6 Easy Ways To Clean Plastic Containers

Plastic is found everywhere in the kitchen, from ubiquitous cutting boards to storage to utensils designed for nonstick cookware. At some point in its life, each plastic item will inevitably become stained and discolored.

To keep your containers and other plastic items like drinking glasses, mixing bowls, colanders, spoons, spatulas, and even laminate blemish free, apply one more of the techniques outlined below, using handy household cleaners.

* Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol can be used to clean coffee, tea, tomato sauce and tomato paste, juice and soda stains, and discoloration caused by most types of food dyes. Usually, the discoloration can be removed if you rinse the item immediately after applying the alcohol, or by washing it with water and detergent. If the blemish doesn’t disappear, then pour the alcohol into the container and let it sit for a few minutes.If the item isn’t a container, then pour the alcohol into something that can hold whatever needs to be soaked. When the item is stain free, wash it, rinse it thoroughly, and dry.

* Hand Sanitizer

This is a variation of the technique posted above. You can use hand sanitizer to clean your plastic ware – its active ingredient is alcohol.Squirt some into the container, rub, wash, rinse, and dry.

* Bleach

Removing blemishes from plastic can also be done by using chlorine bleach. Bleach can be used to remove ink, juice, soda, coffee, tea, tomato sauce and tomato paste stains, and all other types of food dyes.Make a solution of water and bleach, using one tablespoon of bleach per cup of water. Let the containers and other items soak in the solution for one or two hours. After the stains are gone, wash the containers thoroughly, rinse, and dry.

* White Vinegar

This is similar to using chlorine bleach. In fact, you can use the same ratio as for a bleach and water solution, with one tablespoon vinegar per cup of water. If you have concerns about using bleach in your containers, vinegar is a great alternative.It is a natural food-safe substance and is made with organic compounds that are easily absorbed by the body. It even provides various benefits in foods, such as improved digestion.Moreover, when used for cleaning purposes, it spells death for almost all single-celled organisms like bacteria, and it kills viruses as well.

* Baking Soda Paste

Baking soda can also remove all of the stains that have been mentioned above, and it is also good for removing oily residues.Just make a baking soda paste with water and apply it to the discolored container. Let it sit for a twenty or thirty minutes, and then clean the container with a moist cloth. Wash, rinse, and dry.

* Denture Tablets

Since denture tablets are so good at removing discoloration from dentures, I decided to try it with my containers and other plastic items, and found that it works very well.Put 2 tablets in some hot water and pour the mixture into your stained container. Let sit until all discoloration is gone. Wash, rinse, and dry.