Are you struggling with the odor coming from your plastic containers? Let me show you how to remove odor from plastic quickly!
The smell of plastic is an unpleasant thing. This can be caused by several things, especially storing food for too long.
This smell of course makes you uncomfortable using the plastic. What’s more, the smell is a sign of mold or mildew in your container.
Don’t worry.
You can do this easily with home ingredients. I’m sure almost all the ingredients used to get rid of the smell of plastic are already available in your kitchen.
Keep reading to know how to remove odor from plastic easily!
Contents
How to remove odor from plastic
1. Baking soda
Baking soda is a natural odor absorber.
When the powder has contact with the odor, it releases the gas which neutralizes the smell.
It is also easy to find and cheap.
You can put 4 tablespoons of baking soda inside the plastic container, close it, and shake it well.
Leave it overnight. Then, rinse off the baking soda with water and wipe it with a dry microfiber cloth!
You can also use baking soda to neutralize vinegar smell!
2. Lemon juice
Lemon juice can be used to remove odor from plastic.
The citric acid in lemon juice will break down the particles of the odor and neutralize them.
To remove odors from plastic, mix one part lemon juice with three parts water.
Spray the mixture onto the surface with your spray bottle.
Allow the mixture to sit for at least one hour before rinsing with water and drying with a soft cloth.
You can also cut the lemon in halves and put it in a plastic container. Put the lid on and wait for 24 hours.
You can also use lemon juice to remove yellowed in fiberglass tub!
3. Activated charcoal
Activated charcoal is another option to get rid of odor in plastic.
It is a type of carbon you can use to absorb odors and neutralize any lingering smell.
It is usually sold in the form of black powder. You can also buy it in solid form.
To use it, place a small bowl of activated charcoal inside your plastic container and leave it overnight. Then, remove and clean your container the next morning.
4. Coffee grounds
Coffee grounds are a great natural neutralizer. It absorbs the bad odor and gives a fresh scent to your container.
Simply sprinkle a tablespoon of coffee grounds into the plastic, then rub it in with your hands. Let it sit overnight.
Then, wipe off the excess grounds with a paper towel, remove the coffee grounds, and rinse the plastic under running water.
5. Vinegar
Vinegar is a natural odor neutralizer you can use with plastic. The acetic compounds in it will get rid of any bad odors and leave your plastic smelling fresh.
Put a small bowl of vinegar into the container and leave it for 6 hours. Then, rinse the plastic with warm water and wipe it with a microfiber cloth.
6. Newspaper
Newspaper is the cheapest way to remove odor from plastic.
It is an absorbent material and it will soak up any lingering smells on your plastic items.
Simply wrap the plastic in a few layers of newspaper and put some pieces of newspaper in the container. Leave it overnight. When you remove the newspaper in the morning, your container should smell fresher!
7. Essential oil
Essential oil is made from plant extract. It has a wide selection of scents like lavender, citrus, etc.
Put a few drops of essential oil into the plastic and leave it for 6 hours. Then, rinse under running water and wipe it with a microfiber cloth
8. Dishwashing soap
Another simple remedy to remove odor from plastic is dishwashing soap.
It is a common household item you have in the kitchen.
Put a few drops of dishwashing soap and add some warm water. to the plastic container. Stir the mixture with a sponge until it creates the soapy liquid.
Leave it for 2 hours. Then, wash the whole plastic container with the sponge and rinse it under running water.
9. Castile liquid soap
Another safe material you can use to remove odor from plastic is Castile liquid soap.
It is s a natural soap made from vegetable oils.
It has no chemicals and is safe for your family’s health.
Put some Castile liquid soap in a bucket and add warm water. Stir the mixture with a sponge until it creates the soapy liquid. Soak the plastic and leave it for 2 hours.
Then, wash the whole plastic container with the sponge and rinse it under running water.
10. Tea bags
Tea bags are great for removing the odors from your plastic containers. The tannins in tea leaves help to remove odors from your plastic containers and make them smell fresh again.
Place a tea bag in your plastic container. Let it sit overnight. The next morning, rinse out the container and you should notice that the odor has been removed by the tea scent.
11. Bread
Bread contains starch that absorbs odors and moisture, which makes it good at absorbing odors.
Simply slice up a piece of bread and leave it in the container overnight. In the morning, wash the container with warm water and soap and rinse thoroughly to remove all traces of bread.
12. Dry rice
Dry rice absorbs the moisture that is causing the odor. It also absorbs any oils that are causing the odor.
Place dry rice in the plastic container. Before putting the rice in the storage container, make sure it is completely dry.
Close the lid and let the rice sit overnight.
The rice will absorb a large portion of the odor from your plastic storage items.
How to keep your plastic free from odor
1. Wash your plastic regularly
Cleaning your plastic containers is easy and can help keep them from smelling.
You can clean most plastics in the dishwasher or by hand with warm soapy water. Try to avoid using harsh cleaners or scouring pads, as they can scratch and dull the surface of the plastic.
Wash plastic containers and food storage containers before you use them for the first time. This will remove any residue left behind by the manufacturing process.
Clean out any food remnants left in the container with hot soapy water and let them dry completely before storing them again. This will also help remove any lingering odors that may have been absorbed by the plastic.
2. Keep the lid on your plastic containers
Plastic will absorb odors from its surroundings, but you can avoid this by keeping it covered.
Check that the lid is properly used. This keeps moisture out of the container and prevents mildew or mold growth.
3. Don’t store food in plastic for too long
When food is stored in plastic containers for a long time, the smell can become strong and unpleasant.
The longer you store food in plastic, the more likely it is that the food will pick up an odor from the container.
If you’re going to store something in plastic, make sure it will be used up within a week or so.
Or better yet, use glass or stainless steel containers instead of plastic ones.
Conclusion
Plastic tends to easily absorb the smell of the objects in it. Therefore, plastic often has an unpleasant odor when it is used.
No need to worry. You can do this with home ingredients.
I’ll show you how to remove odor from plastic bottles in a nutshell!
- Baking soda
- Lemon juice
- Activated charcoal
- Coffee grounds
- Vinegar
- Newspaper
- Essential oil
- Dishwashing soap
- Castile liquid soap
- Tea bags
- Bread
- Dry rice
If you are using storage container, read my article to get rid of the plastic smell!
