What to add to water to make plastic containers look new

We have collected the most popular methods for cleaning plastic containers and how housewives rate them on a five-point scale. You just need to choose the tip that seems most practical and best suited to a particular case.

Have you ever put leftovers from dinner in the fridge only to forget about them forever? Okay, not forever, but long enough for the meat or sauce to develop new life. Anyone who has faced this problem knows how difficult it is to get rid of memories: in this case, 9% white vinegar would be an excellent preparation for restoring plastic containers.

What to do: pour a glass of water into the container, add a tablespoon of vinegar, soak the container for one to two hours, then rinse and dry it.

Efficiency: 2 out of 5. If you need to disinfect a container or remove greasy deposits, vinegar will do an honest job, but if there are stains on the plastic (e.g. ketchup or turmeric), don’t expect it to good results .

This unique method of polishing plastic containers went viral on TikTok: bloggers claimed that if you pour warm water into the container, add a few spoons of dishwashing liquid and torn paper towels, close the lid and shake vigorously for a minute, you can get rid of the most stubborn stains.

Even scientists have commented on the hack: for example, microbiologist Jason Tetro explained that three factors work. Firstly, the high concentration of soap does the job, secondly, the mechanical impact, which will be stronger than when washing with a sponge or dishwasher, and thirdly, the paper absorbs oil and grease , preventing it from falling back onto the plastic. .

Efficiency: 3 out of 5. As Tetro explains, shaking is not the solution to making plastic containers look new again. This will only work on fresh stains and is no better than regular washing with a sponge or brush. (However, if you need a little cardio, then why not?)

Polishing the surface of plastic containers with this strange scrub was also invented on social media. To “exfoliate”, you need to pour sugar into the bottom of the container (you will need about a quarter of a cup), pour it generously with dishwashing liquid, throw five or six ice cubes on top and leave for an hour. When the cubes melt, the resulting liquid should be drained, and the remaining sand should be used as an abrasive – rub the walls and bottom of the container with it.

Efficiency: 4- out of 5. This surface treatment for restoring plastic containers works really well and can almost completely eliminate traces of even stubborn dyes like turmeric.

This is a classic in the maintenance of plastic containers: pour one or two tablespoons of baking soda into the bottom and add water little by little until you obtain a paste a little thinner than a toothpaste. Distribute it evenly on the walls, leave the container closed for half an hour, or better – overnight. After that, scrub the container with a damp sponge, rinse with water and wash with dishwashing liquid as usual.

Efficiency: 4+ out of 5. Baking soda is a champion when it comes to removing odors and stains. Of course, if you look at the sun through the plastic you can see traces of staining, but why do that?

If you are under 70, you are unlikely to have denture cleaning tablets. But consider buying them: they can replace professional means of restoring plastic containers. Here’s how to use the tablets: fill a container with warm water, throw in one or two, leave it overnight, and in the morning wash the container as usual.

Efficiency: 4+ out of 5. The tablets are designed to whiten dentures and remove food residues and microdrops of grease from them – in the case of dishes, they work in the same way.

Surprisingly, it’s true: you can use hand sanitizer to restore the color of plastic containers – just pour it onto the stain, wait an hour, pour in the rest of the product and wipe it away. residue with a paper towel.

Efficiency: 5 out of 5. Oddly enough, hand sanitizers containing alcohol are excellent at removing even the most stubborn stains. Many housewives suggest that, for example, gin can give the same effect, but no one has yet decided to try it – why use a good drink for cleaning?

If natural remedies for restoring plastic containers don’t work, go for it: pour a glass of water into the container, add a tablespoon of bleach to it, wait an hour or two (no more! ), then wash. the container carefully – even better, in the dishwasher.

Efficiency: 3 out of 5. The name already indicates what bleach was created for – it will remove stains and disinfect the surface, but will not resist grease.

Also read: What to add to water to quickly clean the stove: advice from professional cleaners

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