How to Clean Stained Plastic Containers: The Trick to Make Them Look New Again

Plastic jars are very useful tools in the kitchen: cheap, easy to use, they allow you to store or freeze small portions of food in the fridge, which would otherwise be wasted. But when we use a plastic container it often happens that we stain it, especially if we put tomato sauce or similar preparations inside. Getting rid of stains on containers is not always easy: today we will explain a simple and quick trick to bring your plastic jars back to life.

How to Clean Stained Containers Quickly: The Trick

Many plastic containers – also commonly called Tupperware from the name of the leading company – tend to stain or yellow over time: but restoring them is not that difficult. Yellow stains are usually caused by exposing the jars to sunlight, or to the heat of food, but contact with oil and fats of various types can also cause this effect. Red or orange stains are usually caused by tomato sauces and similar left in the jar. But, to avoid buying new containers and therefore reduce waste, here is a procedure that will allow you to clean plastic jars perfectly.

To use this method you will need: dish soap, paper towels or napkins and water. Here's how:

1. First, fill your plastic containers with very hot water.
2. Add dish soap: 3-4 drops will be enough.
3. Add the absorbent paper or napkins, so as to fill the jar but not overdo it. Before adding the paper, tear it roughly with your hands.
4. Close the jar tightly with its lid.
5. Shake the jar: you need to literally shake it for 30-40 seconds.
6. Open it and check the stains: if necessary repeat the operation a second time with clean paper and new soap.
7. Rinse the container under cold running water.

If the containers you are cleaning are old and the yellow stains have been there for a long time, this trick may not be so effective: but you can make several attempts to clean them as much as possible.