Stained Separator Plates And Pillars

Decorating By dreamacres Updated 28 Mar 2010 , 1:32am by dalis4joe

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dreamacres Posted 23 Mar 2010 , 4:06pm
post #1 of 11

Just getting back into cakes after many years off. Pulled out the old wilton separator plates and pillars from storage and find some of them have yellowed stains. Does anyone know of a way to remove the stains, or if not any type of food safe paint to recolor. Hate to not be able to use them again.

10 replies
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indydebi Posted 23 Mar 2010 , 4:40pm
post #2 of 11

Bite the bullet and get new ones. My understanding is the yellowing starts from within ... it's not a surface color than can be 'scraped off'. It's actually inside the plastic.

if they're that old, you deserve new ones anyway! thumbs_up.gif

(When I cleaned out my old inventory, I sold a huge box of them to a co-worker whose daughter was taking up cake decorating for 4-H. It was a great way for the daughter to get equipment to learn how to stack and do tiers w/o mom spending a fortune. Just an idea on how to send them to a new home rather than to the trash can.)

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TexasSugar Posted 23 Mar 2010 , 6:32pm
post #3 of 11

I've never tried this but I want to say I read years ago, that you can put them out in the sunlight to 'bleach" them.

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mmgiles Posted 23 Mar 2010 , 6:42pm
post #4 of 11

Someone gave me old stained plates and pillars too when I first started decorating. I considered buying new ones but held on to the yellowed ones anyway. Since I've been decorating, I've had one customer who wanted their cake on pillars but she wanted clear plates and pillars so I had to buy new ones anyway. I still have the old ones but I'm thinking now I should just throw them out since no one ever wants them anymore anyway.

That was meant to say that if you cant fix them, dont go right out and buy new ones, wait a while and see if anyone wants them anyway.

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CrazyCatLady Posted 23 Mar 2010 , 7:06pm
post #5 of 11

Just google "whiten yellowed plastic." There are a few options including soaking in bleach water.

Being old plastic, though, you might have to worry about weakening it by soaking it in bleach.

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cammyblake1 Posted 23 Mar 2010 , 7:14pm
post #6 of 11

Sun will start to break down the plastic and make it brittle. Get new ones. Your customers deserve quality ingredients and equipment.

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dreamacres Posted 23 Mar 2010 , 7:27pm
post #7 of 11

As I think it over, I should consider myself lucky after the years of using them that so many of them were returned. Thanks guys

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mmgiles Posted 23 Mar 2010 , 8:46pm
post #8 of 11

I tried the bleach thing and it didnt work.

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cakeaddictunite Posted 23 Mar 2010 , 8:55pm
post #9 of 11

You could keep them and use them covered in fondant.

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kakeladi Posted 28 Mar 2010 , 1:08am
post #10 of 11

I tried all the different ways suggested over the years. There is just no way they will unstain themicon_sad.gif

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dalis4joe Posted 28 Mar 2010 , 1:32am
post #11 of 11

Get new ones.... they are very inexpensive.... and some nice ones out there also.... treat yourself....

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