How to Remove Stains from Tupperware containers

Tupperware food storage containers are in great demand for space optimization, heating food in micro oven, popular food grade characteristics and saves lot of space in the refrigerator. Indian cooking involves lot of spices, aromas, colors and mainly oil. There are some delicacies like curries, pickles and sweets that require a layer of oil/ ghee in it to taste better.

When containers are used to store such preparations it stains the container and lid. Commonly observed is with tomato sauces, tomato chutney. Even lunch boxes that store tamarind rice or tomato rice stains the container.

You have a good collection of Tupperware food storage containers and if few of them are stained due to storage you will not be able to use them confidently. Sometimes you feel like disposing them after several scrubs and repeated washing.

Here is some great news for the home makers. Go through the easy ways to get rid of the stains and restore your Tupperware food storage containers back to normalcy.

Easy ways to remove stains from Tupperware: Soak in automatic dish washing detergent

This is the primary method adapted by most homemakers. The Tupperware containers with tough stains are soaked in dish washing detergent. Add 2 tspns of the dish washing detergent to 1 litre of luke warm water and soak the Tupperware container in it. Reduce the water as per the size of the stained container. Let it remain for 2 to 3 hours and you get best results.

Easy ways to remove stains from Tupperware: Use the sun

Sun is a powerful natural resource and you can take full benefit by placing the stained Tupperware containers in broad sunlight for drying. Let the containers remain in direct sunlight for about 6 hours and then wash the container with dish washing liquid. The stain will be gone or at least get faded considerably.

Easy ways to remove stains from Tupperware: Baking soda and salt

Another method practiced by few homemakers with superior results is one of the simplest stain removal techniques. Mix some baking soda and salt and wash your Tupperware food containers just as you would with regular dish washing detergent. The baking soda cleans the stains while the salt acts as an abrasive. After the scrubbing is complete, wash the containers out with normal dish washing detergent and you’re done.

Easy ways to remove stains from Tupperware: Use bleach

This is one method that achieves double results with one process. Fill your sink with warm water about halfway, and then add about a half cup of bleach. Submerge the stained containers and let soak for an hour. This is a great way to get your kitchen sink clean as well. Both your Tupperware container and your kitchen sink will be sparkling clean.

Easy ways to prevent staining

As the old proverb goes…Prevention is better than cure. Follow this little trick to help keep your Tupperware container stain-free.  Before you transfer the food into Tupperware food container, you need to simply spray the inside of the container with some cooking spray. This will help keep the food from sticking and staining the Tupperware. When you go to wash the container, the food will be easily washed away without staining.

Cooking sprays can be sprayed during cooking to minimize consumption of oil and calories. Cooking sprays are available in Indian market too.

Try some of these techniques next time you have stained Tupperware that you need cleaned. If you know of any other methods please mention in the comments.

Also read: How to remove white marks or hard water stains from Bathroom buckets

HOUSE CLEANING USING NATURAL RESOURCES

Here are a few natural cleaning solutions readily available at your home. Listed below is their solutions.

 LEMONS

The acidic property in lemon removes dirt and rust stains. Very effective when mixed with salt and applied as a paste.

Lemon is good to clean kitchen counter tops, cutting boards, stains on plastic storage containers , to remove grease from utensils,  remove bad smell in a container.

Cut lemon into half, squeeze a little juice in water and place the container in the refrigerator. You will be relieved of the foul smell . This can be applied for trash bins too.

To relieve smell off your hands after you touch or cut fish , rub hands with lemon juice and you will be relieved off the odor.

Lemon is widely used to brighten white clothes  . Add half a cup of lemon juice to the final rinse  and you will observe the difference.

To remove hard water scales on tiles and wash basins apply lime juice on the areas , leave it overnight. Next day you can gently scrub and remove the stains.

Lemons are used to clean the microwave oven too.

Note: Lemons are not recommended on marble surfaces.

TABLE SALT

The granular texture of table salt makes it suitable for scouring. There is a range of salts to select from. Table salt is the preferred and cheapest choice.

To remove tough stains on glassware, add some salt to the scouring pad and gently remove scrub.

Table salt can be applied on crockery too. Apply salt on a piece of lemon and apply on the crockery which has a tough stain.

To remove dust and dirt from artificial flowers and leaves , put them into a paper bag and add half a handful of salt to it. Shake it well and you will see great results. The flowers and leaves are clean now!

Coarse salt helps remove fins of fishes during cleaning activity. Put a handful of salt into a wide pan and shift the fish upside down in the  pan. The fins will totally be removed.

Salt is good to absorb any spills in the oven. It can be cleaned after use with a damp cloth.

TOOTHPASTE

The combination of surfactant, stain fighter and anti bacterial agent makes toothpaste an efficient stain fighter.

Toothpaste is good for cleaning tarnished silver articles. Use a toothbrush to enable better application. stains on glassware, add some salt to the scouring pad and gently remove scrub.

To remove hard water scales on taps and wash basins , squeeze toothpaste on the area and rub for some time with a soft cloth until it shines.

Tooth paste removes scuff marks on acrylic finishing and linoleum surfaces. Squeeze toothpaste on the desired area . Scrub it with a soft dry cloth until the toothpaste residue is removed.

Tooth paste is good for small burns . Apply on the affected area, It acts as a first aid remedy.

COOKING OILS

Vegetable and plant based oils removes dirt and minimizes scratches on the wooden surfaces. It hydrates wood that has aged or dried out from exposure to the sun

To prevent burning of hands during handling of spices like chillies, apply vegetable oil on the hands. You will not feel the intense burning.

To get paint off your skin, rub with vegetable oil and wash thoroughly with soap.

To brighten leather shoes , clean the leather shoes thoroughly off dust and grime. Add a few drops of oil on a cloth and apply on the shoe and rinse properly. This will make the shoe shine.

To prevent rattan and wicker articles or furniture from drying or cracking, lightly brush them with vegetable oil and gently rub in with a cloth. Warm the oil to enable east application

It is advised to use vegetable oil for getting the shine and cleaning Stainless steel . Lemon is not recommended for cleaning Stainless steel .

To clean wood furniture, mix 1 cup of vegetable oil or plant based oil with half a lemon. Add this on a soft cloth.  This will help smooth scratches too.

BORAX

Due to its alkaline property,  Borax kills mold, fungus and softens water. When added to a laundry wash you will observe excellent results due to its effectiveness.

You can remove foul smell from a dishwasher. Sprinkle borax in the bottom, let it sit overnight, then wipe down with a damp sponge. No need to rinse; continue washing operations.

Rub borax into cookware with a damp cloth and rinse well . This will remove stains.

Borax  gets rid of toilet rust stains also . Sprinkle borax in the toilet bowl, leave it overnight. Rinse it with a toilet brush and flush water.

VINEGAR

Due to its acidic property, Vinegar can wipe out tarnish, soap deposits, mineral deposits, and more. It is widely used for its varied benefits. It also prevents the growth of mold, mildew, and some bacteria.

You can clean glass ware and ensure no spots. Add 6 table spoons of vinegar to the rinse water.

Vinegar is used to disinfect the dishwasher. Rinse with 1 cycle of vinegar, add half cup. Follow rinse with plain water.

Remove hard water stains from Stainless Steel surfaces, shower heads. Dip the unit in vinegar mixed with water and leave overnight. Rinse with water in the morning.

Note: Vinegars are not recommended on marble surfaces.

BAKING SODA

Baking soda ( sodium bicarbonate) absorb odors. Baking soda is useful to remove odors from upholstery.

Baking soda removes stains from a can opener. It removes tough stains from mugs and cups.

Erase crayon marks by applying a baking soda paste (equal parts baking soda and water) to white painted walls (baking soda may dull colored walls). Let dry before brushing it off with a clean cloth.

WASHING SODA

Washing soda (sodium carbonate) absorbs odors. Recommended to use rubber gloves while handling washing soda as it is slightly stronger .

Washing soda is good to clean oily stains seen in workshops and garage floors. Lavishly sprinkle washing soda and leave it overnight. Thoroughly wash and rinse the floor with water.

Washing soda helps  remove grease from stove burner grates, garden tools.

Your accessories will be bright and sparkling.