How to Get Smells Out of Plastic Containers
Your containers still smell like last week's curry no matter how you wash them, because plastic is porous and absorbs strong food odors. Regular dish soap cannot lift a smell that has soaked into the plastic. A baking soda paste, a vinegar soak, or a day in the sun pulls it back out.
We make small-batch beeswax candles in Far Rockaway, so a room that truly smells clean is our whole focus, and that always starts at the source rather than the scent. Below is where the smell comes from, how to clear it step by step, and how to keep the space fresh afterward, with the full the MBur beeswax candle collection here as you read.
Why plastic holds the smell
The oils in spiced, garlicky, or tomato-based food soak into the surface of the plastic, below where soap and water reach. That is why a container can smell clean and dry and still carry the odor.
Left alone, the smell transfers to whatever you store next. Getting it out means drawing the odor back out of the plastic, not just washing the surface.
How to get the smell out, step by step
- Wash it hot first. Start with hot water and dish soap to clear the surface residue.
- Use a baking soda paste. Coat the inside with a paste of baking soda and water, let it sit overnight, then rinse.
- Try a vinegar soak. Fill the container with equal parts white vinegar and water, soak for a few hours, and rinse.
- Set it in the sun. Leave the clean, slightly damp container in direct sunlight for a day, since UV light breaks down odor.
- Use the newspaper trick. Stuff it with crumpled newspaper, seal the lid, and leave it a couple of days to absorb the last of the smell.
For oily, strongly spiced food, store it in glass. Glass does not absorb odor, so it sidesteps the problem entirely.
Keep it from happening again
Let food cool before you seal it, since heat drives odor deeper into the plastic, and rinse containers right after you empty them.
Retire containers that are badly stained, warped, or scratched, since worn plastic holds odor and bacteria more stubbornly.
Freshen the whole room once the source is gone
With the odor in the plastic handled, the air itself is the last step. A clean candle is the finishing touch here, best lit once the space is already clean. From there it is the fastest way to make the room read fresh rather than merely neutral.
For your kitchen, Zesty fits well. It is fresh and lively, with mandarin, sea air, and a touch of black pepper, and like every MBur candle it is poured from 100% beeswax with a wooden wick and phthalate-free non-toxic fragrance oils, so freshening the air never means adding soot on top.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my Tupperware smell even after washing?
The odor is absorbed into the plastic, below the surface. A baking soda paste, vinegar soak, or sun exposure draws it back out.
Does the sun really remove smells?
Yes. A day in direct sunlight breaks down many odor compounds and helps dry any moisture that holds them.
How do I stop containers from staining?
Let food cool before sealing, rinse promptly, and use glass for tomato-based and oily foods that stain and smell the most.
When should I replace plastic containers?
Once they are deeply stained, warped, or scratched, since worn plastic traps odor and is harder to clean.
Ready to keep your space smelling clean once the source is handled? Explore the MBur beeswax candle collection and find the scent that fits the room.
