Yellowing of Plastic Fittings

[richmgreen]

Hi. Does anyone know how to clean off the yellow staining that is on my skimmer plate? (See picture). I had a skimmer face cover on this, so this is the worst of it. The snap-on face plate has a little yellow as well on it. Also, there is a little staining on my eye ball returns too. Any idea what causes this?

Thanks
Rich

 

[Texas Splash]

Looks like iron. Try rubbing a Vitamin C tablet on the area. That will confirm it.

 

[richmgreen]

Thanks. Will try that. If it is iron, do I need to treat the pool to remove iron?

 

[Texas Splash]

If it is iron, do I need to treat the pool to remove iron?

You have a couple options if it is iron. Let's see if the Vitamin C works first and we'll go over those with you. Curious to see if it works.

 

[richmgreen]

Unfortunately, the vitamin C paste had little effect.

 

[richmgreen]

I made the paste with vitamin C and a little white vinegar.

 

[Texas Splash]

Unfortunately, the vitamin C paste had little effect.

Okay, then it might just be oxidation from sun and UV. You can try rubbing it with a Magic Eraser.

 

[Texas Splash]

I made the paste with vitamin C and a little white vinegar.

Sometimes we just rub the tablet directly on the stain, but that paste should've worked as well. You're not on a well by chance are you? See such staining elsewhere around the pool (other then return jets) or home?

 

[richmgreen]

Magic eraser wouldn't remove it. Helped below the water line a bit. Wonder if I was able to hit it with straight chlorine somehow?

 

[Texas Splash]

Wonder if I was able to hit it with straight chlorine somehow?

Certainly try to see if it's organic staining.

 

[Texas Splash]

Do you have any dry acid (i.e. pH Down) handy? If so, you might try a small test area with that as well.

 

[sktn77a]

Most likely the yellowing is photodegradation of the PVC surface - a well known and well understood process. Not a lot you can do about it. Some people paint the above-ground white PVC pipes to delay/prevent this. You might have some luck with this product:

https://www.amazon.com/Retro-Brite-Sole-Sauce-Restores-Yellowed/dp/B08668347P

 

[Newdude]

+1. My return fittings/ eyeballs took full sun and yellowed. I replaced them every third season, but the skimmer plate is a different beast that has a lot more risk to replacing

 

[richmgreen]

I cover the skimmer plate with a plate cover. (SPI 1085-F). Still wanted to try and restore it. Yes, I don't dare risk replacing the plate itself. Yikes ! The top areas of my returns and return plates got some yellowing. I can replace the eyeballs as well, but don't want to touch replacing the return plates. Too risky. Some options for above the waterline, but can't imagine what can be done below ... on the return plates.