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Lisa asked: My white Christmas tree has turned yellow in some spots. How do I get rid of the yellow?
Whether due to storage conditions or as a natural side effect of aging, white plastic tends to yellow over time. Unfortunately there’s not an easy solution, but there are a couple of things you can try to improve the look of the tree.
You Will Need:
- Sunlight
- White vinegar
- Cloth or sponge
- White spray paint
Steps to Remove the Stain:
- First try leaving the tree outside on a sunny day. Sunlight has natural bleaching properties that may cure your tree.
- If the sunlight doesn’t work, try spraying white vinegar on the affected areas. Allow the vinegar to work for a while, in sunlight if possible, then wipe with a cloth or sponge.
- When all else fails, you can paint the tree. Find a white spray paint indicated for use on plastic and spray several light coats, allowing time to dry between each. Be sure to test this first, as you may not like the results.
- Finally, contact the manufacturer or store of purchase. They may warranty the tree, especially if the problem is a common complaint from customers.
Additional Tips and Advice
- Always spot test in a small area before you begin a new technique.
- It’s possible that a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser can improve the yellowing, but it might be a daunting task depending on the type of branches and needles your tree has.
- Avoid using bleach, which can yellow white plastic.
- Another solution is to spray white flocking on the tree. This all over solution will hide the yellowing, but it can be messy.
I am wanting to take my white Christmas tree down. What can I do to preserve it for next year to keep it from yellowing?
Hi!
I had my tree for 2-3 years before it started yellowing and had it wrapped in blue bags from the start… Probably last time I do buy a white tree… Because mine wasn’t cheap and yellowed anyway. ;-(
My tree is white flocked Christmas tree. It was not a cheap tree, but some of the branches turned yellow. The tree is three years old. I wonder if I can still use vinegar water?
I have an old, but very high quality, flocked artificial Christmas tree. I would like to remove all of the flocking. Is there anyway this can be done?
Check it out! We’ve answered your question! Yay!
If white flocked trees are going to yellow, I want to just get rid of mine so I don’t have to mess with it. This is my second year and mine looks good, but I’m storing it differently this year. I’m shrink wrapping, then putting in a contractor’s garbage bag, then in the tree bag. I’ll let you know later this year!
Please let me know if this worked. My tree purchased last year is yellow after setting it up yesterday. It was too expensive to replace and I’d love to keep it.
Would these techniques work on a prelit white tree?
Sharon,
Be sure the tree is unplugged before attempting to clean it with any method. If spray pain5ing the tree, each bulb will need to be covered first; plastic wrap or mini baggies might work. There is a risk with the finegar that it could damage the electrical parts, so use caution when applying it; it might be better to wipe it on with a cloth rather than spraying it. Good luck!