How to clean a yellowed window sill

Modern plastic window sills are made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). This material has proven practicality, ease of installation and low price. But it has a significant drawback: over time, it turns yellow under the influence of sunlight and mechanical stress. Ultraviolet light destroys the structure of PVC, and the resulting microcracks facilitate the penetration of dirt into them.

The main sources of damage are flower pots and ordinary street dust. At each cleaning, dirt further injures the surface of the window sill and penetrates deep inside. It is impossible to delete it. Do not forget about this if you decide to wash the window sill with a powder and a brush. Will be worse.

What should not be done

Do not use abrasive cleaners, a hard brush or sponge, or aggressive reagents to wash PVC window sills;

• Ammonia;
• Petroleum products (gasoline, kerosene, “White Spirit” solvent);
• Alcohols
• Acetone.

I want to say about the last point separately. It dissolves polymers and is unsuitable for working with plastic. It's like melting a windowsill. Acetone will seal the old dirt even deeper, but will not remove it, it will only destroy the structure of the plastic and it will become more vulnerable. Therefore, toothpowder or regular chalk should also not be used.

Specialized household chemicals

If the window sill turned yellow, daily plastic care products will not help. It is worth choosing household chemicals with bleach. For this, such tools as Domestos, CifCream, Comet (liquid or gel) and others are suitable. The main thing is that the instructions indicate that the product is suitable for washing plastic surfaces and does not contain abrasive substances and solvents. For window sills, glass products are not suitable, since they contain ammonia.

The laundry detergent with the addition of bleach does a good job. To do this, you need to dilute it with water to a mushy state, apply to the windowsill and after a while wash off with a soft sponge. The main rule: do not rub or scrape. A good solution will also be the use of car cosmetics.

If all else fails

With constant care, the window sill remains white for a long time. But what if the case is running?

 There is one remedy familiar to many women. This is perhydrol or, in other words, hydrogen peroxide. The solution purchased at the pharmacy is not suitable for cleaning the windowsill due to its low concentration. Need to buy a tool for bleaching hair.

Due to the creamy consistency, the product lays well on the surface. Apply it best with a soft but not absorbent sponge. An ideal option would be a brush for applying hair dye. It is better to start in the morning on a clear day. Under sunlight, peroxide will release oxygen faster, which discolours plaque. It is recommended to carefully wrap the windowsill with plastic wrap so that the chemical reaction proceeds in a confined space. After a few hours (and preferably in the evening) remove the film, remove excess funds with a sponge and rinse with warm water.

Do not expect that the yellow coating will go away for a long time. If the window sill changes color over time, this means that its structure has begun to deteriorate, and each subsequent bleaching will have to be done more and more often. Dirt particles do not disappear, they simply discolour. But these recommendations will help, at least, postpone costly repairs.