Yellowing plug and switch sockets

[AGreatBigPonk]

Hello...any tips on how to brighten these back up again? They are old but don’t want to have to replace the 20 or so in a flat I’m about to sell. They are very yellowed.

Just leave them. If you're not prepared to replace them then don't go trying to clean them up or, worse, painting them. If the plastic has yellowed with age there's nothing you do can to reverse that.

Has the yellowing been caused by smoking.

i just use neat flash liquid on mine, works a treat. spray onto soft cloth and bingo.

How old is old? Are they singular plugs with no switch?

They must be 30+ years old. I think more just yellowed with age rather than through smoking. Will give the flash a go but suspect they are beyond tarting up!

If they're 30+ years old your house probably needs rewiring anyway.

I'm sitting here and can see some white sockets that are 30 years old and have not yellowed. Cigarette smoke is worst (visit an old pub), but candles and coal fire too. Old gas fires can cause staining but this is a bad sign as it suggests fumes escaping into the room.

The tar won't wash off, it contains elements that dissolve into the plastic.

Agree 30 year plus needs a rewire. Try the flash but you might need to replace the socket anyway.

My old wiring was 50 years old and not yellowed so agree with Piglet John on that one.

PVC cables have been in use for about 60 years and should still be in good working order unless they have been damaged by sunlight outdoors, or excessive heat against radiator pipes.

There were some batches made about 1970 when an unsuitable plasticiser was used in manufacture, that can liquify and drip out of the ends of cables. This leaves green stains on switches. It is not particularly harmful, but should be wiped off using gloves and the switch replaced, as it might get gummed up, and that part of cable should be replaced at some convenient time in the next few years. The rest of the cables in the house might be fine, from a different batch.

Otherwise, the usual reason for rewiring is not that the PVC cable or accessories are faulty, but because there are too few sockets, or the switches are in the wrong place, or look old-fashioned or are worn.

Older rubber cables are still found, long past their safe date and should be replaced, and not touched.

Our builder found rubber covered cables when he demolished a wall - the rubber was perished: potentially lethal.