How to clean plastic type stables

[Birker2020]

I've been giving my stable a spring clean - this is the stable prior. I have scrubbed all the panels both inside and outside and they look nice and clean but they have faded somewhat. Has anyone ever polished boards like this in order to restore the colour. I thought I might try and put some baby oil on a panel inside and see if it brightened it up. Any suggestions of what else might bring back the colour and shine? TIA

 

[Steerpike]

Clear Car polish possibly?

 

[rabatsa]

What is wrong with faded? As long as the boards are clean anything else is only cosmetic.

 

[spacefaer]

You could try Armor All. Works brilliantly on the car interior.

 

[Widgeon]

I think I'd leave it faded and clean....but perhaps that's just because I have a horse who'd try to lick all of the oil / polish / whatever off every inch of the panels overnight.

 

[Red-1]

I think I would ask the manufacturer so as not to risk damaging the plastic. But personally, I would just leave it as it is!

 

[Nasicus]

Check with Yard Owners first before putting anything on their stables.

 

[Petmurf]

I think they look good as they are

 

[Fjord]

Won't oil just attract all the dust and bits? They look nice, you've got them lovely and clean.

 

[Birker2020]

Won't oil just attract all the dust and bits? They look nice, you've got them lovely and clean.

Photo of inside stable is prior to cleaning. Outside stable photo is off the internet to show the type of set up, but I tried to get rid of that attachment but couldn't.
Nasicus putting something like beeswax or polish on the stable won't affect its integrity or appearance, it can only make it better than covered with poo, wee, dried mud and food stains!

 

[PurBee]

I’d just be a bit cautious about using any mixed chemical household polishes/waxes, as theyre indoor barn type partition stabling from the looks of it, so the fumes as the polish dries will hang around for a while, and may cause respiratory issues in horses stalled nearby. Some polishes really reek. Especially as youd be treating large panels, than just something small that you want bright and shiny.
With that in mind also, i’d not want haynets hanging against walls treated with chemicals as the net will be rubbing on the wall, and their mouths are all over their nets, so there’s potential ingestion issues, so i’d be looking to use something thats safely edible for a horse.

My mare is allergic to a popular coat shine brand, just a few squirts and we had hives the next day for a week, so im extra cautious with manmade chemicals around horses.

I’d use a simple oil like veg/linseed if you want ‘shine’, but as others have said, that is likely to look rank quickly as dust will stick to it. Oils can also become ‘gummy’ with age and then the panels would be a real PITA to clean, you’d need a de-greaser cleaner to remove it.

Considering all that, i’d go for cleaning them up really well, and leaving them, even if they look a bit dull and faded.

 

[Nasicus]

Nasicus putting something like beeswax or polish on the stable won't affect its integrity or appearance, it can only make it better than covered with poo, wee, dried mud and food stains!

True, but if I'd paid for those stables and a livery decided to start wiping stuff on it beyond what's expected (Poo, wee, dried mud and food stains being expected), I'd be a bit miffed. Whatever you decide to do, just make sure you run it by the YO first is all I'm saying.

Oils can also become ‘gummy’ with age and then the panels would be a real PITA to clean, you’d need a de-greaser cleaner to remove it.

This is the kind of thing I mean. If down the line I'm sitting there breaking my back to scrape off some sticky, gummy crud a livery applied without permission/running it past me, I'd be narked. If they did ask permission and I allowed them to do it, I'd just chalk it up to experience and get on with it.

 

[splashgirl45]

I wouldn’t want to put anything on as you don’t know if it would be horse safe. Also you need to talk to YO first

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Why would you want plastic stables to look shiny and polished I really haven't got time or the inclination to even think about it tbh