Remove stains from lunch boxes
THERE are a variety of colourful lunch boxes that you could get in the supermarket these days.
These boxes can become smelly and contain the stains of the previous meal that don’t go, no matter how hard you try to scrub them off.
Well, the harsh reality about plastic containers is that they call for some amount of effort for maintenance.
Here are some tips by website www.thehealthsite.com on how to remove stains and smells from your plastic lunch boxes
How to get rid of stains
Step 1: Rinse your lunch box with water as soon as you finish your food. Cold water isn’t effective on stains and grease, but can make it easy to remove them without too much fuss.
Step 2: Once you wash the container with water, use a tissue paper or newspaper to wipe out the grease or stains manually.
Step 3: Wash the boxes again with lukewarm water and use a mild soap solution and a sponge to clean it inside out. Avoid using harsh detergent and a scrub for plastic tiffin boxes. They would hardly help in removing the stains.
Step 4: If you are dealing with stubborn stains that refuse to go even with lukewarm water and soapy solution, try some kitchen ingredients like vinegar solution. In one cup of lukewarm water, add two teaspoons of vinegar to prepare the washing solution. After cleaning your box with lukewarm water and soap solution, wash it all over again with this vinegar solution.
Step 5: If you don’t have vinegar with you already, you can try using lemon wedges for the same. Squeeze half a lemon and rub the lemon juice on the entire box and leave it for around 15 minutes on your kitchen sink.
Step 6: Make a thick paste of baking soda and warm water and apply it all over the container or places where the stain sits stubbornly. Leave it for a day and wash it with lukewarm water the next day.
Step 7: If you want the stains to vanish naturally, the best would be to wash them as described in step two and three and leave them in the hot sun to dry off. The sun rays can help banish the stains. However, they can also make your box become discoloured if left for too long.
How to get rid of smell
If you had carried fish curry in your lunch box, chances are it might still have a pungent smell in it when you pack sandwiches in them the next morning. While you can try all the ways mentioned above to get rid of the curry stains and smell, here are a few more things you can do to kill the smell.
Step 1: In the night, after you wash your lunch box, sprinkle some salt on it and keep it sealed. This will help to get rid of the smell and keep the lunch box germ free too.
Step 2: Keeping a rind of lemon in your airtight box after thoroughly washing it will also help to fight the odour.
If you had carried fish curry in your lunch box, chances are it might still have a pungent smell in it when you pack sandwiches in them the next morning. While you can try all the ways mentioned above to get rid of the curry stains and smell, here are a few more things you can do to kill the smell...
Step 3: Crumble a newspaper and stuff it into your lunch box and close the lid. Leave it overnight or until the box stops stinking.
How to avoid stains and smells
Keep two or more boxes for regular use so you can alternate between them and give each box enough time to get rid of smell naturally.
Avoid microwaving curries and sauces as they tend to leave stains on the insides of the boxes. Use a glass container to microwave your food. Though it calls for additional work, it is worth it.
Line the box with aluminium foil, so the curries and sauces don’t stain the container.
You can also grease your box with ghee or butter before putting food inside them and wipe off with a tissue paper or newspaper after rinsing the box.