A Question for the Experts on plastics:

[bajaespuma]

Hey you guys, how do you clean off the yellowing and dingyness that occurs on old plastic parts? I have some Electrolux attachments that are made out of hard plastic that should be a shiny turquoise green but have yellowed and aged to be a matt dull green. Same thing on some old GE Filter-Flo pieces. Is there a way or a solvent or something you can use? I tried oven cleaner (NaOH) but it just made the mattness worse.

 

[tolivac]

Its a sad fact for some of these plastic items-as the plasticizers leach out(substances that make the plastic flexible or strong)the plastic changes by changing to the awful colors or gets brittle and has cracks.Plastic is NOT forever.No ,for the most part there isn't much you can do.

 

[bajaespuma]

Thank you for the response; I suspected as much. You may have saved my hands and lungs much wear and tear.