Anyone has any trick to restore the whiteness of the ceiling vents? I am also struggling to remove them. I read that soaking them in hydrogen peroxide can achieve this. Is there an alternative to this?
Hi @eloise89,
Submerging yellowed plastic vents in hydrogen peroxide and exposing them to UV light is a traditional way of lightening plastics that have discoloured over time. However, given the effort involved, you’ll likely get better and longer-lasting results by preparing the vents with ESP primer and then spray painting them white. This will give them a crisp, clean finish and a fresh new look.
Trying to restore the original whiteness chemically can sometimes work, but the results are inconsistent and depend on how degraded the plastic is. In most cases, painting offers a guaranteed improvement. You might like to check out this discussion on How to clean an old dirty air conditioner by @elly1. In that discussion, I recommend "turning off the unit and then cleaning it down with some Sugar soap. You can then prep the surfaces with ESP. After the ESP has dried, I'd suggest coating the unit with White Knight Squirts." However, @RenoRach1 appears to have had some great success on multiple units with Rust-Oleum spray paints, so I'd be inclined to give their method a go. Also, check out our Best Advice article on How do you paint a yellowed air conditioner?
As for removing the vents, they’re usually held in place with concealed clips, which sometimes need to be accessed through the fins. If you’re having trouble getting them out, uploading a few photos would help the community suggest the best removal method.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Mitchell
I have several ceiling vents that have yellowed horribly over the years. I would prefer to restore them to something resembling their former white glory. Of the methods outlined above, the one that I would most like to try is to clean the vents with sugar soap, prep the surfaces with ESP and coat them with White Knight Squirts. Can you please tell me if it is also necessary to first apply an undercoat with Squirts Spray Paint before I apply the White Gloss Squirts Spray Paint?
Hello @10Edian
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's wonderful to have you join us.
It's great to hear that this project has inspired you to give your vents a revamp. Once you use the https://www.bunnings.com.au/flood-300g-esp-surface-prep-spray_p1560212 there is no need to prime the surface, the ESP acts as both the preparation and the primer, creating a strong bonding film so you can apply your topcoat directly to shiny or non-porous surfaces.
If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.
Eric
Hi Eric,
Thanks very much for your reply. Much appreciated!
Regards,
Steve
Hello @10Edian (Steve)
Please don't forget to post a before and after shot so we can see how the vents look like once painted.
If you need further assistance, please let us know.
