts, such as yellow marks on a cutting board
Step 4. Test store-bought products to see if they work well
Some cleaning products sold at grocery stores or hardware stores are effective at removing yellow stains. Try to find a product that is able to clean the type of yellow stain on your plastic to find the best one. Work according to the instructions for use, and rub the product into the stain on the plastic as often as possible using a paper towel or cloth.
Magic erasers can sometimes remove yellow stains, like most cleaning powders
Step 5. Wash the plastic thoroughly to remove any rubbing residue
Use clean running water, and soap, if necessary, to wash off liquids and/or cleaning pastes. If the stain doesn't go away on the first try, you can repeat the same process and scrub the plastic again.
Tips
If one method doesn't work on the first try, you can repeat the same process and try again
Warning
- Stains on plastic that result from heating tomato-based foods in the microwave usually don't go away.
- Avoid using abrasive materials such as steel wool or scouring pads to try to clean the stain as this will cause scratches
