Bless food storage containers and Tupperware. They make meal prep easier, keep leftovers fresh, and are the reason Mom’s famous curry makes it home in one piece. But as useful as they are, plastic food containers have a habit of holding onto stains and stubborn smells, especially after storing curries, stews, garlic-heavy dishes or tomato-based meals.

It’s often tempting to throw them away when they start smelling less than fresh, but before you do, there’s an easy fix that doesn’t require expensive cleaning products or harsh chemicals.

The best way to remove lingering odours from plastic food containers

The internet is full of unusual cleaning hacks, from stuffing containers with newspaper to adding charcoal. While some may work to varying degrees, one of the simplest and most reliable solutions is bicarbonate of soda.

Chances are you already have a box in your pantry. Besides being a baking essential, bicarbonate of soda naturally helps absorb unwanted odours, making it perfect for refreshing plastic food containers.

There are two easy methods to try: a wet soak or a dry treatment.

The wet method

This method works particularly well for containers that have held strongly spiced curries, stews or leftovers that may have lingered in the fridge a little longer than intended.

You’ll need:

  • Bicarbonate of soda
  • Tap water
  • Your smelly food container and lid

Method

  1. Wash the container thoroughly with hot, soapy water to remove any food residue and grease.
  2. Fill the container with tap water and stir in a few tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda. For particularly stubborn odours, use up to ¼ cup.
  3. Wet the lid and sprinkle a generous layer of bicarbonate of soda over the inside.
  4. Seal the container and leave it for at least one hour, although overnight delivers the best results.
  5. Empty the solution, rinse well and allow everything to dry completely before storing.

The dry method

If you’re after something even simpler, this is the method to try. It requires very little effort and works well for mild to strong odours. As a bonus, the used bicarbonate of soda can be reused to help deodorise your kitchen bin.

Method

  1. Wash the container with hot, soapy water and remove all food residue.
  2. Dry both the container and lid completely.
  3. Fill the container at least halfway with bicarbonate of soda and seal with the lid.
  4. Leave it for several hours or overnight. Giving it a gentle shake after an hour helps expose fresh granules for better odour absorption.
  5. Pour the bicarbonate of soda into your rubbish bin or another smelly container if it’s still fresh enough to use. Rinse away any remaining powder and dry the container before putting it back into your cupboard.

A few extra tips to prevent food container smells

Keeping odours away is easier than removing them. Wash containers as soon as possible after use, especially after storing tomato-based sauces, curries or fish. Let containers dry completely before sealing them, and whenever possible, store them with the lids slightly ajar to improve airflow.

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