How to get tomato stains out of plastic containers
To clean stained plastic food containers, wash them in warm soapy water, then set the clean container in direct sun for a few hours, or soak it in a mild bleach solution of 2 teaspoons of chlorine bleach per gallon of water, then wash and dry. Tomato's red pigment, lycopene, dissolves in fat rather than water, so the oil in sauce carries it into the plastic where soap can't reach; light and bleach break the color down instead.
- Best method
- Wash, then sunlight or a mild bleach soak
- Time
- A few hours in sun, or a short soak
- Difficulty
- Easy
You will need
- Dish soap and warm water
- Paper towels
- Sunny windowsill or outdoor spot
- Chlorine bleach (plain, unscented)
- Baking soda, for odors
Step by step
- 1
Empty and wipe out the grease
Remove leftovers, rinse with hot water, and wipe out any oily residue with a paper towel before washing.
Why: The oil in sauce is what carries the red pigment into the plastic. Removing it quickly limits how much soaks in.
- 2
Wash in warm soapy water
Wash with dish soap and warm water, or on the top rack of the dishwasher only if the container is marked dishwasher safe. Dry with a towel or on low heat.
Why: Detergent removes the remaining fat. The top rack keeps plastic away from the heating element, which can warp it.
- 3
Put it in the sun
Set the clean, damp or dry container in direct sunlight for a few hours, open side toward the sun. Repeat on another day if it's still tinted.
Why: The American Cleaning Institute suggests sunlight because light fades many food pigments, including the carotenoid in tomatoes, without any chemicals.
- 4
Or soak in a mild bleach solution
Mix 2 teaspoons of chlorine bleach in a gallon of water and soak the stained container in it. Then drain it, wash it with soap and water, rinse and dry thoroughly.
Why: Bleach oxidizes the pigment, breaking down the molecule's color. Washing afterward removes any bleach residue before food goes back in.
- 5
Deodorize if it smells
For a lingering smell, scrub with 1 teaspoon of baking soda in 1 cup of water, or use undiluted vinegar, then wash. Never use vinegar and bleach on the same container without washing in between.
Why: Baking soda neutralizes acidic odor compounds. Bleach with vinegar releases chlorine gas.
Why tomato sauce stains plastic
Tomato's red-orange color comes mainly from lycopene, a carotenoid pigment that's insoluble in water but soluble in oils and fats. Most food containers are polypropylene or a similar plastic, and pigment carried in sauce oil clings to and works into the plastic surface. That's why spaghetti sauce, chili and other oily red foods stain containers, and why soap and water leave an orange tint behind: there's no grease left to wash away, only pigment.
So the fix is to destroy the color rather than wash it out. Light and chlorine bleach both break down carotenoid color. Scratched, older containers stain more, because scratches give pigment and grease more to hold on to, which is why abrasive cleansers make the problem worse over time. For the same stain on fabric or carpet, see tomato sauce stains.
How to stop containers staining
The American Cleaning Institute suggests spraying the inside with unflavored cooking spray, or lining the container with foil or plastic wrap, before storing tomato-based foods. A thin oil film or liner keeps the sauce off the plastic itself. Glass containers stain and degrade less than plastic, so they're the better choice for sauces, curries and chili.
Wash containers soon after emptying them, rather than leaving sauce residue sitting. And don't microwave sauce in plastic that isn't labeled microwave safe: single-use containers that can't hold their shape in hot water or the microwave should go to recycling.
By situation
Spaghetti sauce stains on reusable plastic containers
Wash out the oil first, then use the sun or the mild bleach soak. Both are safe for reusable food-storage plastic; follow with a normal wash before reuse.
Old, set-in orange stains
Repeat the sun treatment over several days or do two bleach soaks. Some stains in heavily scratched or old containers won't fully go. The American Cleaning Institute's advice when a stain won't budge is to replace the container.
Coffee or tea stains on plastic dishes and cups
New Mexico State Extension notes a mild baking soda solution removes coffee and tea stains from plastic. Soak or scrub gently, then wash.
Containers that still smell
Scrub with baking soda solution or rinse with undiluted vinegar, then wash. Let it dry fully before putting the lid back on.
What not to do
- Don't scrub plastic with abrasive cleansers or scouring pads. They scratch the surface, giving future stains more grip.
- Don't mix bleach with vinegar or other acids. The combination releases toxic chlorine gas. See what never to mix.
- Don't put containers that aren't marked dishwasher safe in the dishwasher. Heat can warp them.
Other methods that work
Baking soda paste
Mildly abrasive and deodorizing. It can lighten fresh surface stains and remove odors.
Caution: Rub gently; it won't remove pigment that's soaked into the plastic as well as sun or bleach.
Switch to glass for sauces
The American Cleaning Institute notes glass containers stain and degrade less than plastic, which makes them the better choice for tomato sauce, chili and curry.
Caution: Let hot glass cool before washing it in cold water.
Stain still there?
Still orange after sun and bleach
Repeat once or twice more. If it doesn't change, the pigment is locked into the plastic, and the American Cleaning Institute's advice is to replace the container.
The container smells of bleach
Wash it again with dish soap and warm water, rinse well and let it air-dry with the lid off.
Safety
- Use plain, unscented chlorine bleach, and wash containers thoroughly after a bleach soak before storing food in them.
- Never combine bleach with vinegar, ammonia or other cleaners.
Never mix cleaning products; see chemicals you must never combine.
Questions
How do you get spaghetti sauce stains out of plastic storage containers?
Wash out the oil with dish soap, then leave the container in direct sun for a few hours or soak it in 2 teaspoons of bleach per gallon of water, and wash again.
Why does spaghetti sauce stain plastic?
Its red pigment, lycopene, dissolves in fat, not water. The oil in sauce carries it into the plastic, where washing can't reach it.
Does sunlight really remove tomato stains from plastic?
Often, yes. The American Cleaning Institute suggests it, because light breaks down many food pigments. It can take a few hours or a couple of days.
How do you stop plastic containers staining?
Spray the inside with unflavored cooking spray or line it before adding tomato-based food, or use glass for sauces.
More guides for this room
- How to clean an air fryer, basket and heating element
- How to clean burnt pots and pans (and stuck-on cake)
- How to clean cast iron, and get rust off it
- How to clean a coffee maker with vinegar (and other descalers)
- How to clean a dishwasher and get rid of the smell
- How to clean granite countertops and remove stains
- How to remove grease from kitchen cabinets
- How to clean marble countertops, floors and showers
- How to clean a microwave and get smells out of it
- How to clean an oven, oven racks and oven glass
- How to clean quartz countertops and get stains out
- How to clean a refrigerator and get bad smells out
Sources
- Plastic Food Containers and Dishes, American Cleaning Institute
- Clean and Sanitize the Kitchen, University of Illinois Extension
- Selection and Use of Home Cleaning Products, Guide G-304, New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service
- Cleaning Plastic, American Cleaning Institute
- Lycopene, Wikipedia
Last updated . Methods are drawn from the sources above; how we research and check our guides.