How can I improve a yellowed bath panel in a rented flat?

[QuestionableMouse]

My plastic bath panel has gone horribly yellow from the sun. It's a rented flat so I'm not allowed to replace it but I absolutely hate the way it looks and would love some ideas on how to either make it white again or how to cover it. I've heard cream hydrogen peroxide might work but I'm a bit nervous to try it.

Seriously tempted to just paint over it! It looks absolutely horrendous and makes the bathroom feel dirty even when it's just been cleaned!

Thank you!

Will the landlord not replace it?

I'd go careful hydrogen peroxide stuff as my cat accidentally tipped a bottle over himself once and turned ginger (he was black and white before) and has never gone back to his original colour 7 years later

Unfortunately no, they say it's still functional so won't replace it.

I have cats but they'd be kept well away from it!

Self adhesive vinyl or tile tile stickers.

This, although you'd have to find some that look better than a yellowed bath panel and I'm not sure that's easy.

Will your landlord let you pay to replace it? A basic bath panel is less than £30. I’m not saying you should have to pay for it, but if it meant that much to me I’d just pay it.

Yes I’d do this. I was going to say use Zinsser shellac primer and then paint over it but that would probably cost more than replacing the panel!

Have you consider anti slip stickers for bathtubs? This might be the easiest and cheapest way.

Sticky back plastic, much beloved of Blue Peter for those who remember it! Now I think it's called dcfix. I covered a upvc windowsill that DD had burned with her straighteners, just plain white. Sure there'll be videos on YouTube and you can remove it when you leave.

I think it would be cheaper to replace it yourself.

Really crap photo but hopefully you can see how bad it is

It looks so much worse in the daylight tbh!

Peel and stick wallpaper from Amazon. Most of its wipe clean.

Wrap it in vinyl. You can just wrap it in white and seal it in. Or ask if you can do it a different colour. If they get funny you can always unwrap it when you leave. (This is what I have done throughout the bathroom, considering the hovel it was when I moved in they'd have to be crazy but stranger things have happened and I did get permission!)

What's that vent at the bottom? I was going to suggest a tension rod and nice fabric to cover it but you couldn't do that if that's some sort of heater.

Oh it's one of those over the bath shelf jobbies 😆

I deffo want something solid because I don't fancy fishing a cat out from under the bath on the reg!

Better pic!

Surely they're not going to care if you replace it with a newer one? Keep the old one if you think they'll really make a fuss. For the faff of the options available (peelable vinyl, which is great but hard to do wiell on a curved shape and a bastard to remove, or painting, which you can't undo) you may as well just spend £30 and get a new one that won't annoy you.

I had the same problem and it wasn't easy to replace the panel as it was a strange shape with a curve. I was told to first rub it with lemon juice then put it outside in the sun. It definitely helped but it wasn't as white as when new. I was worried about it going patchy but it didn't. It's cheap and worth a try!

Have you tried CIF Cream Cleaner? A good scrub with it worked on mine.

Dc fix

https://www.therange.co.uk/decorating/sticky-back-plastic-and-window-adhesives/sticky-back-plastics/d-c-fix-ribbeck-oak-wood-effect-self-adhesive-vinyl-film?aw_affid=259955&awc=5238_1776778180_a0caa47f8663a03c39def8a7923a202b&utm_source=aw&utm_medium=Affiliates&utm_campaign=259955&utm_content=Comparison+Shopping+Service+%28CSS%29&utm_term=www.google.com#273185

Yes. It wasn't dirty. The plastic had turned yellow from the sun.

I found some paint for UPVC and have painted it for now! Not entirely sure if it's going to work but if not I'll replace it.

Jesus, you've got paint all over the place. The landlord will not appreciate this.

I couldn't see the problem you have with it in any of your photos - but you have made a problem now.

Blimey are you always so dramatic? And if you can't see the difference between the white paint and the yellow of the bath panel I'm concerned.

Perhaps there's paint "all over" because it wasn't finished? It already looks significantly better after one coat and will be getting at least one more.

That looks much better, OP. I'd be delighted if I was your landlord 🙂