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Chances are good that you have some white plastic out in your yard. Maybe you have some plastic bins for gardening in white, or some white plastic lawn chairs. White is a clean, neutral color, and can complement any yard, garden, patio, or deck.

That is true in the beginning, at least. Over time, white plastic tends to lose its original gleam. It can take on a yellowish tinge (especially if you live in a location which is hot and gets a lot of sunlight), and it also tends to show every speck of dirt or stubborn stain. So how do you get stains out of white plastic, and how do you counteract the yellowing effect? Here are a few different techniques you can try:

• First of all, make sure any mold or mildew which is on the plastic is dead. You can do this using bleach. Sometimes this is even enough to whiten the plastic again all on its own. You can scrub by applying the bleach directly by hand, or you can soak the plastic pieces in a vat of bleach diluted with water (try a 50/50 ratio). This is one of the easiest and most effective methods for how to clean white plastic.

• Try hydrogen peroxide and UV. The same chemical reaction which turns white plastics yellow with exposure to heat and light over time can be turned around through a fairly simple method. Coat the plastic in hydrogen peroxide (you can use the stuff in the bottle or purchase a gel), and then set it out in the sun. The UV rays from the sun will accelerate a reaction in the plastic which counteracts the yellowing effect. If the item is small, you should put it in a plastic bag and seal it so the peroxide won’t dry. If the item is large, stick with the gel to avoid the drying issue. If you have kids by any chance, they may find this an interesting demonstration of chemistry at work, so don’t miss out on a nice educational opportunity.

• Give sanding a go. If neither method above is sufficient, you can attempt to simply remove the yellowed portion of the plastic entirely by rubbing it off. To get the smoothest possible finish, try and find sandpaper with fine grain.

• If all else fails, paint. If you cannot restore whiteness and remove stains adequately using the techniques described above, you do have one last option, and that is to grab some white spray paint and simply cover the entire surface. Just be sure you clean it first.

You now know a few possible methods to whiten plastic which has yellowed and get out tough stains. These methods can work on any plastic items you have, whether they are bins, lawn furniture, plastic piano keys, or vintage odds and ends. With some effort, you can get many items to look as good as new, or close to it.