Save Your Food-Stained Plastic Container With TikTok's Genius Paper Towel Hack

Over time, Tupperware and other plastic food storage containers can become covered in stains that seem impossible to remove. When used to store foods with a red sauce, plastic containers develop an orange tinge that often stays even after being washed several times. If you use your containers to reheat leftovers in the microwave, it may seem like the unsightly discolorations are permanent. Luckily, this TikTok hack has made it possible to get rid of these nasty stains once and for all. The trick was posted by @facesbyadi in 2020 and shows how with just some warm water, dish soap, a few paper towels, and a little elbow grease, plastic food storage containers can look like new again.

This hack is effective at removing stains from food storage containers because the dish soap will start to lift the oils from the plastic, while the paper towels will absorb them as you shake the container. With this simple trick, your plastic food storage containers will look as good as new.

How to clean stained plastic containers with paper towels

Because this stain removal hack only uses dish soap, paper towels, and water, it is an easy and inexpensive way to clean your Tupperware and other plastic food storage containers. Start by adding a few drops of dish soap to the container and filling it about halfway with warm water. Make sure not to overfill, as this would leave less room for the paper towels to move inside the container. Now, you'll be able to tear a couple of paper towels into large pieces and place them in the soapy water.

Secure the lid onto your container and shake it as hard as you can. It's best to do this over the sink to avoid a mess in case the lid pops off. Within a minute, the paper towels and soap combined with the aggressive shaking motion should pull the orange stains right off the plastic. Whether the container once held spaghetti sauce or tomato soup, you won't be able to tell after trying this hack.