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Rust Stain on Upvc

I watched web videos, got some advice from people I know, purchased a couple of solutions at 10/14/18 pounds, also vinegar, IsoPropylAlcohol, WD40...…… all to no avail. Just left the Upvc and rust stain extremely clean. All rubbish, and a waste of money and effort. Then I saw a video about cleaning car headlight covers bringing them back to gleaming. I tried my normal household toothpaste, just like the car video did, and HEY PRESTO !! An old toothbrush and normal household toothpaste got the job done. No sign, no after-blemish, nothing remains of that rust stain. Marvellous.

Comments

  • Cherryfudge
    Cherryfudge Posts: 15,492 Forumite
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    I've used toothpaste to get cutlery marks off plates. Toothpaste and elbow grease, so I suspect another mild abrasive would have worked. Marvellous stuff, toothpaste. 😊

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  • Albermarle
    Albermarle Posts: 32,153 Forumite
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    I think it is because toothpaste is mildly abrasive, and you have 'scoured off' the top layer of PVC which was stained..

  • nokia1100
    nokia1100 Posts: 100 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker

    Brasso also works on UPVC and also on white electrical switches that are grubby but don't warrant replacement.

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  • casper_gutman
    casper_gutman Posts: 995 Forumite
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    edited 4 August at 8:42AM

    Nice. I've used cream cleaner (like this sort of thing) to good effect on UPVC before. I think the toothpaste will have worked similarly, as a mild abrasive so removing a thin layer of the stained material, as others have suggested.

  • twopenny
    twopenny Posts: 9,146 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic

    Great to know 🙂 I have a stain below brass numbers at the front of the house where the screws have rusted.

    Will try toothpaste this morning.

    I wonder if a light spray wax polish would protect from any abrasion left.

    I may even try it on the porch door runners. Being old, exposed to the weather and expensive to replace I've tried all sorts which are all temporary.

    I can rise and shine - just not at the same time!

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  • bjorn_toby_wilde
    bjorn_toby_wilde Posts: 1,097 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper

    I doubt you’ll need the spray. Toothpaste is such a fine abrasive/polish that it will only remove the stain and a tiny amount of the surface layer.

    You can use it on glass as well to remove fine scratches.

  • Albermarle
    Albermarle Posts: 32,153 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper

    I think it is better to use the more traditional white toothpaste than a gel one.

  • twopenny
    twopenny Posts: 9,146 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic

    And don't try the bicarbonate of soda one. The current version is like crushed gravel 😲

    Bought after my op when my teeth went brown I definitely won't be using it on my teeth seeing how it works on the hardware.

    I can rise and shine - just not at the same time!

    viral kindness .....kindness is contageous pass it on

    The only normal people you know are the ones you don’t know very well


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