Restore UPVc Frames

pmartin86

Afternoon All

The previous owners of my house have somehow "stained" several of the window frames, It's going to be a couple of years before i replace them and wouldn't mind trying to clean them up until then - I've looked around and found that vinegar / water mix is recommended, but unfortunately hasn't made any difference, even after several applications. I've linked a couple of pictures to see if it helps, any tips appreciated

daveyjp

You may need something alightly abrasive.  Astonish cream paste, or a T cut type car polish.

Bendy_House

I agree with Davey - a mild paint 'cutting' compound or metal polish.

Duraglit?

Any idea what the staining is? It isn't a 'coating' on the plastic, is it? What happens if you (gently) scrape it with a knife - does the 'stain' flake off?

Grenage

I've used ciff cream before with good effect. You can get special uPVC cleaners but I've never used them.

pmartin86

Thanks for the input - I've been doing some googling (default answer to life's problems) and it suggesting using abrasive things might take the finish off and cause issues down the line, that being said, their all "end of life" and will be replacing in a few years anyway once other work has been completed (Several walls down, a couple of RSJs, a new staircase, rewire/replumb - the joys!)- I'll still try a few more "non destrcutive" methods first though, I do have a bottle of Tcutt and Ciff is a staple so 2 things to try.

@Bendy_House - Thanks for the memory, i googled "Duraglit" and was taken back 30 years to my grans house as a kid and the smell as she obsessively polished things every sunday!

As for the coating, it doesn't come off with a knife (Tried a clean Stanley blade) and I've no idea what it is, the previous owners have left some "odd" things in the house that make little sense, and this "staining" is on at least 5 of the windows - The only thing I can imagine is that they were cleaned with a "dirty cloth" and not rinsed/wiped, and its somehow now "sunk in" to the plastic
  

Alanp

Try toothpaste 

kipsterno1

Another vote for Cif from me. Used it several times to clean up UPVC frames. 

Bendy_House

pmartin86 said:

Thanks for the input - I've been doing some googling (default answer to life's problems) and it suggesting using abrasive things might take the finish off and cause issues down the line, that being said, their all "end of life" and will be replacing in a few years anyway once other work has been completed (Several walls down, a couple of RSJs, a new staircase, rewire/replumb - the joys!)- I'll still try a few more "non destrcutive" methods first though, I do have a bottle of Tcutt and Ciff is a staple so 2 things to try.

@Bendy_House - Thanks for the memory, i googled "Duraglit" and was taken back 30 years to my grans house as a kid and the smell as she obsessively polished things every sunday!

As for the coating, it doesn't come off with a knife (Tried a clean Stanley blade) and I've no idea what it is, the previous owners have left some "odd" things in the house that make little sense, and this "staining" is on at least 5 of the windows - The only thing I can imagine is that they were cleaned with a "dirty cloth" and not rinsed/wiped, and its somehow now "sunk in" to the plastic
  

Enjoy your renovations :-)

I think Cif is a good call - I'd try that on old PVC with no reservations.

pmartin86

Just to give an update / closure to the thread - I decided I had nothing to lose and give Cif a go - I dabbed some on a microfibre cloth and give it a wipe...can you tell what bits I wiped? 

Grenage

Good stuff, that Cif.

kipsterno1

And depending on which flavour you used your room will smell lemon fresh for weeks