Odors, stains, grease: how to clean your lunch box effectively?

To store dishes, leftovers or even vegetables, it is impossible to ignore storage boxes. Made of glass or plastic, they take up a lot of space in the kitchen but are particularly useful. However, over time, it is not uncommon for them to become damaged. Between stains and odors, it is sometimes difficult to clean them.

In order to find them as good as new, today we reveal some tips to wash them perfectly using products that you definitely have at home. We tell you everything.

Chef Christian Têtedoie confided some time ago to the Madame Figaro website and thus revealed his method for optimal cleaning of lunch boxes. Before that, the chef explained that to keep these boxes as long as possible, it was preferable to avoid putting certain foods in them that are too acidic, such as tomatoes, since they tend to damage them significantly.

Similarly, it is recommended not to pour preparations that are too hot: “This would increase the rate of migration of plastic into food as well as the deterioration of the material, despite the manufacturer’s indications” the chef tells our colleagues. For him, the best thing is to change containers every year, especially if they are made of polyethylene. He advises turning instead to materials such as stainless steel or glass.

In any case, for optimal cleaning of these boxes, the chef has his secret.

To do this, simply pour two-thirds of the water with 5 or 6 tablespoons of bicarbonate. Then freeze everything. Then take the container out before rinsing it with clean water and that’s it!

Generally, transparent plastic utensils such as boxes, baby spoons or even baby bottle nipples tend to turn yellow over time. This does not mean that you should throw them away. On the contrary, it is very easy to give them a second life. Indeed, sur TikToka user shared her secret to getting rid of that yellow film or grease that’s still present.

To do this, pour dishwashing liquid with a little water and a sheet of absorbent paper into the container. Then, let it sit for 15 minutes so that the magic happens. Shake everything. And finally, let it dry in the sun for a day. Once the day has passed, you will see that the yellow will have completely disappeared.

To get rid of tomato stains, the principle is the same. Indeed, On Tiktok, content creator Monsieur Astuces shares his technique : paper towels are also effective for removing red stains. To do this, pour a little soap or dishwashing liquid into the container and fill with warm water. Dip the paper towel inside. Close the container. Shake everything for 1 minute so that the tomato soaks into the sheet. Rinse with water and you’re done.

To say goodbye to stubborn stains and deodorize your container, white vinegar is ideal. And for even more efficiency, combine it with baking soda. You will then have the perfect combo to clean your boxes. To do this, pour about 5 tablespoons of baking soda and as many tablespoons of white vinegar. Wait for it to foam and scrub the container with the mixture. Add a little water. Shake everything. Leave to act for several hours before rinsing.

Lemon is a very popular ingredient for cleaning and for good reason, it is a very good disinfectant and descaling agent. It is therefore effective for washing containers. To do this, cut a lemon in half and rub it on the plastic walls for a few minutes. Put it all in the sun. Leave it to act for a few hours and rinse.