How to Remove Stains From Plastic Containers

A few simple tricks can help you remove the toughest stains.

Given that plastic containers are used to store the leftovers from a variety of different types of foods, stains are inevitable. Porous plastic has a way of holding onto stains even after a good washing, and this can make your plastic containers appear dirty even when you know it isn't. If the leftovers are long gone but your plastic containers are sporting a colorful or sticky reminder, there are several things you can do to make your plastic containers look clean again.

Things You'll Need

• Baking soda
• Clean cloth
• Chlorine bleach
• Dish soap
• White vinegar
• Lemon juice
• Yellow mustard

Instructions

1. Add enough water into a ½ cup of baking soda to make it into a thick paste. Dip a clean cloth into the paste and use it to scrub the stained area. The baking soda will act as a mild abrasive to help remove stubborn surface stains.

2. Fill the plastic container with one part chlorine bleach and two parts water and allow it to soak for two to three hours. Wash the container with warm, soapy water and rinse well. Repeat the process until the stain is gone.

3. Dampen a clean cloth with white vinegar and wipe away greasy stains. White vinegar is effective for cutting through stubborn grease. Wash the container with warm water and dish soap.

4. Dip a clean cloth in undiluted lemon juice and wipe down the stained area with it. Set the container outside in the sunshine for two to three hours to bleach out stubborn stains that seem to have changed the color of the plastic.

5. Coat the stains in a thick layer of yellow mustard and leave it on overnight. Wash the container with warm, soapy water in the morning to remove the mustard and the stains.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid future stains by coating your container with cooking spray or wiping it down with cooking oil before placing food into it.

• Avoid using harsh chemicals and abrasives to remove the stains, as these may damage the container.

• Do not use bleach to remove stains on containers you plan on microwaving. The bleach will stay in the pores of the plastic and come out when you are microwaving your food.