Prep first
Before you start
- Start with mild dishwashing liquid and warm water.
- Scrub only with a plastic or nylon pad.
- Keep the bottle away from flame and direct heat.
- Rinse well so no soap is left inside.
Algae on plastic shows up as the green or black film inside a water bottle, and it forms wherever moisture stays put. Plastic can't take abrasives or heat, so the film has to come off with mild soap, warm water and a gentle scrub, even when it's stubborn. Keep the cleaning light and avoid anything harsh on the surface.
Moss under water plastic plants needs the same mild soap and warm water, so keep the scrub light even when it looks stubborn. Skip grit when you clean algae off a plastic water bottle, since it scratches and gives the next film more to hold. If it stays put after a full round of warm soapy water, give it time rather than scrubbing harder.
Before you start
What plastic & tupperware can take
Safe to use1
- Water
Use with care2
- Hot water
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
Avoid2
- Scrubbing and abrasives
- Heat, once the stain is out
5 items
What you'll need
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- Mild dishwashing liquidThe soap for the wash, and the mild soap this plastic method calls for. (opens Amazon)
- Warm waterLoosens the film before and during the wash.
- Soft clothWipes the outside and lid without marking the plastic. (opens Amazon)
- Plastic or nylon pad or brushThe only scrub tool for stubborn film on plastic. (opens Amazon)
- Clean towel or drying rackLets the bottle air-dry without direct heat. (opens Amazon)
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5 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 5
Empty and rinse the bottle
Pour out any water and rinse the bottle with clean water to loosen loose slime. Rinse the lid and threads too, so nothing is left in the grooves.
Step 2 of 5
Wash with mild soap and warm water
Add a little mild dishwashing liquid to warm water and swirl it around the inside of the bottle. Wipe the outside and the lid with a soft cloth dipped in the same soapy water.
Step 3 of 5
Scrub the film with a plastic pad
If green or black film is still on the inside walls, scrub it gently with a plastic or nylon pad or brush in the soapy water. Keep the pressure light and work over the whole inside, not just one spot.
Tip. Work from the bottom up so loosened film doesn't run back down the walls.
Careful. Use only a plastic or nylon pad, never an abrasive cleanser or metal scrub.
Step 4 of 5
Wash in hot soapy water if allowed
If the bottle still looks cloudy or greenish, wash it again in hot soapy water. You can also use the dishwasher's top rack if the bottle's maker allows it.
Careful. Use hot water or the dishwasher only if the bottle's maker allows it.
Step 5 of 5
Rinse well and air-dry
Rinse the bottle thoroughly with clean water until no soap is left inside, including the lid and threads. Stand it upside down on a clean towel or rack so the water drains out and the inside dries.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for algae on plastic & tupperware
A mild dishwashing liquid is all you need for the wash. Pick a plastic or nylon brush over any cleanser marked abrasive.
MOLD ARMOR Rapid Clean Remediation
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on plastic & tupperware, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
Heavy buildup usually takes more than one round.
Heavy or long-standing buildup →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
The bottle is clean when the inside walls look clear and no green or black film is left on the surface. Run a finger along the inside: it should feel smooth, with no slime left.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your plastic & tupperware
Plastic water plants
Moss on plastic plants under water is still a growth on plastic, so the same gentle wash works. Take the plant out of the water, then wipe the moss off with a soft cloth in mild dishwashing liquid and warm water.
If the moss is firmly stuck, a light scrub with a plastic or nylon pad is the next move. Rinse the plant well with clean water before it goes back in.
Plastic lids and containers
Lids and food containers take the same mild soap wash, and the rinse matters most around the seal. Wash them by hand in hot soapy water, or on the dishwasher top rack if the product allows it.
Air-dry lids and containers fully before you put them away, so no moisture stays in the seal. Keep them out of direct heat while they dry.
Acrylic items
Acrylic is plastic too, but it can't take solvents or abrasive cleansers. Stick to mild dishwashing liquid, warm water and a soft cloth.
Use a light hand and rinse well. If film stays, repeat the soap wash rather than reaching for a harsher product.
Plastic toilet seats
A plastic toilet seat takes mild soap and warm water, wiped with a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth. Keep nail polish, aftershave and abrasive chemicals away from it, since they damage the finish.
Rinse the seat well so no soap film is left on the finish. For stubborn film, repeat the wipe rather than scrubbing hard.
Decks and wood fences
Algae on wood outdoors is a different job, because wood soaks up what you put on it. The Decks & Wood Fences guide covers the methods for that surface.
Read that guide before you use any bleach or scrub on it, since wood needs its own steps.
Heavy or long-standing buildup
Old film that has had time to thicken is slower to come off, so let the soapy water work on it for a while before you scrub. Give the bottle a longer soak in the mild dishwashing liquid and warm water before you move on.
If the film has dried on, repeat the soap wash, then brush gently with the plastic or nylon pad, working from the bottom up. Patience and repeated gentle washes do more than a harder scrub.
A faint shadow that stays after all that is realistic to accept on plastic, so don't reach for harsher cleaners or heat to chase it. For decks, siding or roofs with stubborn growth, the Decks & Wood Fences guide covers stronger treatments.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on algae on plastic & tupperware?
Most remedies people search for are built for fabric, stone or roofs, so only one of them applies to plastic. For this bottle, the mild soap wash does the work, and the rest are ruled out to keep the plastic safe.
Works1Skip5
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't dry the bottle in direct heat.
Plastic containers can't take flame or direct heat, so air-dry it on a towel or rack instead. Speeding things up with a heat source isn't worth the risk to the bottle.
Don't mix cleaners in the bottle.
Never mix chlorine bleach with ammonia, vinegar or other household cleaners, since toxic gas can form. Rinse the soap out completely before you use anything else on the bottle.
Don't forget the lid and threads.
Film can sit in the grooves of the threads and under the lid, so wash those parts as well as the walls. A clean bottle with a dirty lid can still carry the film back in.
When to call a professional
There's no professional service for a water bottle, so home cleaning is the whole job. If the film stays after the steps here, replacing the bottle is the simplest fix.
Questions
What is the green film in my water bottle?
It's usually algae, a growth that forms wherever moisture stays on a surface. Mild soap, warm water and a gentle scrub are enough to lift it.
Can I put a water bottle with algae in the dishwasher?
Yes, if the bottle's maker allows it, and use the top rack. If you're unsure, wash it by hand in hot soapy water instead.
Can I clean the bottle with bleach?
Better not. The bleach-and-water method is for sealed exterior surfaces like stucco, siding and patio stone, not plastic containers. Mild soap and warm water are the right choice for this bottle.
How do I stop the algae from coming back?
Algae spreads by wind-borne spores and returns when moisture stays on the surface. Wash the bottle fully, let it dry out completely, and don't leave it sitting with water in it.
Can I use vinegar to remove the film?
No, skip vinegar. Mild dishwashing liquid in warm water does the job without extra work. Mild dishwashing liquid in warm water does the job without the extra step.
How do I get moss off plastic plants under water?
Take the plant out of the water and wipe the moss off with a soft cloth in mild dishwashing liquid and warm water. Use a light scrub with a plastic or nylon pad only if it's firmly stuck, and rinse well before the plant goes back in.
Algae on other materials
Other stains on plastic & tupperware
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.