Tupperware pots and plastic containers are one of the most useful items in the kitchen, frequently used to store leftovers from dinner. But over time, they can quickly discolour, with the plastic permanently marked by orange staining, which looks dirty and unpleasant.
No matter how hard you scrub at them, the marks are impossible to get off - even on the highest dishwasher setting. But now one woman has revealed her clever hack to stop the stains - and you will need just two ingredients and minimal effort.
A video by Ayni, who goes by @ayni_home on TikTok, has already been seen by more than 1.2 million people. In the background, a voiceover can be heard saying: "Show me the life hack that you randomly saw one day that is now an unconscious standard practice in your life."
In the video, Ayni can be seen with a reusable container she's just eaten out of, and which is covered in grease. She places a sheet of kitchen roll in the tub, before adding four squirts of washing up liquid and then filling with warm water.
Ayni then secures the lid on the top and gives it a good shake to allow the soapy water to foam up before emptying out the mixture and rinsing the remaining suds out with water. She told viewers, "Quick wash and rinse and it's done - no orange stains!"
Cleaning guru shares why you shouldn't make your bed first thing in the morningIt's important to note that this method is best used to prevent staining, rather than to remove stains that already exist.
One user commented: "It's insane how well this works!" while a second added: "Always been doing this!!! best hack I’ve ever seen!" "That is genius !!!" a third remarked, and a fourth said: "Works like a charm!"
So, how to get rid of stains already ingrained on your tupperware? Savvy cleaners know that baking soda can clean just about anything, and it seems plastic food storage containers are no exception.
Allrecipes.com advises sprinkling a thick layer of baking soda on the bottom of the container before adding a little water to form a thick paste.
Spread the paste onto the parts of the container that are stained. Then, all you have to do is let it sit. Take a look after 30 minutes by pushing the baking soda to one side or looking at the bottom. If the stain is still visible, give it another 30 minutes. Once the stain is gone, wash out the baking soda and allow the container to dry.
You can also use hand sanitiser! Simply pump or pour enough sanitiser into the container to cover the stain and let it sit. After about an hour, wipe the container out with a paper towel, then give it a good wash.
The wiping is key here — you'll notice the stain transfers onto the paper towel as you wipe, and that the washing helps get any remaining colour out.
Will you be giving these hacks a go? Let us know in the comments section.