Amorphous polymers like polycarbonate, polystyrenes, and PVC are the kind that are vulnerable to WD-40-based erosion. These are the kinds of plastics you'd find in things like plastic cutlery, baby bottles, optical discs, and LCD screens. If you spray these things with WD-40, they're going to break down.
Things to Avoid When Cleaning uPVC Windows
To clean, don't use cream cleaners, bleach, white spirits, WD-40, scouring pads, nail varnish remover, or methylated spirits. These can scratch the windows or remove their glossy finish.
Cleaning PVC plastic, found often as siding on houses, is best done with a mixture of bleach and dish soap that is scrubbed onto the surface with a sponge or mop. Clean plastic house siding once a year with information from a professional house cleaner in this free video on housekeeping.
WD-40 Multi-use product is great for most plastic surfaces that have had a lot of outdoor exposure, so it's fantastic for garden furniture. Simply spray, scrub and polish for garden chairs and tables that will brighten up any outdoor occasion.
Separating Threaded PVC Pipes and Fittings
In projects where solvent cement has not been used or has not dried, you may be able to twist and pull the threaded fittings with your hands or a pipe wrench. WD-40 or another lubricating product may also help to loosen your fittings.
While WD-40 may not be a conventional plumbing tool, its versatility and lubricating properties make it a valuable resource for addressing various plumbing problems. From loosening stuck fasteners to preventing rust and even quieting noisy pipes, WD-40 can be a handy addition to your plumbing toolkit.
What NOT to use. Some chemicals will weaken or damage plastics and are not recommended. We recommend avoiding window cleaning sprays, kitchen scouring compounds or solvents such as acetone, gasoline, benzene, alcohol, or thinners.
The Oatey 16 fl. oz. Clear Cleaner is a general-purpose cleaner designed for use on ABS, CPVC and PVC pipes. It has a low VOC.
Alcohol solutions (isopropyl alcohol / purified water) or wipes with at least 70 percent alcohol are effective for sanitization of most hard surfaces. First, clean the surface with soap and water. Apply the alcohol solution and let it sit on the surface for at least 30 seconds to disinfect. Wipe dry with a clean cloth.
You can either use warm soapy water (washing up liquid will be fine) or a cream cleaner. Just be sure to avoid using anything too harsh, as this could damage the plastic. Finally, you'll need a window squeegee to help remove any excess water from the window.
Mix 250 millilitres of white vinegar with one litre of warm water. Use a spray bottle to apply the spray to the frames. Leave the vinegar on the surface for about 10 minutes. Wipe down the PVC with a soft cloth and allow the window to dry before closing.
Polishing PVC to Remove Scratches
For finer scratches, you can use more complex compounds such as Novus™ or 3M™ products; however, toothpaste or a paste made from baking soda and water will remove most scratch marks.
Avoid using abrasive cleanser that may scratch the plastic. Use a tub/tile/sink cleaner; nonabrasive, all-purpose cleaner; or a paste of baking soda and water. Apply the cleaner to the surface or on a damp sponge and rub gently. Rinse or wipe clean.
The plastic and glass surfaces on most small kitchen appliances, such as blenders, coffee makers, and toasters, are safe to clean with vinegar, but you want to avoid any rubber parts or metal that vinegar can corrode.
WD-40 can be used on just about everything. It is safe for metal, rubber, wood and plastic. WD-40 can be applied to painted metal surfaces without harming the paint. Polycarbonate and clear polystyrene plastic are among the few surfaces on which to avoid using a petroleum-based product like WD-40.
Both inside and out, WD-40 can be used to deep clean your car. Use it before scrubbing the exterior to melt away dirt and grime, then spray it inside, especially if you have leather seats, to make the interior look good as new. Using WD-40 on the exterior of your car also discourages mud and debris from sticking.
Cut down on snow shoveling time with this neat trick: Spray the original WD-40 formula on both sides of your shovel before you start. Watch snow, ice and slush slide off the surface. No more stopping every few steps to dislodge built-up snow from your shovel.
PVC cleaner is used to remove oil, grease, and other dirty substances from the outer layer of PVC pipes. However, it cannot do what a primer can do, which is softening the pipe and preparing it for a secure connection. If you use a PVC cleaner on the joints, you will still need to use PVC primer on them afterwards.
For a long time, PVC and linoleum have been amongst the most popular floor coverings. After disappearing from the limelight for a while, they are now experiencing a real comeback as designer flooring. In general these floor coverings are very easy to clean, but there are a few points to consider when cleaning.
Some commonly available solvents such as acetone, methylene chloride, trichloroethylene, toluene and xylene would dissolve PVC over time, although I could not tell you which would be the quickest (likely one of the chlorinated solvents).