How to Clean Plastic Food Containers — Toronto Home Guide

Plastic food containers stain from tomato-based foods, absorb food odours, and develop a persistent greasy film that standard washing doesn't fully remove. A few targeted techniques fix each problem.

Removing Tomato/Orange Stains

1. Rinse the container immediately after use — letting tomato sauce dry on plastic drives the stain deeper
2. For existing stains, make a paste of baking soda and a few drops of dish soap
3. Apply to the stained surface and let sit for 15–30 minutes
4. Scrub and rinse

Alternatively: fill the stained container with diluted bleach solution (1 teaspoon bleach per cup of water), let sit 30 minutes, rinse extremely thoroughly. Only use on plain white/clear plastic — bleach can damage coloured containers.

Sunlight naturally bleaches plastic stains — rinsed containers left in direct sun for a few hours often fade tomato staining significantly.

Removing Grease Film

Dish soap alone often leaves a thin grease film on plastic (unlike glass or stainless steel). To fully cut it:

1. Fill the container with very hot water and a squirt of dish soap
2. Add 2 tablespoons of white vinegar
3. Let soak 10 minutes, then wash and rinse with hot water

Removing Odours

1. Crumple a piece of newspaper, place inside the container, seal, and leave overnight — newsprint absorbs food odours effectively
2. Or fill with a baking soda and water solution, seal, and leave overnight, then rinse
3. Or place an open container of dry baking soda inside the sealed container for a day

When to Replace

• Replace containers when the plastic is deeply scratched — scratches harbour bacteria and are impossible to clean thoroughly
• Replace when staining or odour persists despite cleaning — the plastic has degraded
• Check for the recycling number — containers marked #1, #2, #4, and #5 are considered safer for food use; #3, #6, and #7 are worth replacing