# How to Remove Stains and Odours From Food Containers

Source: https://mealprepgearhub.com/blog/stained-smelly-meal-prep-containers
Published: 2026-09-13
Publisher: Meal Prep Gear Hub

Plastic meal prep containers are light and inexpensive, but they absorb colour and smells from tomato sauces, curries and garlic. Oily sauces are the biggest culprit because pigments and aromas dissolve in fat and cling to plastic. Many stains can be lifted with household items, and the right habits and container choices stop most of them from forming.

## Why plastic stains

Plastic is slightly porous, and scratches from utensils and scrubbing make it more so. Pigments such as lycopene in tomatoes and curcumin in turmeric are fat-soluble, so oily sauces carry them into the surface of the plastic.

Heat makes staining worse. Microwaving tomato or curry dishes in plastic containers, or pouring hot sauces straight into them, sets colour more deeply than storing cooled food.

## Clean fresh stains quickly

Rinse containers as soon as possible after eating, before sauces dry. Wipe out oily residue with a paper towel, then wash with hot water and dish soap, which breaks down the fat that holds pigment.

A paste of baking soda and a little water rubbed over the stain and left for a few hours, then washed off, lifts many light stains. Use a soft sponge rather than abrasive pads, which scratch plastic and create places for future stains.

## Use sunlight for tomato stains

Sunlight breaks down the pigment in tomato stains remarkably well. After washing, set stained containers in direct sun for a day, and many orange stains fade or disappear.

For stubborn stains, fill the container with warm water and a denture cleaning tablet or a spoonful of oxygen-based cleaner, soak for several hours, then wash thoroughly. Always rinse well so no cleaner residue remains.

## Remove lingering smells

Garlic, onion and fish odours can linger after washing. Soak containers in a mix of warm water and white vinegar for an hour, then wash and air dry completely with the lid off.

Store containers with lids off or loosely placed, since sealing them while slightly damp traps smells. A crumpled piece of newspaper or a spoonful of baking soda left inside overnight also absorbs odours.

## Prevent stains in future

Lightly coating the inside of a plastic container with cooking spray before adding tomato sauce creates a barrier. Let sauces cool before packing and avoid microwaving saucy dishes in plastic.

For foods that stain, glass containers are the best long-term choice. They do not absorb colour or smell, go in the oven and dishwasher, and last for years. Replace plastic containers that are deeply scratched, warped or cloudy.

## Related buying guides

- https://mealprepgearhub.com/best/best-glass-meal-prep-containers
- https://mealprepgearhub.com/best/best-glass-food-storage-sets
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