Baking soda beats tomato stains on plastic

Baking soda is the quickest way to get tomato sauce stains out of plastic lunch boxes. Make a thick paste with water, rub it over the stain, and let it sit for 10–15 minutes before rinsing. Most of the discoloration lifts right off with a sponge.

If the stain is old or stubborn, do the same thing but leave the paste on for a few hours or add a little dish soap. The mild abrasiveness is what does the work — you’re basically sanding off the top layer of dye that has sunk into the plastic.

Avoid harsh bleach unless the container is clearly marked safe for it. It can break down the plastic and leave a weird smell. Sunlight also fades tomato stains, so if you have time, set the clean container in direct sun for an afternoon. That works especially well on lids.

Your lunch box isn’t ruined — it just needs a thirty-second scrub.