How to Remove Tomato Sauce Stains from Tupperware

Tomato sauce stored in a Tupperware container leaves behind a telltale ring.

Tupperware food storage containers and plates stand up to a great deal of wear and tear, lasting for years when cared for properly. Although the durable plastic containers are easy to maintain, some foods are notorious for leaving unsightly stains -- tomato sauce is one of them. The lypocene in tomatoes leaves behind a telltale red or orange stain in Tupperware containers, accompanied by a residual odor. Remove these stains with supplies from within your home.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Towel
• Clean sponge
• White vinegar
• Baking soda
• Bleach
• Dishwashing detergent
• Kitchen towel

1. Sunshine is a natural and effective bleaching agent. Jupiterimages/liquidlibrary/Getty Images

   Set the Tupperware container on a towel in direct sunlight, either outdoors or near a window. Leave the container in the sunlight for a few hours so the sun can bleach the stain.

2. Soak a clean sponge in white vinegar. Sprinkle baking soda over one side of the sponge to cover it. Scrub the remaining tomato sauce stain with the mixture to lift the stain and deodorize the plastic. Rinse the Tupperware container with water.

3. Bleach removes stains and sanitizes surfaces. Thinkstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images

   Treat any remaining tomato sauce stain by pouring chlorine bleach into the Tupperware container to cover the stain. Let the bleach work on the stain for two to three minutes before rinsing the container with cold water.

4. Wash the Tupperware container with dishwashing detergent and a sponge. Use hot water to help remove any greasy residue left by the tomato sauce. Rinse the container with water before drying it with a towel.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid tomato sauce stains in your Tupperware container by spraying the inside of the container with an aerosol baking spray before putting the sauce in.

• A paste made from cream of tartar and enough hydrogen peroxide to give it a thick sauce consistency can be used to scrub away a tomato sauce stain.

References

• Messy Gourmet: Yucky Stains
• Reader's Digest: Homemade Stain Removal Solutions
• EPA: Safe Cleaning Alternatives: Glass and Plastic
• Mother Earth News; Greener Cleaners: 5 Ingredients for Less Toxic Cleaning: Baking Soda, Vinegar; Annie Berthold-Bond; May 2004