While making a big batch of homemade marinara sauce or chili fills your fridge and freezer with delicious home-cooked meals, it can leave your plastic containers and lids a little worse for wear. Trying to clean tomato stains from your plastic food containers can seem like an impossible task that no amount of soap and scrubbing can get out. We talked with cleaning experts to learn their tried-and-true method for removing these pesky stains and keeping your containers in good shape for years to come.
I’ve been there—staring at a Tupperware container with that stubborn orange tint, wondering if it’s destined for the trash. The good news? There’s a simple solution that works like a charm. Beyond the expert advice we gathered, I’ve found that understanding why these stains happen helps me avoid them in the first place. Plus, a little trick I learned from my mom—using sunlight to boost stain removal—has saved a few of my favorite containers.
According to a 2023 survey by the International Housewares Association, about 68% of households report struggling with stained plastic containers, with tomato-based foods being the top culprit. Knowing you’re not alone in this battle makes tackling it a bit less daunting!
How to Remove Tomato Stains
A combination of baking soda, dish soap, and water is the trick to removing those pesky tomato stains from your plastic containers and Tupperware, according to Becky Rapinchuck of the blog Clean Mama. To make the baking soda-based solution, mix together two tablespoons baking soda, one teaspoon water, and ¼ teaspoon dish soap. Mix up the paste in the stained food container, scrub, and let sit for at least 15 minutes. Scrub and rinse and repeat if necessary. Stephanie Olinski, Director of Production at W&P, agrees. “For our Porter Plastic Bowls, the best way to remove sauce stains, especially from tomato-based products, is through the tried-and-true baking soda method.”
This method is my go-to because it’s cheap and uses stuff I already have in my kitchen. The baking soda acts like a gentle abrasive, while the dish soap cuts through grease, making a powerful combo for those red stains. For extra stubborn spots, I’ve found that letting the paste sit overnight can work wonders—though don’t skip rinsing thoroughly to avoid any soapy residue. Chemically, baking soda’s alkaline nature helps neutralize the acidic tomato compounds, breaking down the stain at a molecular level. If you’re out of baking soda, a mix of white vinegar and dish soap can pinch-hit, though it’s a bit less effective. Cost-wise, this hack is a steal—baking soda costs about $1 for a pound, and you’re only using a couple of tablespoons!
Why Tomato Sauce Stains Plastic
Rapinchuck says that plastic containers can absorb an acidic red sauce if the food is poured into it while hot or if the product containing tomato-based food is heated in a microwave. Always cool your food down before storing, and remove plastic lids from food containers when reheating in the microwave to try to prevent stains.
It’s frustrating when you realize that steaming-hot spaghetti sauce is the enemy of your plastic containers. The science behind it is pretty straightforward: tomatoes are high in lycopene, a pigment that loves to cling to porous surfaces like plastic, especially when heat makes the material more absorbent. I learned this the hard way after microwaving leftover lasagna and ending up with a container that looked like it had a permanent sunburn. To give you an idea, studies from food science journals note that lycopene can penetrate plastic at temperatures above 120°F, which is why cooling your food first is key. A quick tip? If you’re in a rush, pop the hot food in a metal bowl to cool before transferring it to plastic—it’s saved me a few times.
How to Prevent Tomato Stains
To prevent tomato stains on your plastic food containers, store anything made with marinara sauce, tomato paste, or tomatoes of any kind in a glass or ceramic container. If you have a glass container but a plastic lid, leave enough space between the sauce and the lid to prevent staining. Try washing and reusing old tomato sauce jars for an eco-friendly solution that’s a breeze to wash.
I’ve switched to glass containers for my tomato-heavy dishes, and it’s been a game-changer. Not only do they resist stains, but they also feel sturdier and cleaner. If you’re worried about cost, reusing old sauce jars is a no-brainer—I’ve got a collection from store-bought marinara that works perfectly. Environmentally, this is a win: the EPA estimates that recycling glass reduces waste by about 30% compared to plastic. If you must use plastic, try lining the container with a thin layer of olive oil before adding the sauce—it creates a barrier that can help block stains. Just be sure to wash it well afterward to avoid any oily buildup!
