Material file · Hard surfaces
Plastic containers: what it can take
Covers plastic food containers, lunch boxes, spatulas and blender jars. It tolerates hot water (up to about 60 °C (140 °F)) for the final wash, but only after any protein has been rinsed out cold.
- Water
- Yes
- Max temperature
- 60 °C (140 °F)
- Rubbing
- Fine
- Stain files
- 17
01 What it is
Food plastics are oil-loving, so pigments and oils migrate into them, and solvents can craze or cloud them.
02 House rules
- It tolerates hot water (up to about 60 °C (140 °F)) for the final wash, but only after any protein has been rinsed out cold.
03 Field notes
- Tomato and turmeric stains are oil-soluble pigments, and plastic is oil-loving too, so the colour dissolves into the plastic itself.
- Sunlight breaks down lycopene and curcumin: a stained container left in a sunny window often clears in a day or two.
- Microwaving tomato sauce in plastic makes the staining worse because hot oil carries the pigment deeper.
04 Every cleaner, rated
| Cleaner | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Baking soda | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Borax | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Chlorine bleach | Test first | Fine on most food-safe plastics if rinsed well; it can dull some. |
| Citrus adhesive remover | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Cornstarch | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Dish soap | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Bio detergent | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Enzyme cleaner | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Hot water | Test first | Hot water can warp thin plastic and drives oily, coloured stains deeper into it. |
| Household ammonia | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Hydrogen peroxide 3% | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Lemon juice | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Magic eraser | Test first | It can dull glossy plastic. |
| Oxalic acid cleanser | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Oxygen bleach | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Rubbing alcohol | Test first | Most plastics are fine; it can craze clear acrylic. |
| White vinegar | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Steam cleaner | Avoid | Steam can warp plastic. |
| WD-40 | Avoid | The makers advise against it on polycarbonate and clear polystyrene, which includes much rigid food packaging; it can craze or cloud them. |
| Acetone | Never | Acetone melts or clouds many plastics. |
05 Stains on plastic containers
| Stain | Difficulty | Never |
|---|---|---|
| Acrylic paint | Stubborn | Hot water, Microwaving it |
| Nail polish | Stubborn | Acetone, Microwaving it |
| Permanent marker | Stubborn | Water first, Microwaving it |
| Super glue | Stubborn | Acetone, Pulling |
| Turmeric and curry | Stubborn | Hot water, Microwaving it |
| Baby food purée | Manageable | Hot water, Microwaving it |
| Beetroot | Manageable | Microwaving it |
| Berries | Manageable | Bar soap, Hot water |
| Rust | Manageable | Chlorine bleach, Microwaving it |
| Tomato sauce and ketchup | Manageable | Hot water, Microwaving it |
| Coffee | Easy | Hot water, Bar soap |
| Crayon | Easy | Microwaving it |
| Peanut butter | Easy | Microwaving it |
| School glue (PVA) | Easy | Microwaving it |
| Sticker and tape residue | Easy | Microwaving it |
| Tea | Easy | Hot water, Bar soap |
| Washable marker | Easy | Hot water, Microwaving it |
06 The most common mistakes on plastic containers
Counted across all 17 stain files for plastic containers:
- Microwaving sauces in it (17 files). Hot oil carries pigment into the plastic and sets the stain.
- Hot water (8 files). Heat helps pigments bond to the fibres before you have lifted them.
- Bar soap or soap flakes (3 files). True soap is alkaline, and alkalis set tannin stains such as wine, coffee, tea and fruit.
- Acetone or nail polish remover (2 files). Acetone melts or clouds many plastics.
- Water first (1 file). Water spreads alcohol-based ink and does not dissolve it.
- Pulling it off (1 file). Cured glue can take fibres (or skin) with it.
07 What the plastic containers files use most
These are the products the 17 stain files for plastic containers rely on most. Dish soap leads because surfactants have a water-loving end and an oil-loving end.
08 When to call a professional
Not needed; deeply stained containers can be retired to non-food use.