Best way to clean colored plastic?

[Aaron_1973]

I just picked up a vintage, green domed battery operated pencil sharpener like the one on Don Draper's desk on Mad Men.

The green dome is in great shape, but is dirty. I'd like to clean it up as best I can.

What is the best way/products to use to clean and polish clear colored plastic?

Thank you in advance,
Aaron

 

[feide]

Not trying to be a wise guy, but have you tried soap and water? After that maybe alcohol, and if that still does not work try something like orange clean or goof off. If the plastic is cloudy after cleaning, you may be able to polish it up with toothpaste. Just my $.02 and it is entirely possible that I am talking out my butt. Wait for a few more responses before you take my advice

Mike

 

[pennywise]

I just picked up a vintage, green domed battery operated pencil sharpener like the one on Don Draper's desk on Mad Men.

The green dome is in great shape, but is dirty. I'd like to clean it up as best I can.

What is the best way/products to use to clean and polish clear colored plastic?

Thank you in advance,
Aaron

tapplastics.com has plastic polish and cleaner (Novus 1). Don't use anything with ammonia in it like Windex if you decide to use household products, it will dull it out. DON'T use Goof-off!!!

 

[renaissance_man]

I don't know what type of plastic the sharpener is made from.
But I used a small pea sized blob of toothpaste to clean a piece of black acrylic sheet (plexiglass), warm water and a paper towel, brought it up to a lovely shine.

I'm not saying this will work for your sharpener, and would advise you try testing this method on a similar plastic to your sharpener before going at the real thing.
Good luck.

 

[CessnaDriver]

Novus. It's worth having around too.

If you go the toothpaste route, I might use toilet paper instead of paper towels, sometimes paper towels can be rough. Heh, kinda funny how you read that.

 

[IFA]

Novus. It's worth having around too.

If you go the toothpaste route, I might use toilet paper instead of paper towels, sometimes paper towels can be rough. Heh, kinda funny how you read that.

Euh......no, could explain more Cessna, please ? :lol

 

[Aaron_1973]

Thanks for all the replies! I ordered some Novus 1 & 2 Plastic Polish.

Here are some pics of the plastic dome. These were from the ebay auction. I haven't taken any new ones yet.

 

[KingsKnight]

By the way, if anyone's looking, I found out the sharpener is called a Presto Sharpener. Here's a listing that has more pictures including the original box:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/164072081/vintage-presto-pencil-sharpener-green?ref=favs_view_3

 

[Rylo]

Novus! Depending on the scuffs, work your way though the 1 and 2 gradually, softly

I've brought 35 year old playfields and plastics back to life with Novus. Always a bottle or two on my bench.

Before and after:

 

[Darth Lars]

For plastic parts of complex shapes, I recommend denture cleaning tablets. They were made to clean false teeth made of plastic.
Place the plastic part in a bowl with high edges with one or more denture cleaning tabs. Cover with hot water from the tap and let sit for a while. The tablets will take care of the work - no rubbing necessary. The plastic part will also be minty fresh.

This is a method often used by collectors of Lego or vintage computer keyboards (the keys). If I clean more than one item at a time (such as the keys from a full keyboard), I keep them in a washing bag (for women's lingerie) during the whole process of washing, rinsing and drying.

 

[Luke0312]

Here's another post where I make mention of using some polish on a Vader helmet.
http://www.therpf.com/f79/1996-don-...r-helmet-repair-help-pics-184225/#post2884744

Never used the Novus, but probably similar to the 3M I mention.