<p>That looks like lichen.  On plastic, you can probably remove it with just soapy water and a bristle brush or nylon scrubbing pad (but don't use something abrasive enough to scratch up the plastic or it will provide more surface for the next round of it to adhere to).</p>

<p>It may help to first spray the lichen with vinegar, full strength with a little added soap as a wetting agent.  Wet the lichen well and let it dry.  Give it a few days for the lichen to die, then clean it as above.  I've also had good luck spraying it with household (sudsing) ammonia at the concentration recommended for cleaning, then giving it a few days before washing.  For really stubborn cases, do either treatment regimen and if some remains, repeat with the other (but don't mix vinegar and ammonia to try to combine both in one treatment; they will neutralize each other).</p>

<p>If you have a pressure washer, that should remove it with no special treatment, but start with a lower pressure (wider angle) nozzle and some distance to use the minimum pressure needed for cleaning without damaging the plastic.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-04-19T16:34:05.670Z
2020-04-19T20:54:19.113Z
2020-04-19T20:54:19.113Z
fixer1234
<p>The items in the pictures below happen to be plastic beach beds, but the same requirements could apply to upcycling old plastic items and needing to clean them first, or other crafting needs.  </p>

<p>I left these outside during winter and they put on a layer of something. They are plastic and and I was wondering if anyone knows what can be used to clean them easier?</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/ycbN2.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/ycbN2.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a>
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/AA9os.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/AA9os.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-04-19T17:10:57.623Z
Welcome to Arts & Crafts. I posted an answer, but I'm not sure how on-topic this is for the site. There are a couple of other sites that might be a better fit--[Home Improvement](https://diy.stackexchange.com/) (stuff that isn't part of the house is off-topic there, so you would want to make the question more general; e.g., lichen on vinyl siding would be on-topic, so make it a more general question about removing lichen from plastic, or mention siding to make topicality more obvious), and maybe Gardening & Landscaping (not sure about the scope of that site but you're a member).  (cont'd)
fixer1234
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-04-19T17:11:02.653Z
If the question gets push-back, you might want to ask a moderator to migrate the question. Good luck with this.
fixer1234
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-04-19T18:49:24.453Z
I’m voting to close this question because it is about the maintenance of furniture, and as such has nothing to do with arts or crafts.
Joachim
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-04-20T16:27:45.777Z
@fixer1234 Certainly _not_ on topic at Gardening and Landscaping SE.
Stephie
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-02T21:20:48.670Z
Unfortunately maintenance, even for cleaning something that's going to be upcycled and used in a craft, isn't really on-topic for our site.
Erica
<plastic>
How should I clean these plastic items?
Claire
# How should I clean these plastic items?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-04-19)

The items in the pictures below happen to be plastic beach beds, but the same requirements could apply to upcycling old plastic items and needing to clean them first, or other crafting needs.

I left these outside during winter and they put on a layer of something. They are plastic and and I was wondering if anyone knows what can be used to clean them easier?

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/ycbN2.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/ycbN2.jpg)
[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/AA9os.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/AA9os.jpg)

**Tags:** plastic

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Welcome to Arts & Crafts. I posted an answer, but I'm not sure how on-topic this is for the site. There are a couple of other sites that might be a better fit--[Home Improvement](https://diy.stackexchange.com/) (stuff that isn't part of the house is off-topic there, so you would want to make the question more general; e.g., lichen on vinyl siding would be on-topic, so make it a more general question about removing lichen from plastic, or mention siding to make topicality more obvious), and maybe Gardening & Landscaping (not sure about the scope of that site but you're a member).  (cont'd)  
> **username_1**: If the question gets push-back, you might want to ask a moderator to migrate the question. Good luck with this.  
> **username_2**: I’m voting to close this question because it is about the maintenance of furniture, and as such has nothing to do with arts or crafts.  
> **username_3**: @username_1 Certainly _not_ on topic at Gardening and Landscaping SE.  
> **username_4**: Unfortunately maintenance, even for cleaning something that's going to be upcycled and used in a craft, isn't really on-topic for our site.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-04-19. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

That looks like lichen. On plastic, you can probably remove it with just soapy water and a bristle brush or nylon scrubbing pad (but don't use something abrasive enough to scratch up the plastic or it will provide more surface for the next round of it to adhere to).

It may help to first spray the lichen with vinegar, full strength with a little added soap as a wetting agent. Wet the lichen well and let it dry. Give it a few days for the lichen to die, then clean it as above. I've also had good luck spraying it with household (sudsing) ammonia at the concentration recommended for cleaning, then giving it a few days before washing. For really stubborn cases, do either treatment regimen and if some remains, repeat with the other (but don't mix vinegar and ammonia to try to combine both in one treatment; they will neutralize each other).

If you have a pressure washer, that should remove it with no special treatment, but start with a lower pressure (wider angle) nozzle and some distance to use the minimum pressure needed for cleaning without damaging the plastic.


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