Re-whiten plastic table?

[guyd]

Any tips on how to make this table white again, I've tried bleach, deck stain remover (grp), and clothes whitener and peroxide (as suggested somewhere). No effect.

No markings anywhere of type of plastic I'm afraid. White paper for colour comparison

 

[Daydream believer]

It is white already. It is just a different shade of white.

 

[vyv_cox]

Our plastic coated guard wires gradually go yellow, probably because the plasticiser leaches out. Cream cleaner restores them to whiteness (and polishes stainless steel stanchions very effectively.)

 

[MikeCC]

You could try uPVC cleaner, perhaps on the underside first. There are solvent and non-solvent types. Or Bar Keepers Friend.

 

[Poignard]

You might try bicarbonate of soda (on an inconspicuous area first). I really don't know if it would work on plastic but I found it easily removed stains from Formica that other, expensive, products would not.

 

[matthewriches]

Customer had the same issue on a Sealine, he kept cleaning it with all sorts of stuff and it went yellow again fairly quickly. Sprayed it with 3 coats of Gloss Awlgrip and it looks lovely.

 

[VicS]

Any tips on how to make this table white again, I've tried bleach, deck stain remover (grp), and clothes whitener and peroxide (as suggested somewhere). No effect.

No markings anywhere of type of plastic I'm afraid. White paper for colour comparison

Rust Oleum Universal All-Surface Paint worked well on a white plastic garden table.

Also available as spray paint

 

[Jabs]

Have you tried Oxalic Acid crystals?

Damp cloth, crystals, wipe over, leave ten minutes and sponge off.

Great on fibreglass!

Tony

 

[lw395]

Often the surface of the plastic gets sun damaged.
For some plastics, a rub down with fine wet and dry works well.

 

[Hydrozoan]

This is quite useful on the causes and (with the links it contains) some possible solutions.
https://chemistry.stackexchange.com/questions/74618/what-makes-abs-plastic-turn-yellow

 

[Thistle]

Denture cleaner?

 

[prv]

You might try bicarbonate of soda (on an inconspicuous area first). I really don't know if it would work on plastic but I found it easily removed stains from Formica that other, expensive, products would not.

It's not stained, the plastic itself has yellowed with age (or more specifically, UV exposure). That yellowed layer can't be made white again, only covered (eg painted with awlgrip as Matthew describes) or removed to expose un-aged plastic underneath (the various abrasive suggestions like cream cleaner or wet-and-dry).

Pete

 

[guyd]

Thanks Boys - the surface is grippy / rough, so sanding would remove this. Ill try some of the chemicals listed above - you are right, its changed colour, not stained, as the colour is pretty even, and the underside is similar, but half as yellow.


or just buy another table....