How To Make Your White Plastic Chairs Whiter

There's something so classic about relaxing on the lawn in white chairs during spring and summer. Unlike metal or wood, white plastic chairs give off a certain glow that just makes you want to kick back in the sunshine and sip on cold sweet tea all day. One popular stackable plastic chair design, the Monobloc, is one of the most iconic and best-selling pieces of furniture in the world, especially in the classic shade of white. Whether they're by the pool, on the deck, or in the garden, we love our plastic chairs because their affordable, durable, comfortable, and easy to rearrange. The biggest problem with having white plastic chairs, however, is that they can quickly become dirty and stained from being outdoors. Luckily, it's relatively easy to clean plastic furniture and brighten your chairs with a simple wash and application of lemon, baking soda, oxygen bleach, or vinegar. 

Keeping up with regular cleanings is important to ensure your plastic chairs look fresh and ready to use all season. After all, who wants to sit on a plastic chair that's dirty, stained, or covered in pollen? Here's how to clean your white plastic chairs to make them look good as new and some tips that'll help them hold their luster. 

If you're stumped on where to begin with your white plastic chairs, a good rinse and wash with dish soap is the perfect place to start. Move your chairs to an open space away from any garden plants or fabric furniture that could become stained. If needed, lay a tarp down to protect your lawn. Start by spraying down your chair with a garden hose to remove surface dirt and pollen, then apply a small amount of dish soap to a sponge or washrag and work around the furniture. When washing plastic furniture, you'll want to avoid harsh scrub brushes or scoring pads, as these can scratch the plastic and make it harder to clean in the future. 

If your plastic furniture is more than a few years old, you may notice some tough black or gray spots on the plastic. Over time, plastic lawn furniture tends to degrade in the rain, wind, and sun, giving it a rough texture and providing a foothold for mold and mildew to grow. These mildew spots can be especially difficult to remove and often require a pressure washer. When pressure-washing, use as light a setting as possible to avoid damaging the plastic, move in slow and steady strokes, and work your way around the chair inch by inch. 

Once you've removed the visible dirt and mildew, you'll need to go in with a cleaner to kill any remaining mold and make the chair look whiter. There are a few different solutions you can use, including oxygen bleach, distilled white vinegar, baking soda, or lemon but choose one and be cautious not to mix chemicals. Cleaning with natural products like vinegar, lemon, and baking soda is ideal, but if you must use bleach, go for an oxygen bleach that is safer for your lawn and nearby garden plants. To clean and brighten your plastic chairs, dilute the solution of your choice and pour it into a spray bottle or create a paste with baking soda. Cover the surface of the chair and allow it to sit in the sun for a few minutes, then follow up with a clean, wet rag to gently rub the product in. Finish by rinsing the chair with plenty of plain water. 

In the future, do your best to keep the chairs clean, dry, and shaded, and consider moving them to a garage when not in use. Applying a thin coat of automotive paste wax can provide another layer of protection! Over time, white plastic chairs tend to crumble and degrade outdoors, so if your plastic is severely scratched or textured, it will be almost impossible to achieve a bright clean. In these cases, retiring your worn-out chairs and investing in a new outdoor furniture set is best.