Removing Stains from Tupperware

Can you really go to any kitchen in the United States and not find something like Tupperware? Over the years it has become a virtual necessity to have at least a few plastic containers to store your leftovers. There is just one slight problem with these fantastic storage devices—they have an uncanny ability to collect stains like some people collect stamps.

Instead of throwing away a whole bunch of money replacing your containers every few weeks, why not remove the stains yourself? Here are a few of the different methods that anyone can use to restore their Tupperware to like-new status.

• Pre-treat. The best way to keep stains from ruining your Tupperware is to actually pre-treat it. Before you heat or cook anything in your plastic containers that can stain them, use a little cooking oil. The cooking oil will make a little barrier between the plastic and the staining agent and greatly increase the life of your storage containers.
• Nuke It. Fill the dish about 3/4 of the way full of water and five squirts of bottled lemon juice. Place all of this into the microwave and set the timer for at least four and a half minutes so that the water begins to boil. Once the timer has gone off, leave the dish in the microwave for about a minute, then pull it out of the microwave and allow the water to cool. The stains should noticeably fade or disappear as is it cools. A final regular wash once you are done doing this should take care of anything left over.
• Baking Soda. Simply sprinkle a little baking soda into the plastic container and work that baking soda into the stains with a wet paper towel or washcloth. You should be able to see an immediate result as the stain is removed.
• White Vinegar. An oldie but goodie that can be used to clean just about anything in the home: Mix a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and warm water and allow it to sit for thirty minutes. After you have soaked the Tupperware for about thirty minutes, clean as you normally would.
• Replace It. If your plastic containers are actually Tupperware, then you might be surprised to find out that there is a limited lifetime warranty for their products. What this means is that under normal wear and tear, if it becomes unusable then they will replace it at no cost to you (well, other than shipping and handling) as long as you have not altered the containers in any way. Visit the Tupperware website for more information about their warranty:

http://order.tupperware.com/coe/app/tup_guide.warranty