This ‘Life-Changing’ Hack Makes Stubborn Sauce Stains Disappear From Plastic Food Containers
Cleaning up after eating spaghetti in a plastic food container doesn't have to be a losing battle. Forget scrubbing until your arm is sore or juggling a dozen different cleaning products. This TikTok hack is simple, fast, and surprisingly effective. All you need is dish soap, warm water, and a paper towel.
Instead of using a sponge or brush to scrub the inside of the container, you'll make a quick soap-and-water solution, drop in a paper towel, and shake to remove those stubborn sauce stains. You can now feel free to use tomato sauce, turmeric, beets, and other stain-causing ingredients, knowing you can just wash them out later.
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The Hack That Makes Stains Vanish
The trick is ridiculously easy. First, scrape out as much leftover food as possible and give your container a quick rinse. Next, add a squirt of dish soap, fill the container about a third of the way with warm water, and toss in a dry paper towel. Snap on the lid, then shake for 30 seconds to a minute. Watch as those red stains start to disappear right before your eyes.
Why does it work? As one commenter explained, the dish soap binds to the oils while the warm water “opens the pores” of the plastic. The paper towel acts like a gentle scrubber, dislodging residue, while the surfactants in the soap suspend the oils so they rinse away. Plenty of people in the comments say this method has saved them tons of scrubbing time.
Related: The Trick That Makes Hard-Boiled Eggs Easy to Peel Every Time
Stronger Solutions for Set-In Stains
Of course, not every container is going to come clean on the first try. If you’ve got old plastic that’s been through years of leftover chili and spaghetti nights, those stains can feel permanent. But before you toss them in the trash, it’s worth giving a few tougher tricks a shot.
One of the easiest is a baking soda and vinegar soak. Just fill the container with hot water, sprinkle in a spoonful of baking soda, and add a splash of vinegar. The bubbles help loosen the red, oily residue that clings to the surface. If that’s not enough, try an overnight soak with hydrogen peroxide. It’s a gentler bleach alternative that can lighten deep red or yellow discoloration without being too harsh on the plastic.
As a last resort, go for a diluted bleach solution. Mix about a teaspoon of unscented bleach with a cup of water, let it sit for just a few minutes, then rinse thoroughly and wash with soap. This is the most aggressive option and works best for containers that feel like they’re permanently stained.
And if nothing works? That might be your sign to save the plastic for less messy meals and switch to glass when you’re cooking with tomato, turmeric, or anything that loves to leave its mark. Either way, you don’t have to waste time scrubbing. With the right trick up your sleeve, cleanup can be simple.
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