• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

How To Clean Stuff.net

  • Automotive
  • Fabrics
  • Floors
  • House
  • Kitchen & Bath
  • Misc
  • Outdoors
  • People & Pets
  • Stains
  • Blog
  • Ask a Question
Home » Cleaning Guides » House » Household Appliances and Fixtures » How to Whiten Yellowed Vinyl

How to Whiten Yellowed Vinyl

yellowedvinyl

Lauren asked: How do I clean the vinyl trimmed handle on our white-on-white refrigerator? The vinyl clad handles on my GE refrigerator have yellowed. How can I restore the bright white? It is about 7 years old and it doesn’t really get dirty, but the yellowing looks terrible. I have tried fantastic and also a magic eraser, but nothing seems to solve the problem. Help!

I wish we had better news Lauren, but when vinyl turns yellow, it is typically from a chemical reaction that occurs in the vinyl and can be very difficult, if not impossible to reverse. This yellowing can be from the sunshine or a faulty product. Here are some methods that you can try to see if it will lessen the yellow tones or possible restore them back to white again.

  • Bleach is a natural whitener and can sometimes remove the yellowing. Mix 1 part bleach with 2 parts water. Apply with a soft cloth. Rinse thoroughly with clean water and allow to dry.
  • White vinegar is another product that has had some success. Apply straight white vinegar to the stained area and allow it to set. Rinse with clean water and allow it to dry.
  • If your refrigerator is still under warranty, contact the manufacturer to request a replacement part.

Filed Under: Cleaning Guides, Household Appliances and Fixtures Tagged With: vinyl, whiten

Was This Guide Helpful?

+19
-16
Rating: +3. From 35 votes.
Please wait...
  • If you would like a response from us, please leave your question in the comment area at the bottom of this page instead of here.

Reader Interactions

Related Posts

How to Clean a Dryer
How to Remove Soot from a Smoke Damaged Fireplace
How to Polish Vinyl
How to Remove Paint from Vinyl Siding

Comments

  1. Pat Mi. says

    February 1, 2011 at 10:43 pm

    Carefully removed the yellowed fridge handle. Clean well with dish soap to remove any grease and/or dirt. Rinse and dry well. Spray paint with a paint formulated for vinyl and allow to dry thoroughly (three days) before re-attaching. When you clean the painted handle use a non-abrasive cleaner and soft cloth.

    Reply
  2. Christina says

    October 22, 2009 at 12:13 pm

    I used a Mr. Clean magic eraser on my fridge handle, it took several cleanings and it looks so much better. It is still not as white as the rest of the fridge, but it isn’t as noticeable now.

    Reply
  3. Glenn says

    July 31, 2009 at 10:47 pm

    I worked for a vinyl producer. Ask the manufacturer to replace, or as as alternative buy a replacement part from them if possible.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Featured Guides

Fresh Strawberries

How to Wash Strawberries

How to Properly Clean and Protect Hands from Coronavirus

How to Clean Hair and Dust from a Bathroom Floor

How to Clean Your Toothbrush

Related Posts

How to Clean a Dryer
How to Remove Soot from a Smoke Damaged Fireplace
How to Polish Vinyl
How to Remove Paint from Vinyl Siding

Footer

Cleaning Index

  • Cleaning Blog
  • Automotive
  • Clothing & Fabrics
  • Floor & Carpet
  • House
  • Kitchen & Bath
  • Outdoors
  • People & Pets
  • Things You Own

Site Search

About Us

  • About Us
  • Guest Post Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Ask a Question
  • Contact Us
  • Site Map

© Copyright 2022 HowToCleanStuff.net · All Rights Reserved ·