Removing Stains from Acrylic Fixtures

Acrylic fibers, be it in material or in bath tubs, are easily stained by any oil product and also easily turn color as heat is applied. You say the spots are not burns...however you also say it's from a cigarette dropped and quickly picked up. It takes less than 1/2 second for a lit cigarette to raise the temperature of an object it encounters, specially when it has fallen four feet from "one's" mouth because on the way down it picks up heat from whisking more oxygen past the burning tip. So, it would seem reasonable to assume it is actually discoloration from heat. That you cannot take "out" of acrylic, you could try staining it white, but the micro-fibers will be more resistent to accepting stains, even oil based white stain, because of the heat treamtment. Maybe someone out there has the silver bullet.

bleach?

First, what makes you think they are acrylic, are they clear? For now, we'll go along with that assumption.

At this point I must take exception to Matt Skywalker statement that your fixtures are made of acrylic fibers. If it is acrylic, it is very likely an homogeneous, thermoplastic material, heated and formed over a mold. (as in thermoforming) It could be cast thermoset, but that doesn't matter much.

You will need to mechanically remove all the discolored material and re polish the surface with polishing compound. Buy a plastic windshield polishing kit used on airplanes and boats. Most have a course liquid for removal and a fine liquid for polishing.

Rubbing compound and automotive wax with titanium dioxide will work too.

Good Luck! ^{_{Quit smoking and the problem goes away!}}

Any repair should first tried in a non-conspicuous location. You may need to use an

abrasive. Try a little bit of tooth paste on a piece of cloth and rub stain till you see

results. You can also get more aggressive and sand stain with wet dry 400 grit sand

paper finishing with finer grits. Then polish out with Novus 2 polishing compound or a

similar product. Start with the least aggressive method and go up from there. It all

depends on how deep the stain is and how much surface material will need to be

removed. If done well the repair may not be that noticeable. Hope this helps.

Ed

Hi BigEdm,

Your post strikes a familiar chord with me and it's a pleasure to give you a GA for your clear, easy to follow potential solution to the smoker's problem.

Cheers,

Lyn

Reduction based bleaching could be your choice for tobacco stain removal. Take warm water 500ml, add 2grams detergent, 10 to 20 grams of sodium thio sulphate or Sodium Hydrosulphite, add 1 to 2 grams of caustic - apply this solution over a sponge layer or wet fabric spread on the tobacco stain area, set soaking time based on end results, wash and check.Adjust recipe as per performance requirement.

Usually an oxidative bleach after reduction bleach is supposed give improved results.

So you may try hypo bleach or peroxide bleach in optimum concentrations for improved results.

N.B, If hot cigarette tips would have caused the stains , then it is a tough thing because it is fusion Set.