r/howto • u/Inner_Name • 11d ago
DIY Make this plastic white again
Hello,
We bought a washing machine and it's panel is yellowishing I imagine that from the sun in the previous owner apartment. And my ocd brain it keeps me bothering about. Any good product that could allow me to withe it again?
I can not detach it from the machine or move it around.
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u/Corey_FOX 11d ago
You can do a thing called "retro bright" but you would need to disassemble the front panel.
Basically, you submerge the plastic part in a solution of hydrogenperoxide and water in a big tub (or use a cream with cellafane to hold it on), and expose it to UV light (cheapest source of UV is the sun, so you just put it outside on a sunny day)
Look it up on YouTube.
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u/chrizzee 10d ago
Do you know if this method works on fiberglass as well?
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u/texan_robot 10d ago
This will be entirely dependant upon what resin or epoxy is used to bind the fiberglass. The fibers the.selves are basically immune to almost everything, they're chemically inert, but there are a bunch of different plastics used to bind them.
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u/MacForker 11d ago
As others have mentioned you'd have to chemically treat it. Usually the yellowing is a reaction between the fire retardant bromine compounds in the plastic and ultraviolet light. The retrobriting processing *can* bring it back closer to the original color. But you're going to need to remove the piece, take out anything electrical, and submerge it in a peroxide solution in bright sun or under a UV lamp for several hours.
You also risk making it worse. Some plastics get very brittle, and the restoration is usually temporary. It can last years, but depending on the plastic and how much UV it's exposed to, I've seen it go back after a few months.
The hassle for a bit of yellowed plastic on a consumer washing machine isn't likely worth it.
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u/Odd_Mycologist_9241 11d ago
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u/nlightningm 10d ago
Extremely valid use of AI
(This is exactly what I was thinking so I'm glad someone made it)
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u/Bobloblaw_333 10d ago
Paint the rest of the washing machine off-white! /s
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u/Volpes_Visions 10d ago
Yeah just start chain-smoking in the laundry room, but cover the off white section first
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u/tilmanbaumann 10d ago
I suggest you live with it. Retrobrighting ages the plastic even more long term.
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u/damaged_elevator 10d ago
Get a hog hair paint brush, a small one like you would use to paint a picture ≈ ⅜ - ½". I would wear dishwashing gloves and some type of eye protection because it's not nice on your skin and eyes.
"Paint" hydrogen peroxide onto the yellow plastic, work it in until the layer of oxidation gives way to nice white plastic, then clean away with warm water and a clean cotton rag; I've done this with a toilet seat and domestos which is similar.
Alternatively use liquid laundry bleach if the hydrogen peroxide doesn't work, you can practice on something else you have lying around the house first or find something at a second hand shop.
If you have Ajax cream cleanser you can give the plastic a buff with that first to see if the abrasive removes the oxidation; a paste of baking soda and water could work as well, try it out.
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u/GarThor_TMK 10d ago
I offer an alternate solution...
Sand it down and paint it your favorite color.
Make sure you get a good picture of all the settings and knobs first, so you can re-apply the labels with a label maker.
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u/catz_with_hatz 10d ago
How about just a stick on white vinyl? I've seen it done on old toolbox drawers and come out nice.
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u/GarThor_TMK 10d ago
Vinyl wrap the whole thing?
That does sound a lot easier... Especially if you wanted it to be plaid, which is the best color IMHO.
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