Cleaning/painting plastic garden furniture

Discussion in 'Gardening Discussions' started by Mervyn Wilmington, Jul 11, 2018.

  1. Mervyn Wilmington

    Mervyn Wilmington Experienced Gardener

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    I decided it was time that I cleaned various garden plastic chairs, etc. Some are quite old.

    The Karcher has brought off 95% of the muck and grime, but there are still some stains and ingrained marks.

    Before I start 'experimenting', can any members advise me on successful cleaning products/techniques, please?

    Failing success that way, have any members effectively managed to paint plastic of this sort?

    Help will be greatly appreciated.
     
  2. Jiffy

    Jiffy The Match is on Fire

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    Washing up liquid in warm water and a good sponge and elbow grease, so times plastic will be scratched and will not clean up at all

    I've never got on with painting plastic, it never looks nice when i do it, may be it's the paint i use
     
  3. Mervyn Wilmington

    Mervyn Wilmington Experienced Gardener

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    Thanks. Sadly, washing up liquid doesn't really do anything. I suspect that if the high power Karcher won't bring it off, simple household washing-up liquid will struggle. I've tried something called Elbow Grease. Very cheap - £1 on the market. That does have some effect, but I would like more!
     
  4. martin-f

    martin-f Plant Hardiness Zone 8b

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    Get the finest wire wool you can get use it with soapy water and it will come up like new.
     
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    • Mervyn Wilmington

      Mervyn Wilmington Experienced Gardener

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      Many thanks for that advice: I don't know why I didn't think of it myself! I kept a pack of fine wire wool on the garage shelf for years, but, when I inspected it recently, it had disintegrated. I will buy some more.

      Thanks again.
       
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      • HarryS

        HarryS Eternally Optimistic Gardener

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        I don't think painting plastic furniture will be successful . Possibly there is now a wonderful ( and expensive ) paint for this application . I would use the fine wire wool or my preference would be Scotchbrite , or a used dish cleaner which has a Scotchbrite pad. Keep it wet with warm soapy water.
        4bd2da6f-4c12-42a9-9d3b-f0e9da8b0170_1.0e7bbef434c7d9cf7ea4d7aa652afbd4.jpeg
         
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        • BigC

          BigC Super Gardener

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          WD40 for cleaning
          ...and if you wish to spray paint after that then Rustoleum or Plasticote do an extensive range
           
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          • Mervyn Wilmington

            Mervyn Wilmington Experienced Gardener

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            Thanks for that. Liberon (via Amazon) do very fine wire wool - I've sent for some. I'll see how I get on with that.

            I'll report back in due course.
             
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            • martin-f

              martin-f Plant Hardiness Zone 8b

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            • Mervyn Wilmington

              Mervyn Wilmington Experienced Gardener

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              Thanks. The link is to the USA site, but there it is also shown in the UK one - except out of stock. There are similar ones though.
               
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              • Ned

                Ned Evaporated

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                PVCU solvent cleaner works, but don`t go sniffing it too much in case it sends you diddle oh :rolleyespink::rolleyespink:
                Wire wool will leave scratch marks :noidea:
                 
              • Mervyn Wilmington

                Mervyn Wilmington Experienced Gardener

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                Thanks. I've looked at PVCU cleaner: I'll see how I get on before moving in that direction. The finest wire wool doesn't leave scratch marks. It is used for some quite delicate work. Course stuff certainly will!
                 
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                • martin-f

                  martin-f Plant Hardiness Zone 8b

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                  Best thing to use after is nail varnish remover acetone, fine wire wool wont scratch you can buff it @Tetters you can bring car paint up with it.
                   
                • martin-f

                  martin-f Plant Hardiness Zone 8b

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                  My wife buys these from Morrison's i think.
                  DSC_0044.JPG
                   
                • Mervyn Wilmington

                  Mervyn Wilmington Experienced Gardener

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                  I shall check to see whether I still have any acetone in the shed. I know there's about 4 litres of alcohol there! I've bought all sorts of such things over the years, usually in fair quantities.

                  I've now had several 'cures' suggested. I am grateful for those. Next week I might have the time to do one chair with one cure, and another chair with another and so on.

                  Thanks again for the help.
                   
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