Our white vinyl window frames had slowly turned a creamy yellow, especially on the sunny side of the house. I assumed they were simply old. It turns out that a large part of that yellow is a film of grime, kitchen grease, cigarette smoke from previous owners or traffic dust, baked on by the sun. That part comes off with patient cleaning. Some yellowing in older vinyl is caused by UV light changing the plastic itself, and no household trick reverses that completely, so be realistic. On my frames, these three steps made a big, honest difference.
What you need
- about 1 gallon (4 liters) warm water
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) dish soap
- 3 tbsp (about 40 g) baking soda (bicarbonate of soda)
- 1 tbsp (about 15 g) per quart (liter) of hot water oxygen bleach powder (sodium percarbonate)
- 2 of each soft sponges and microfiber cloths
- 1 pair rubber gloves
How to do it
- Clean on a cloudy day or when the frames are in shade. Sun dries the products too quickly and leaves streaks.
- Wash the frames with the warm water and dish soap to remove the loose dust and greasy film. Rinse and look again: sometimes this first step already brightens them a lot.
- Mix the baking soda with a little water into a soft paste. Put on gloves, test it on a hidden corner, then rub it over the yellowed areas with a damp sponge in gentle circles. Do not press hard, since vinyl scratches and scratches hold dirt.
- Rinse the paste off with clean water and a cloth.
- For stubborn yellow areas, dissolve the oxygen bleach powder in hot tap water, wait until it stops fizzing strongly, then wring out a cloth in it and lay it over the frame for 15 to 20 minutes, keeping the cloth damp.
- Remove the cloth, wipe the area with clean water twice, and dry the frames with a microfiber cloth.
- Finish by wiping the rubber seals with plain soapy water only, and keep all cleaning products away from painted or wooden frames.
Good to know
- Never use chlorine bleach together with vinegar or ammonia-based cleaners; this method needs neither.
- Avoid acetone, nail polish remover and abrasive powders, which can dull vinyl permanently.
- A melamine sponge can help on small marks, but test it first, as it is a fine abrasive.
- A quick wash with soapy water twice a year keeps the yellow film from coming back.
It is one of those jobs you only do once a year, and every time I wonder why I waited so long. Let me know how much whiter your frames got!
