How to Get Smells Out of Plastic Tupperware

Remove stubborn food odors with these simple solutions

Co-authored by Chris Willatt and Annabelle Reyes

Last Updated: July 29, 2024 Fact Checked

Plastic containers are incredibly convenient for storing food, but they can also harbor the scent of whatever was in the container last. Whether it be the plastic-y smell of the container itself, or the odors of onion, tomato, or garlic from days past, they have a tendency to linger in plastic due to its porosity. Luckily, there are several easy ways to get rid of odors in plastic containers, and we’ll cover them all, below.

How to Get the Smell Out of Plastic

Mix 1 tbsp of baking soda with 1 cup of water to create an odor-fighting paste. Rub the paste inside the plastic container, then let it sit overnight to soak up all the bad smells. In the morning, wash out the container with water and dish soap.

1

Baking Soda

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Baking soda is a powerful natural deodorizer, and it’s great at absorbing lingering food smells. Simply mix 1 tbsp (17 g) of baking soda with 1 cup (236 mL) of water to create a paste, rub the paste onto the interior of the Tupperware, then let it sit overnight. Wash out the container the next day with water and dish soap, and that’s it! It should now be odor-free.^{[1]
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2

Vinegar

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Pour 1 tbsp (15 mL) of white vinegar and 1 cup (236 g) of hot water into the container, and mix it up thoroughly. Let the vinegar solution sit in the Tupperware for at least an hour, or several hours for a deeper clean. Next, wash out the container with some dish soap and running water. The vinegar should neutralize the odors, and it will also break up any lingering stains or grease.^{[2]
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3

Lemon

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The citric acid in lemon juice is great at neutralizing odors, and it will leave your Tupperware with a fresh, citrus-y scent. Scrub the Tupperware with lemon juice, or rub a cut lemon slice around the interior of the container for the same effect. The lemon can even help lighten any lingering food stains, too!^{[3]
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4

Coffee Grounds

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Coffee grounds are surprisingly great at absorbing unpleasant odors. You can use fresh coffee grounds or the ones you used to make your morning coffee, just make sure they’re completely dry by the time you put them in the container. Seal the container with the lid, and leave the grounds to sit overnight. In the morning, remove the grounds and rinse out the container, and that's it!^{[4]
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5

Charcoal

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Place a piece of charcoal in the container for a day or two. Like coffee grounds, charcoal is great at absorbing odors. Just put one piece of charcoal into the Tupperware, seal the lid, and let it sit for 1-2 days. It should soak up all the bad food smells and leave your container fresher than ever.^{[5]
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- If you go with this method, just make sure to use plain charcoal, not mesquite or easy-light variations.

6

Newspaper

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Put some crumpled-up newspaper into the container. It may sound strange, but newspaper is actually great at absorbing unpleasant odors that may be lingering in your plastic container. Just grab a few sheets and crumple them up so they fit into the container easily, then put the lid on and let it sit for 24-48 hours. The paper should soak up the bad smells and leave your Tupperware odor-free.^{[6]
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- Make sure to give the Tupperware a quick wash with dish soap and water afterward, since the newspaper may have been a bit dirty.

7

Sunlight

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Sunlight works surprisingly well to eliminate odors. Just place your Tupperware container (with the lid off) in direct sunlight on a windowsill in your home. You can even leave the window open, so the fresh air can help cast out the bad smells. This method will help lighten any food stains in the container, too!^{[7]
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8

Vanilla Extract

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Put some water and a few drops of vanilla in the container. Vanilla extract has a powerful, pleasant smell that can mask bad odors.^{[8]
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Research source} To make use of this, just pour 2-3 tbsp (15-30 mL) of water and a few drops of vanilla extract into your container and seal it with the lid. Let the mixture soak for a few hours, then rinse the container out thoroughly with water.
- You can also pour the vanilla extract on a clean dishcloth, put it in the container, and leave it to soak for several hours with the lid closed.

9

Salt

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Store your Tupperware containers with a pinch of salt in them. If a plastic container has a bit of a lingering odor after your regular washing process, try placing a large pinch of salt in it. The salt should absorb the odor overnight, but if you’re not planning on using the Tupperware for a while, you can simply store it with the salt inside until you're ready to use it again.^{[9]
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- Just don’t forget to pour the salt out the next time you use it!

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Question

What takes onion smell out of plastic containers?

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 Answer

If the bad smell is still there, sprinkle some baking soda over the container and let it sit for a few minutes. Then, wash it out again.

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How do you clean plastic containers?

Chris Willatt
House Cleaning Professional
Chris Willatt is a House Cleaning Professional based in Denver, Colorado. Chris is the owner of Alpine Maids, a cleaning agency that he founded in 2015. Chris is on a mission to elevate what it means to be a cleaning professional and has built up Alpine Maids with that goal in mind. Chris has been featured in USA Today, Forbes, and Readers Digest. Alpine Maids received Angie's List Super Service Award for three years in a row from 2016-2018. They were also awarded Colorado's "Top Rated Local House Cleaning" Award in 2018 and were featured on the Inc. 5000 Company List.

Chris Willatt

House Cleaning Professional

Expert Answer

Just do it with soap and water. Do not use acidic products on a regular basis, as they can eat away of plastic over time.

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How do I get stale water odor out of camping water containers?

Community Answer

Take some good dish soap and hand wash it. If that doesn't work, then put the water bottle in the freezer open, with no water in it.

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If smelly plastic containers are a recurring problem, consider investing in glass containers. Though it's more fragile, glass does not absorb odors or stain as easily plastic does.^{[10]
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Avoid microwaving food in plastic containers. This can ingrain food odors into the plastic.

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