How to Clean Plastic

Co-authored by Raymond Chiu

Last Updated: November 15, 2024 References

Plastic is a man-made substance meant to withstand dirt and hard use. Many things are made of plastic including patio furniture, children's toys, shower curtains, dishes, and storage containers, and they need regular cleaning and disinfecting. Knowing the proper way to clean plastic will help you maintain your home.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Utilizing Baking Soda

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Make a paste of baking soda and water.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Raymond Chiu
House Cleaning Professional

Expert Interview. 21 October 2019.} Make a 3:1 mixture by combining 3 tablespoons of baking soda to 1 tablespoon of water. Use a spoon, dull knife or old toothbrush to mix the ingredients together until they form a paste.^{[2]
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- The paste should have the consistency of toothpaste, so if it’s too runny or thick, adjust it with more baking soda or water. More baking soda will make it thicker, and more water will make it thinner.
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Rub the paste onto the plastic. Use a cloth or an old toothbrush to apply the paste liberally onto the plastic, making sure to scrub any sticky grime.
- You may need to make more paste if you are cleaning a large plastic item.
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Allow the baking soda paste to sit on the plastic for 20 to 30 minutes. The baking soda will loosen the dirt on the plastic.
Use a wet washcloth to wipe the baking soda paste off the plastic. Rinse the washcloth periodically as you wipe.
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Rinse the plastic. Remove the remaining paste by rinsing the plastic thoroughly with clean water. This should rinse away any dirt or grime the paste loosened.
- Smaller items can be placed in the sink to be rinsed.
- A large item can be rinsed with a garden hose.
Use a mild dish detergent to wash the plastic.
In addition to being clean, this should also help to remove remove plastic smell from the item.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Using Vinegar

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^{[3]
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Expert Source

Raymond Chiu
House Cleaning Professional

Expert Interview. 21 October 2019.} Mix one part vinegar with one part water in a clean, empty spray bottle. For example, 1 cup of vinegar and 1 cup of water will make a 16 ounce solution.
Liberally spray the plastic with the vinegar solution completely soaking the plastic. Vinegar is good at removing grease, mildew, and hard water stains as well as disinfecting hard surfaces.^{[4]
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Wipe the plastic. Use a clean cloth or sponge to wipe the vinegar solutions around the plastic.
- Spray more vinegar solution on areas with built up grime, and scrub them liberally until the dirt is removed.
Use clean water to rinse the vinegar solution from the plastic; dry it with a towel.

EXPERT TIP

Bridgett Price
House Cleaning Professional
Bridgett Price is a House Cleaning Professional based in Phoenix, Arizona. She has over 8 years of experience in the industry and is the Co-Owner of Maid Easy, a maid service company servicing the Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area witih over 17k professional cleanings under its belt. Maid Easy was featured on CNBC's 'Made It!' program and was voted as The Best of The Desert - Residential Cleaning Service by AZCentral. She holds a Master of Management from the University of Phoenix, specializing in digital and traditional marketing.

Bridgett Price
House Cleaning Professional

Expert Trick: If you want to remove unpleasant scents, try using lemon or orange for an all-natural scent. After you wash your plastic, put a little lemon zest or orange zest inside and seal the lid, then let it sit for 10-15 minutes. When you wash it out, any nasty scent will be gone.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Cleaning with Bleach

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Make a bleach solution. Add 1 tablespoon bleach to each cup of water you have. You can make the solution in a sink, a container, or a bathtub.^{[5]
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- Use caution when mixing bleach to avoid splashing it onto clothes or bare skin.
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Soak the plastic. Submerge the plastic in the bleach and water solution for 5 to 10 minutes. Make sure the plastic is completely covered in the solution.
- Use gloves when you submerge the plastic to avoid injury.
Remove any caked on dirt or grime by rubbing the item with a sponge.
Thoroughly rinse the plastic with water to remove the bleach solution. Air dry the plastic by letting it sit out for about 30 minutes or until completely dry.^{[6]
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Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Washing in the Dishwasher

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Load the plastic in dishwasher. Place your plastic item in the dishwasher making sure it is secure. Smaller items should be placed in the top rack of the dishwasher, while large items need to be in the bottom.^{[7]
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- Place really small items, like plastic building blocks, in a mesh bag or small dishwasher basket before placing on the top rack.
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Add dishwashing detergent. Put the appropriate amount of dishwashing detergent into the soap compartment of your dishwasher.
- Check your dishwasher’s manual to find out where the compartment is, how much detergent to use, and what kind of detergent to use.
Set your dishwasher settings to normal wash, and do not use the heat dry option. The chemicals in plastics can break down in high heat, so it’s best to have them air dry.
Remove the item from the dishwasher when it has finished washing. Place the plastic on the counter or in a drying rack to dry. It may take several hours for the plastic to dry completely.

Community Q&A

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Question

How do I clean dry salt off of plastic?

Community Answer

You should be able to just take a mild soap and water mixture. If it's really stuck on there, use a soft bristle brush that's coarser than a toothbrush but not as coarse as a barbecue brush, as those will scratch most plastics.

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How do I clean the inside of a plastic medicine dropper?

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Pour some warm water into a bowl or small cup, and place the medicine dropper inside. Leave it in the bowl/cup for 2 or more hours.

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What can I use to clean clear plastic mustard bottles?

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Hot water and dish detergent. Shake real well and let sit a few minutes. Empty solution and rinse with cold water. Place in a dish drain until dripped dry.

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Tips

To make your vinegar solution smell better add a few drops of an essential oil like lavender or citrus.

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Some methods are better at cleaning certain things than others, so choose which one fits what you need to clean. Baking soda is good at removing old odors and loosening stuck on grime, bleach is best for disinfecting and whitening, vinegar is great for grease stains, and the dishwasher is good for smaller plastic items.

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If one method doesn’t completely clean your plastic, try another one.

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Warnings

Bleach may discolor any plastics that aren’t white.

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Check the recycling number on your plastic before putting it in the dishwasher. Some plastics shouldn’t be washed in the dishwasher because their chemicals may break down. Plastics with the numbers 1,2, and 4 are generally considered safe. Plastics you eat or drink from are best washed by hand.

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Use gloves when mixing and cleaning with solutions, especially bleach.

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