How to Clean Yellowed & Discolored Plastic

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Whiten & restore plastic electronics, containers, & more

Co-authored by Susan Stocker and Devin McSween

Last Updated: October 31, 2024 Fact Checked

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Soaking the Plastic

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Scrubbing the Plastic

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Tips

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Warnings

Yellow stains often show up on plastic electronics, appliances, containers, and cookware, whether they're from food, sunlight, or chemical reactions. Luckily, there are many ways to tackle these stains using simple household products. For instance, soak the plastic in hydrogen peroxide or vinegar or scrub it with baking soda or lemon juice. Keep reading for multiple easy ways to remove yellow stains from your plastic items!

The Best Ways to Remove Yellowing from Plastic

Soak yellowed plastic items in hydrogen peroxide for 3-4 hours to remove discoloration and stains. Or, submerge the plastic in white vinegar or rubbing alcohol. For items you can’t soak, scrub them with a baking soda paste, lemon juice, or a magic eraser.

Section 1 of 2:

Ways to Soak the Plastic and Remove Yellow Stains

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1
Soak plastic in hydrogen peroxide for 3-4 hours to fix discoloration. Hydrogen peroxide works well on plastics that have turned entirely yellow instead of in just one spot. Fill a plastic bag or container with enough hydrogen peroxide to cover the plastic. Stick the plastic item in the hydrogen peroxide and set it out in direct sunlight. Wait 3-4 hours before rinsing it off with clean water.^{[1]
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- This method works particularly well on yellowed phone cases and other small items.
- If you’re cleaning an electronic device or appliance, remove the plastic pieces and then soak them in the hydrogen peroxide.
- Remove any non-plastic parts from the item you’re treating before putting it into the hydrogen peroxide.
- Optional tip: Use an old toothbrush to scrub the hydrogen peroxide onto the plastic.
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Submerge food containers, utensils, and toys in vinegar for 2-3 hours. White vinegar is a safe alternative to harsh cleaners that also works wonders on yellowed plastic. Mix 1 part white vinegar with 1 part water in a container and insert your plastic item. Let the plastic sit in the white vinegar for a couple of hours before rinsing it clean with soap and water.^{[2]
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- If you’re removing stains from a plastic container, simply pour the vinegar mixture inside it.
- The vinegar smell will disappear once the plastic is washed and left to dry.
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3
Cover the stains in rubbing alcohol for a few minutes to dissolve them. If the yellow stains are in a plastic container, pour rubbing alcohol into it and let the rubbing alcohol sit for a few minutes. If you’re cleaning a plastic appliance, utensil, or toy, pour rubbing alcohol into another container and put the piece of plastic inside.^{[3]
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- Rinse the piece of plastic with soap and water after pouring out the rubbing alcohol.
- If you don’t have rubbing alcohol, use hand sanitizer.
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Follow the Retrobrite process to clean yellowed electronics. Start by lining the outside of a plastic container with UV LED light strips. Then, remove the plastic pieces from the device and set them in the container. Put on gloves and safety goggles and pour enough 12% hydrogen peroxide in the container to cover the plastic pieces. Line the outside of the container with aluminum foil and turn on the lights. Then, leave the parts to soak for 12 to 24 hours.^{[4]
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- If the plastic pieces float, weigh them down with a stainless steel bolt or screw.
- If the plastic is still yellow after 24 hours, let it soak for longer.
- Retrobriting is a cleaning method that’s specifically used to remove yellowing from computers, game consoles, and other electronics.
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Remove stains on appliances and electronics with peroxide cream. Put on a pair of gloves and safety goggles. Then, apply a thin layer of peroxide cream onto the stained plastic. Cover the plastic piece with plastic wrap and set it under sunlight or UV light for 12 to 24 hours.^{[5]
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- Peroxide cream is commonly used to lighten hair, so you can find it at hair supply and beauty stores.
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Soak plastic in bleach for 1-2 hours to remove stubborn yellow stains. 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 you pour the bleach out.^{[6]
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- Test the bleach out on a small section of the plastic before covering it entirely to make sure it doesn’t harm the plastic in any way.
- Wear a respirator mask, gloves, and goggles and work in a well-ventilated area when using bleach.^{[7]
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EXPERT TIP

Susan Stocker
Cleaning Guru
Susan Stocker runs and owns Susan’s Green Cleaning, the #1 Green Cleaning Company in Seattle. She is well known in the region for outstanding customer service protocols — winning the 2017 Better Business Torch Award for Ethics & Integrity —and her energetic support of green cleaning practices.

Susan Stocker
Cleaning Guru

Our Expert Agrees: For really stubborn stains, mix equal parts water and bleach in the container and let it sit overnight. Rinse well, then let it sit outside in the sun for two full days. That will help with the smell of the bleach, and the sun will remove some of the stains.
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Dissolve denture tablets in hot water to fix the discoloration. Find denture tablets at a drugstore or big box store and dissolve 2 tablets into hot water. Pour the mixture into or onto the stained plastic and let it sit until the stains are gone. Rinse the plastic off with soap and water.^{[8]
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- Alternatively, use Alka Seltzer as a substitute for denture tablets.
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Rinse the plastic thoroughly after soaking to remove the cleaning liquid. Once you've removed the stain with your chosen liquid, use clean running water to rinse the liquid off of the plastic. Wash the plastic with soap if you cleaned cookware or toys or if you used a harsh cleaner like hydrogen peroxide or bleach.
- If the stain didn't come off, reapply the same liquid and follow the same process. Or, try out a different method to see if it works better.

Section 2 of 2:

Ways to Scrub the Plastic and Remove Yellow Stains

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1
Scrub electronics, appliances, and containers with a baking soda paste. Pour some baking soda into a small cup or container. Add water slowly, mixing it with the baking soda until it forms a thick paste. Then, green cleaning expert Susan Stocker says to “rub [the paste] really well” into the plastic with a sponge or paper towel, “press[ing] hard so that you get the paste inside the little ‘pores’ of the plastic.” She recommends letting the paste sit for 1 day before rinsing it off.
- Stocker says to “apply a tiny bit more paste after you scrub so it doesn’t all dry out too quickly” which gives the paste “time to ‘eat’ the stains.”
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Rub lemon juice on the plastic and set it in the sun for a few hours. Cut a fresh lemon in half and start rubbing the lemon over the plastic so that the juice covers the stains. Bring the plastic outside and let it sit in the sun for a few hours to an entire day. The sunlight should help remove the yellow stains.^{[9]
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- This method is especially effective on cookware like plastic storage containers, utensils, and cutting boards.
- Make sure you spread the lemon juice into the nooks and crannies of a stained piece of plastic, such as the yellowing marks on a cutting board.
Scrub electronics and appliances with a magic eraser. For plastic items that you can’t get wet, dampen a magic eraser and wring out the excess moisture. Then, scrub the plastic until the yellow stains are gone. Wipe the item with a dry cloth to remove any leftover moisture.^{[10]
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Brush salt onto the stain using a damp cloth. Dampen a cloth or towel with warm water. Sprinkle salt all over the cloth, or pour the salt directly onto the plastic. Use the cloth to rub the salt into the plastic, helping to remove the stain. Keep rubbing until you see the stain disappear.^{[11]
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- Rinse the plastic with clean water once you’re finished.
Some commercial cleaning products work on removing yellow stains. Look for products targeting the type of yellow stain your plastic has to see if a certain chemical product might work. Follow the directions, which usually involve rubbing the product in the stain with a paper towel or cloth.
Use clean running water and soap to wash off the cleaning agent. If the stain wasn't removed the first time, repeat the same process and scrub the plastic again.

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Tips

If a method doesn't work the first time you try it, repeat the same process and try again. Or, use a different soaking or scrubbing method.

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If the yellow stain refuses to come out, paint the plastic, if possible.

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Warnings

Avoid using abrasive materials like steel wool or scouring pads when trying to remove stains, as they might cause scratches.

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