How to Get Red Stains out of Plastic Containers

From tomato sauce to jellies, red foods can stain. If these leftovers are stored in a plastic container in the refrigerator, they may leave a red stain after the food is taken out. Regular washing with hot water and dish soap, or even a run through the dishwasher, will not always get red stains out of Tupperware, Rubbermaid and other storage containers. Fortunately, you do not have to throw these containers out; there are ways to get them clean.

Red stains can lighten to orange after a few washings, but they really make your plastic containers look dingy and dirty. Heating food in them in the microwave will also make the stains more difficult to get out. To remove these stains, try a combination of products you likely already have at home.

Simply combine 1 teaspoon of water, 2 tablespoons of baking soda and 1/4 teaspoon of dish soap in the red-stained container. Use an old toothbrush or other type of gentle scrubbing tool to work the paste into the plastic. Then, allow it to sit for about 15 minutes, scrub again and rinse with clear water. In most cases, the red stain will have come clear.

Plastic containers do not last forever, but there are ways to make them last longer. Although plastic looks smooth, it has a rough surface – this is what makes it harder to clean. Regularly washing plastic containers in dishwashers shortens their life spans, though.

If you want to put them in the dishwasher, always place them on the upper rack. Many dishwashers have heating elements on the bottom, which can cause the plastic to warp or melt. (Note that some newer dishwashers, like those from Bosch, state that it's okay to place anything on any rack.) Place the dirty sides of the containers in the middle of the top rack, which faces the water spray.

Hand-washing will extend the life of your plastic containers, even if you use the dishwasher occasionally. Try to use a grease-cutting dish liquid, hot water and a soft dish brush to clean plastic containers. Too much scrubbing is also not good for Tupperware. Let them soak for awhile before scrubbing to get out the food debris and grease.

Another stain removal recipe consists of adding 1 tablespoon of chlorine bleach to a cup of clean water. Fill the plastic container with this mixture, to just above the stain. Let the bleach do its work for half an hour or so until the stain is dissolved. Rinse well with dish soap and warm water.

You can also try using equal parts water and distilled white vinegar, and follow the same process. Have a lot of stained plastic containers? Increase the ratios of the cleaning agents, pour them into your sink, put in the stopper and let the pieces soak. Rinse well with dish soap and clean water before using.

After your containers are washed, wipe them dry with a clean dish towel and allow them to air dry. Skipping this step will probably lead to water spots on the containers. Also, remember to never put leftovers in plastic containers and then heat them in your microwave. Instead, place them in microwave-safe containers or paper plates. Remember never to put aluminum foil in your microwave.