9 Ways to Remove Stains from Plastic (Tupperware Cleaning Hacks)

We’ve all done it…we’ve left foods in plastic Tupperware too long, causing stains. That spaghetti sauce, the leftover juice, you just know it will always cause rings in plastic containers. This Tupperware option may be deemed unsafe to store these dense foods, but what if plastic containers are all you have? Don’t throw them away! There are ways to get these stains out so you can reuse them. Here are some of our favorite Tupperware cleaning hacks.

Rubbing Alcohol

This liquid can be used to clean coffee, tomato sauce and paste, juice, and soda stains. It also rids discoloration by food dyes. Typically, the stains can be removed by applying the rubbing alcohol and rinsing it with water and detergent immediately after. If that doesn’t work, then pour some alcohol into the container and let it soak for a few minutes.

Hand Sanitizer

If you don’t have any rubbing alcohol, hand sanitizer does the trick, as its active ingredient is alcohol. Just squirt some into the container, rub it around, wash, and rinse it.

Baking Soda

Create a thick paste of water and baking soda. Use this paste to scrub the container with a sponge or brush. The slightly coarse mixture and the near bleach-like power of baking soda can remove the stain.

Bleach

Instead of letting the container soak in soap and water, try letting it soak in water with a few drops of bleach or bleach-based kitchen cleaner. This will help eliminate the stain. However, this is best for severe cases on better-quality containers, as the bleach can really disintegrate the Tupperware.

White Vinegar

Use one tablespoon of vinegar per cup of water. This is a great alternative for bleach because it’s not as harsh or damaging. Although safe for the body, it’s harmful for single-celled organisms like bacteria and also kills viruses. You can remove stains using white vinegar by letting it soak in water in the container. 

Denture Tablets

Put 2 tablets in hot water and pour the mixture into the stained container. Let it sit until the discoloration is gone. Wash and rinse it afterwards

Alka Seltzer

If you don’t have any extra denture tablets lying around, alka seltzer does the same trick. Again, put two tablets in warm water and let it sit in the container. You can let it continue to sit overnight if it needs longer.

Lemon

Rub the container with lemon juice and leave it in the sun for 1-2 days. The lemon juice and the sun’s UV rays will remove discoloration and kill bacteria.

Salt

Combine warm water and salt onto a warm cloth to rub the stain away. Repeat until the stain is gone.

Related: Make Your Own Cleaning Vinegar to Clean Everything — Except These 5 Things

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How to Remove Tomato Stains From Your Tupperware

Bleach and baking soda are the two most prominent forms of removing tomato stains.

Another tip to prevent tomato sauce and paste stains is to not put the Tupperware in the microwave. You cannot remove tomato discoloration from plastic once it’s been microwaved. The heat bakes the stains, embedding them into the plastic.

The best solution is to put tomato-based foods in glass containers if you have them available to you.