How to Fix Smelly Plastic Containers

Co-authored by Chris Willatt

Last Updated: March 1, 2023

Plastic containers are incredibly convenient for storing food, but they also can harbor bad smells. Whether it be the plastic-y smell of the container itself or the odors of the food of days past, smells can ingrain themselves in the container and be quite stubborn. Try hand washing, cleaning using vinegar and baking soda, or absorbing the smell with various absorbing agents. With some effort, your container will be odor-free and ready to use!

1

Use vinegar and baking soda.

This might help if you didn't have any luck with just soap and water. Take a large bowl or pot, and pour in a cup of white vinegar before adding in ¼ cup of baking soda (52.2 g). Stir the baking soda into the vinegar until they are mixed. Then, drop the plastic containers into the bowl with the vinegar and baking soda, remembering to also add the lids. Add enough water to submerge the containers, stir the mixture in the bowl, and let the containers soak for 24-48 hours.
- Put the plastic container in the dishwasher afterward, since vinegar can leave behind a strong scent itself. If you don't have a dishwasher, scrub thoroughly using water and dishwashing detergent.

2

Add a pinch of salt to the container.

Salt can help absorb the bad odor. If washing and soaking the container don't work to absorb the odor, absorbing agents like salt may get rid of the smell. Add a large pinch of salt to the inside of the container and leave it in a clump in the middle. Then cover it with the lid and leave it overnight. Just make sure to wipe out the salt before you use the container.^{[1]
X
Research source}

3

Place crumpled newspaper in the container.

Newspaper can also absorb bad odors left inside plastic containers. Take several sheets of newspaper, then tear and crumple them and place them inside the container with the lid on. The paper should soak up the bad odors if you leave it there for 24-48 hours.
- Wash the container after taking out the newspaper, since the newspaper may be dirty.

4

Use coffee grounds.

Coffee grounds are great at absorbing odors. After making the morning coffee, place the used coffee grounds in the plastic container. Used coffee grounds work better than fresh ones. Put the lid on and let the grounds sit in the container for about a day until the odor is gone.^{[2]
X
Research source}

5

Put the container in the sun.

The sun has great odor-fighting abilities. With this in mind, place the open plastic container outside on a sunny day. Leaving the container open will allow it to air out.^{[3]
X
Research source}
- If you aren't able to put the container directly outside, you can also just put it on a sunny windowsill.

6

Use vanilla extract.

Vanilla extract has a powerful, pleasant smell that can mask bad odors. To use vanilla extract, put a few tablespoons of water in the container along with a few drops of extract, then shut the container. You can also pour the vanilla on a cloth, put the cloth in the container and close the lid, leaving the vanilla to permeate the container for several hours.^{[4]
X
Research source}

7

Soak the container and clean it in the dishwasher.

This cleaning combo might do the trick. Start by scraping out and removing any leftover food scraps. Then, soak the container in a bowl filled with warm water and a generous amount of dish detergent. Let the container soak for at least 30 minutes, and then rinse and dry it off. To go the extra mile, stick the container in the dishwasher–the high heat might help remove the odor if hand-washing doesn’t get the job done.
- Make sure that your plastic container is dishwasher-safe first.
- Put the container on the top rack to prevent warping.

Expert Q&A

Question

What takes onion smell out of plastic containers?

Bridgett Price
House Cleaning Professional
Bridgett Price is a Cleaning Guru and Co-Owner of Maideasy, a maid service company that services the Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area. She holds a Master of Management from the University of Phoenix, specializing in digital and traditional marketing.

Bridgett Price

House Cleaning Professional

Expert Answer

If the bad smell is still there, sprinkle some baking soda over the container and let it sit for a few minutes. Then, wash it out again.
Question

How do you clean plastic containers?

Chris Willatt
House Cleaning Professional
Chris Willatt is the owner and founder of Alpine Maids, a cleaning agency in Denver, Colorado started in 2015. Alpine Maids has received Angie's List Super Service Award for three years in a row since 2016 and has been awarded Colorado's "Top Rated Local House Cleaning" Award in 2018.

Chris Willatt

House Cleaning Professional

Expert Answer

Just do it with soap and water. Do not use acidic products on a regular basis, as they can eat away of plastic over time.
Question

How do I get stale water odor out of camping water containers?

Community Answer

Take some good dish soap and hand wash it. If that doesn't work, then put the water bottle in the freezer open, with no water in it.