First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Rinse the spot with warm water as soon as you can.
- Wipe with a soft cloth, not a brush, to lift the mark.
- Start with mild dishwashing liquid before anything stronger.
Warm water and mild dishwashing liquid handle most plastic marks, but tomato and acidic sauces can leave a stain on lids that soap doesn't reach. Overheating fatty or tomato foods can stain and blister plastic, so keep heat away from containers you reuse. For marker, isopropyl alcohol is the one remover to reach for, but only after a hidden-spot test.
Start with warm water and a drop of mild dishwashing liquid on a soft cloth for stained Tupperware, and add a little more rubbing only if the mark doesn't move. Cutting board stains and bathtub stains take the same gentle approach. Test any cleaner on a hidden spot first, especially on a phone case.
Before you start
What this material 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
6 items
What you'll need
Tap an item to get it on Amazon, or tick what you already have.
- Soft clothWipes the surface without scratching it and holds the soapy water. (opens Amazon)
- Mild dishwashing liquidDishwashing liquid is the base of every wash on plastic, from containers to lids. (opens Amazon)
- Warm waterLoosens the mark and rinses the soap off.
- Plastic or nylon scrub padOnly for a stain that stays after washing. (opens Amazon)
- Isopropyl alcoholHelps with stubborn marker on plastic lids, after a test spot. (opens Amazon)
- Lint-free clothGentle enough for phone cases, which need a slightly damp wipe. (opens Amazon)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Wipe with warm soapy water
Dip a soft cloth in warm water with a little mild dishwashing liquid, and wipe the stained area gently. Work from the edges toward the middle so the stain doesn't spread. Keep wiping until the cloth comes away clean.
Tip. Try a small patch first to see how the plastic responds.
Step 2 of 6
Hand wash food containers in hot soapy water
For food containers and lids, wash by hand in hot soapy water, working the cloth into corners and seams. The dishwasher top rack is the other option, but only for pieces that allow it.
Careful. Use the top rack only if the product says it is safe there.
Step 3 of 6
Scrub only with a plastic or nylon pad
If the stain is still there after washing, scrub gently with a plastic or nylon pad in small circles. Stop as soon as the stain lifts, then rinse before you check the spot.
Careful. Never use an abrasive cleanser, even on a stubborn spot.
Step 4 of 6
Rub out marker with isopropyl alcohol
For stubborn marker on a plastic lid, dampen a soft cloth with isopropyl alcohol and rub the mark lightly. It may help, but it won't lift every mark, so stop if the mark doesn't move.
Careful. Test the alcohol on a hidden spot before you use it on the visible part.
Step 5 of 6
Rinse off the soap and dry
Rinse the piece under clean warm water until no soap is left on it. Dry it with a soft cloth and check the spot in good light before you put it away.
Step 6 of 6
Repeat the steps if a mark remains
Once the piece is dry, look at the spot again. If any mark is left, go back through the wash, the scrub and the alcohol rub in that order, instead of reaching for a harsher method.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best stain removers for plastic & tupperware
A mild dishwashing liquid, a soft cloth, a plastic or nylon pad and isopropyl alcohol cover the jobs above. Test any other product type, including rust removers, on a hidden spot before you use it on the visible part.
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.
See what to do for what you're seeing →If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →Know the stain? Use its own guide
Every stain on plastic & tupperware
Paint, glue & adhesives10
Ink, marker & crayon5
Food & drink11
Water, rust & minerals4
Discoloration & marks8
Wax, gum & sticky4
Oil & grease1
Smoke & burns2
Makeup & personal care4
No match. Try the main search for anything else.
How to tell it's working
A clean surface looks even, with no tacky film or dull patches once it dries. If the mark is gone when the piece is dry, you're done; if it's still visible, it's probably set, so move on to the set-in section below.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your plastic & tupperware
Cutting boards and chopping boards
Cutting boards get the same wash as any plastic surface: warm water, mild dishwashing liquid and a soft cloth. Cutting boards need the gentlest treatment, so don't assume a stronger product is safe for one, even if a mark looks stubborn.
For a mark that stays after washing, use the plastic or nylon pad and nothing harsher. Dry the board fully before you put it away, and don't set it near heat to speed the drying.
Bathtubs, sinks, showers and bathroom fixtures
Plastic tubs, sinks and shower surfaces respond to the same warm soapy wash, and plastic toilet seats are cleaned that way too. Start there before you try anything else on a fixture.
If a ring or film stays, repeat the wash and then use the plastic or nylon pad. Don't move to a solvent on a bathroom fixture unless you've tested it on a hidden spot first.
Phone cases and earbud cases
Take the phone out of the case first, then wipe the case with a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth. Use the same light wipe on an earbud case, and let it dry fully before you put anything back in.
Silicone cases need the gentlest handling of all, so let the damp cloth do the work. If a mark stays, wipe it again with the damp cloth rather than trying a new product.
Food on plastic, like pasta, carrot, kimchi and soup
Pasta, carrot, kimchi and soup all respond to the same hot soapy hand wash, and fresh marks come out more easily than old ones. Wash the piece soon after use so the food has less time to settle in.
Tomato and acidic sauces are the ones that can mark plastic lids, so rinse those lids as soon as you can. If color stays, scrub with the plastic or nylon pad rather than heating the piece to lift it.
PVC, vinyl, melamine, plexiglass and laminate
PVC, vinyl, melamine, plexiglass and laminate can each react differently, so start with the mild soap and warm water wipe and nothing stronger. Wipe in one direction with a soft cloth, then rinse and dry.
Check a hidden spot before you use anything stronger, and stop if the surface looks different after the test. For a mark that stays, the plastic or nylon pad is the most you should use.
Acetone, alcohol, sanitizer and other product stains
Keep acetone and other household solvents off plastic, since they can damage it. The only solvent in these steps is isopropyl alcohol, and it's for marker on lids, not for a product stain.
Start with the mild soap and warm water wipe, and stop if the mark doesn't lift with it. Don't reach for a stronger product, since it's a quick way to damage the plastic.
Plastic bowls, plates, cups and blender jars
Bowls, plates and cups go through the same hand wash in hot soapy water, and blender jars can take the same approach if the product allows it. Keep the scrub pad to plastic or nylon.
If the product's directions don't mention the top rack, hand wash it. Dry the piece fully before you stack it with others.
Patio, outdoor and resin furniture
Outdoor furniture gets the same gentle treatment, so stick to mild dishwashing liquid, warm water and a soft cloth. Work across the whole piece in one pass so the cleaning looks even.
For a mark that stays, use the plastic or nylon pad and rinse well. Test anything stronger on a hidden spot before you use it on the visible part.
Car interiors, dashboards and gauge clusters
Interior plastic like a dashboard or gauge cluster needs the gentlest touch, so keep any approach light. Use a soft, lint-free cloth with warm water and a little mild dishwashing liquid, and wipe lightly.
Skip the alcohol rub on a gauge cluster unless you've tested it first. If the mark won't come off with the gentle wipe, stop there rather than pushing a stronger product.
Old, dried or set-in stains
An old stain on plastic is harder to shift, and there isn't a proven stronger treatment for it here beyond the isopropyl alcohol rub on marker. Start with a longer wash rather than a harsher product, and test any solvent on a hidden spot first.
If the stain has dried on, repeat the wash and the gentle scrub with the plastic or nylon pad, then give it a second round before you decide it's set. Dry the piece fully between rounds so you can see what's left.
If the mark is still visible after that, accept a faint mark as the realistic result, especially on lids that have held tomato sauce. Heat and abrasives aren't safe options here, so don't try them to finish the job.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on plastic & tupperware?
Most home remedies you'll come across don't belong on plastic, so this list is short. Only mild dishwashing liquid and isopropyl alcohol on marker are needed, and a mild soap wash handles the rest without the risk.
Works2Skip5
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't put lids on a flame, stovetop or broiler
Plastic lids and containers can't take direct heat from a flame, a stovetop, a broiler or an oven. Keep them away from all four, even when you're trying to loosen a stubborn mark.
Don't microwave with the lids sealed
A sealed lid can warp in the microwave. Vent it or set it slightly off to avoid warping, every time.
Don't let nail polish or aftershave touch toilet seats
Both damage the finish on plastic toilet seats, so wipe off any spill right away. Clean the seat with mild soap and warm water, and keep those products on the other side of the bathroom.
Don't overheat fatty food, sugar or tomato sauce in plastic
Overheating high-fat foods, sugar, oils or tomato sauce in plastic can cause staining and blistering. If you need to warm them, use a glass or ceramic dish instead and wash the plastic soon after.
Don't use household cleaners on phone cases
Window cleaners, household cleaners, aerosol sprays, solvents, ammonia and abrasives are off limits on silicone phone cases. A soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth is all the case needs.
Don't use solvents or abrasives on acrylic
Keep solvents and abrasive cleansers off acrylic, even for a small mark. A soft cloth with mild dishwashing liquid and warm water is the safe choice instead.
Troubleshooting
If the stain is still there
Pick what you're seeing:
A container is stained orange from tomato sauce
Wash it in hot soapy water and accept that some tint may stay. Avoid overheating tomato sauce in plastic next time.
The plastic looks dull after cleaning
That is usually fine scratching from too much pressure or a rough pad. Switch to a soft cloth only.
When to call a professional
The care data for plastic doesn't say when to call a professional, so there's no firm rule to give you here. For a large fixture like a bathtub or a car dashboard that won't clear after the steps above, asking someone who works on that surface is the sensible next step. Don't keep trying a stronger product on it yourself.
Questions
Do plastic food containers stain?
Yes, plastic food containers can stain, especially from tomato and acidic sauces on lids. For melamine, the closest rule is the mild soap wash, with a test on a hidden spot first and no scouring pads, which this surface can't take.
Will pasta or carrot stains come out of plastic?
Start with a hot soapy hand wash, since fresh food marks come out more easily than old ones. If a mark stays, scrub with the plastic or nylon pad, and don't heat the piece to try to lift it.
How do I get yellow plastic back to clear?
Yellowing has no tested fix in the plastic data, so the closest rule is gentle care: start with the warm, mild soap wash and check the surface after it dries. Don't use heat to try to whiten the plastic.
Will marker come off a plastic lid?
It may lift with a soft cloth and isopropyl alcohol, which is the one product the care data names for marker on plastic lids. Test a hidden spot first, and stop if the mark doesn't move after a gentle rub.
Can acetone or other product stains come out of plastic?
Acetone has no proven treatment on plastic, so test any solvent on a hidden spot and stop if the surface changes. The mild soap wash is the safe first move.
Can I put plastic containers in the dishwasher?
Containers can go on the top rack only if the product says it's allowed. If the directions don't say so, hand wash them in hot soapy water instead.
Can I wipe a phone case with a damp cloth?
Yes, once you've taken the phone out, wipe the case with a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth. Let it dry fully before you put the phone back in.
Related
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.