First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Scrape off the excess as soon as you can.
- Treat the greasy part first, then any color.
- Blot from the back of the stain, and don't rub.
- Keep heat away, and never use hot water on egg.
Food on plastic is usually a mix of grease, protein or starch, and often artificial color. Start with the greasy part, so that's where to begin. Tomato and other acidic sauces can stain plastic lids, and a stain that has set gets much harder to lift.
Once the grease is gone, a scouring cleanser can lift what is left on plastic containers and bowls. Test it on a hidden spot first, since rough rubbing can leave dull marks on the plastic. Red or orange food often needs a second round, and a plastic cutting board responds to the same gentle approach.
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
Tap an item to get it on Amazon, or tick what you already have.
- Mild dishwashing liquidThe cleaner for the greasy part, mixed into warm water. (opens Amazon)
- Warm waterGoes with the soap; hot water is only for containers, and never for egg.
- Soft clothBlots and wipes the surface without scratching it. (opens Amazon)
- Plastic or nylon padOnly for a stain that still shows after washing. (opens Amazon)
- Dishwasher (optional)Top rack only, and only if the product allows it.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Scrape off the excess
Act as soon as you notice the stain, while it's still wet and easy to lift. Carefully blot or scrape off whatever sits on top, so less of it is left to work into the plastic.
Step 2 of 6
Treat the greasy part first
Most food stains mix a greasy or oily part with a protein or starch part, and the greasy part goes first. Work from the back of the stain, blotting with the cloth rather than rubbing, since rubbing can spread it across the surface.
Step 3 of 6
Keep heat away from it
Don't iron a stained item or put it in a machine dryer, and keep plastic out of direct heat while you work. Overheating can cause staining, so there's no benefit to speeding things up with warmth.
Careful. Never put a plastic lid or container on or under a flame, stovetop or broiler.
Step 4 of 6
Wash with soap and warm water
Mix mild dishwashing liquid into warm water and wipe the stained area with a soft cloth. Rinse the cloth often, and keep going until the color is gone too, since many foods contain artificial color.
Careful. Never use hot water on an egg stain. It will set it.
Step 5 of 6
Wash containers by hand
Wash the container by hand in hot soapy water, which is fine for any food stain except egg. If the product allows it, the dishwasher's top rack is an alternative.
Step 6 of 6
Scrub only if the stain stays
If the stain still shows after washing, use only a plastic or nylon pad with light, short strokes. Stop as soon as the stain lifts, since more pressure won't help the plastic.
Careful. Never use abrasive cleansers on plastic.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for food on plastic & tupperware
Use a mild dishwashing liquid for the wash, since it cuts grease and is gentle on plastic. Keep abrasive scouring products off plastic, and skip any product that calls for direct heat.
Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
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.
If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
You're done when the wiped area looks the same as the plastic around it, with no film or tint left. If a faint color stays after several washes, the stain has probably set, and the set-in section covers what's realistic.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your plastic & tupperware
Plastic containers and storage boxes
Containers are the one case where the hot soapy water wash applies, because they're the items the steps send to the sink or the top rack. Take the lid off and wash the lid and the base separately.
If the stain is from egg, switch to warm water and skip the hot wash. Give the lid the same soap wash as the base, and check the product label before using the top rack.
Plastic bowls
Bowls get the same soap and warm water wash as containers, and the hot soapy water rule applies when there's no egg in the bowl. Work the cloth around the inside curve rather than in one spot, so the greasy part lifts evenly.
After a tomato or oily sauce, don't leave the bowl in a warm spot, since heat can make the stain worse. Dry it by hand before stacking.
Plastic cutting boards
Wash the board in the sink with mild dishwashing liquid and warm water, using the soft cloth on its surface. The board never goes through the hot soapy water wash, because it isn't a container.
Only use a plastic or nylon pad if the stain still shows, and keep it light. Stand the board on its edge to dry, away from any heat source.
Plastic food processors
Take the blade out carefully and wash the bowl and lid separately in warm, soapy water, using only a soft cloth. If the product label allows the top rack, the bowl can go there; otherwise wash it by hand.
Mayonnaise and oils are the greasy part, so the soap wash starts there, and heat is never used to loosen the stain.
Red or orange food
Red and orange usually come from artificial food color, so the greasy part still goes first and the color gets its own wash after. Keep the soap and warm water going until no tint shows on the plastic.
Don't use heat to speed it up, since overheating can cause staining. If the color stays after several washes, it has likely set, so the set-in section applies.
Old, dried or set-in stains
An old food stain on plastic is harder to lift, so start over with the steps above rather than reaching for anything harsher. Anything the surface can't take, like abrasive cleansers or direct heat, will do more damage than the stain.
If the stain has dried or baked on, keep the plastic out of the oven, stovetop and broiler, because heat can make the stain worse. The dishwasher top rack is the only other option, and only if the product allows it.
If the stain is still there after several washes, a faint mark may be all that's left, and it's better to live with it than to scrub harder.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on food on plastic & tupperware?
Several home remedies are common for food stains, but most of them are made for fabric or other surfaces. Mild soap and warm water are enough on plastic, so the other remedies are rarely needed.
Works1Skip5
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't wait for the stain to set
Treat food stains as soon as possible, because a stain that dries on plastic is harder to lift. Waiting until the next day to deal with a container usually means more scrubbing.
Don't overheat greasy or tomato foods in plastic
Overheating high-fat foods, sugar, oils or tomato sauce in plastic can cause staining and blistering. Take the food out of the container before you heat it, if you can.
Don't microwave with the lid sealed
A sealed lid can warp in the microwave, so vent it or offset it before heating. Check that the lid isn't snapped shut before the dish goes in.
When to call a professional
A cleaning professional isn't needed for most plastic stains, since the steps above cover them. For a stain that won't lift after those steps, replacing the item is the practical choice.
Questions
Does hot water set food stains on plastic?
Hot water sets an egg stain, so use warm water on egg and never hot. For other food stains, hot soapy water is fine when you wash a container by hand.
Can I put a stained plastic container in the dryer?
No, don't machine dry anything stained, because heat can set the stain. Let it air dry instead, and keep it out of direct heat until the stain is gone.
Will red or orange food color come out of plastic?
Red and orange come from artificial color, so the same soap and warm water wash is the first thing to try. Keep going until no tint shows, and if a faint color stays after several washes, treat it as set-in.
Can I use vinegar or baking soda on plastic?
No, mild dishwashing liquid and warm water are the safer choice for plastic. Stick with that wash, and add a plastic or nylon pad only if the stain still shows.
What if the stain is still there after washing?
Repeat the greasy-part and soap steps, then use a plastic or nylon pad if it still shows. If it stays after that, the stain has set into the plastic, and the set-in section explains what's realistic.
Can I put a plastic food processor bowl in the dishwasher?
Only if the product allows it, and then on the top rack. If it doesn't, wash the bowl by hand in hot soapy water.
Food 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.