Plastic has many uses and offers a protective surface for counter tops. Cleaning plastic surfaces is usually quick and easy and stain removal is often a snap. Just make sure not to scratch the smooth surface so that it keeps its glossy shine.
How to Clean Plastic
You Will Need:
- Mild detergent
- Spray kitchen cleaner
- Sponge (double sided sponges with a soft side and a scrubber side work well)
- Bucket
- Water
- Nylon bristled brush or vegetable brush
- Mild glass cleaner
- White vinegar
- Soft cloths
- Soft Paper Towels
The Cleaning Process:
- Begin by mixing a small amount of the detergent with water in the bucket. If you are not cleaning your sink, you could also mix it there for easy access.
- Dampen a soft cloth in the detergent water and wipe to remove dirt and grime from the plastic surfaces. You will want to work from top to bottom. For example, if you are cleaning kitchen cupboards and countertops, start with the top cupboards, then countertops and finish with the lower cabinets.
- Spray the area with a kitchen cleaner.
- Use the sponge to scrub at any stubborn areas. The rough side of the sponge can scratch a smooth plastic finish if too much pressure is applied, so use it carefully.
- For textured surfaces, use the nylon brush and scrub in a circular motion to remove dirt and stains.
- Wipe away any remaining cleaner with a clean cloth.
- Rinse with a cloth moistened with clean water if cleaning solution remains.
- Dry with a soft cloth.
- Buff with a soft paper towel to restore shine.
- If the plastic has a glossy finish and there are streaks left from the cleaning solution, spray with mild glass cleaner or white vinegae and wipe away with a soft cloth.
How to Clean Textured Plastic
All of the little points and crevices on a textured plastic surface make it difficult to clean with traditional methods of washing with a sponge or wiping with cleaner. Instead, use this method.
You Will Need:
- Baking soda
- Water
- White vinegar
- A cloth
- A towel
The Cleaning Process:
- Mix together some baking soda with water to make a thin paste.
- Rub the paste over the textured plastic surface with a cloth.
- Make a solution of diluted white vinegar using one part vinegar and two parts water.
- Moisten a cloth with the vinegar solution, then use it to wipe the baking soda off the plastic. The baking soda will fizz as it comes in contact with the vinegar; this is just a reaction of the alkaline baking soda being neutralized by the acid in the vinegar.
- Wipe the surface with a cloth or sponge dampened with plain water to rinse.
- Use a towel to pat the area dry.
Removing Grease and Other Stains
Plastic does not absorb stains, so they just need to be broken down and wiped away.
You Will Need:
- Mr. Clean Magic Eraser
- Mild detergent (if you don’t have a Magic Eraser)
- Warm water
- Soft cloths
- Soft paper towel
The Cleaning Process:
- First, try rubbing the stain with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. This alone will take care of most it.
- If that does not work or you do not have a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, wet a soft cloth with water and a mild detergent. Dawn works well for grease stains.
- Rub gently to remove the stain.
- Rinse with a cloth moistened with clean water.
- Use a soft towel to dry the area.
- Buff with a soft paper towel to restore shine.
Additional Tips and Advice
- Use rubber gloves to protect your hands from cleaning solutions and excess moisture.
- Try using alcohol, vinegar with bicarb soda, or a baking soda paste to remove stains from plastic. Do not rub the baking soda around on the plastic because it is abrasive and will scratch the finish.
- Be careful not to flood laminate countertops, especially at the seams as it can weaken the glue and cause them to separate.
- Tilex or a tile cleaner with bleach can also be helpful in removing stains from plastic.
- Avoid any abrasive cleaners on plastic surfaces as they are easily scratched.
- Stains such as food stains may wear away over time and several cleanings, while ink stains (from newspapers, labels, etc.) may be permanent.
Sources:
- Cleaning Tips for Free Spirits and Other Slobs by Martha Walden
Thanks so much for the tip on cleaning grease from plastics. I just got a new iPad case for $50.00 and put a greasy fingerprint on it. I was so mad. The Mr. Clean Magic Eraser worked easily; no problem. I love that product, but would never have thought to try it.
“Plastic does not absorb stains, so they just need to be broken down and wiped away.”
That’s what I would have thought, but my Morphy Richards steamers tray, made (apparently) of polythene, has become discoloured brown from the mushrooms cooked and it isn’t just on the surface. It’s not clear whether an interaction with the fat in butter has been involved.
To be fair to Morphy Richards, I have been cooking dark mushrooms on it for the past 8 years (and not cleaning very often).
For oily plastic cups (disposable glasses), which soda or component should be use for the cleaning purpose?
Hinsu,
A grease-fighting dish liquid should work to clean oil off plastic cups. However, baking soda is another great option.
We just put up plastic covering on the walls in our dog house/kennel. It is the same as what butchers have on the walls. My question is how to clean the plastic walls because the dogs jump up and leave dirty paw prints that are very hard to clean. I have tried soap/water but it is a pain to scrub just to see a little improvement. Please let me know what is the best solution for my job. Thanks so much!
Joan,
Dirty paw prints should easily rinse off the paneling like they do other surfaces (tile, linoleum, wood, etc.). If you’re having to scrub, that likely means that either the paneling is porous and the dirt is getting into the pores, or the paw prints have fully dried. The latter problem can be fixed by spraying the wall with water or cleaner and leaving it for a few minutes to soften the dirt residue so it can easily be wiped off.
For the former. rinsing the wall daily or even twice daily may help prevent scrubbing later, or there is another solution that might make things easier: try using Nature’s Miracle Hard Floor Cleaner. It’s an enzyme cleaner that eats up organic material like dirt and other stains, and can penetrate into the pores where your scrub brush likely can’t.
If any stains are really stubborn, you can try an OxyClean paste: mix a little powdered OxyClean laundry detergent with water to make a thick paste that is about the consistency of peanut butter or toothpaste. Spread the paste over the stains, then you can either just let it dry or if needed (because the dogs are in the room, etc.), you can cover the area with plastic wrap and tape the plastic wrap in place. Leave the paste on the stains for a couple hours, then wipe it off and hopefully the stains will be gone. Good luck!