Baking soda beats garlic smell in silicone

Baking soda paste is the fix for a garlic-smelling bento box.

Soap and hot water aren’t enough because silicone is porous at a microscopic level. It literally holds onto garlic’s sulfur compounds, and regular dish soap just rinses the surface. You have to neutralize the smell, not just wash it off.

Make a thick paste of baking soda and a little water, coat the silicone dividers, and let it sit for 15–30 minutes. Then scrub gently with a sponge and rinse. If the smell is really stubborn, soak the whole box in warm water with a couple tablespoons of baking soda for an hour.

Sunlight also helps — UV light breaks down odor molecules. Leave the box in direct sun for an afternoon after cleaning and it’ll come back neutral.

Your lunch will taste like salad, not yesterday’s garlic.