Cleaning Plastic Parts

[Gavin and Bigi]

We are renovating our 2008 Auto Sleeper - and it's a lot of fun.

Parts of the loo plastic is quite yellowed as are some of outside plastic covers. Any suggestions as to how to restore them?

 

[Tigger-Tim]

I found autoglym caravan cleaner reasonably effective.

 

[FrankNicklin]

Once yellow I’m not sure they can be restored back to white without painting with something like PlastiKot.

 

[Baggydave]

I use this stuff. Apply with a brush & leave overnight if possible. If the parts can be removed & put in a plastic bag after applying all the better. It stops drying out. I’ve even used on the fridge interior. Got on eBay.
more effective if you can leave in the sun while coated.

 

[TheBig1]

white vinegar and soda crystals works wonders or otherwisesome sort of cutting compound to remove the top discoloured layer

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[Lenny HB]

Often exposing them to direct sunlight does the trick but probably won't do much at this time of year. You could try a UV lamp

 

[andyelbac]

If any parts are removable, drop them in a plastic storage box, fill with Hydrogen Peroxide and wrap a UV LED strip around. Turn on the lights. Then cover all that with tin foil. Leave for 24 hours and it should all revert back to white. Have seen this many times in YouTube clips of people renovating old video game machines. Seems to work every time.

 

[RV72 SAM 🏴]

Try G3 cutting paste with a mini mop (Electric polisher) will cut all the yellow out, then polish with white T-cut to buff up and re-shine used this process on lot's of surfaces over the year's.

 

[coopc]

I use this stuff. Apply with a brush & leave overnight if possible. If the parts can be removed & put in a plastic bag after applying all the better. It stops drying out. I’ve even used on the fridge interior. Got on eBay.
more effective if you can leave in the sun while coated.

View attachment 832955

I second the peroxide route
I have not used it for Mhome stuff just in home stuff though. (Only my bathroom extractor fan surround)

Originally I saw it for doing old computer and handheld white plastic devices and house plastics

Jerome Russell Bblonde Peroxide 40 Vol

I copied and pasted the info to my notes app yrs ago which is below

This yellowing happens thanks to a flame retardant called bromine in old ABS plastics
When exposed to UV light, those bromine molecules can destabilise and come through to the surface, causing the plastic to turn yellow
A forum user discovered that hydrogen peroxide could help remove these free bromides from the plastic, restoring the original white colour
It isn't permanent, since there are still free bromides deep in the plastic that can re-surface after another few years
In addition, some people think the process makes those plastics more brittle and fragile

Items needed
Peroxide as above
Rubber Gloves
Goggles
Brush to apply the cream.
A UV light bulb or the sun