Baking soda paste is the fix for stinky stainless

A paste of baking soda and water will pull garlic and onion smells out of a stainless steel lunch box in a few minutes.

Garlic and onion leave behind sulfur compounds that cling to the metal and work their way into tiny scratches and pores. Wiping alone won’t cut it. Mix about three parts baking soda with one part water into a thick paste, spread it over the inside, and let it sit for 10–15 minutes. Scrub with a soft sponge and rinse with cold water — hot water can drive the smell deeper.

If it’s still faintly onion-y after that, try the old stainless steel trick: rub the inside with a stainless steel spoon under cold running water. The sulfur compounds bind more strongly to the spoon than to the box, so they transfer off. Finish by drying it completely and leaving the lid open in the sun for a few hours. Trapped moisture is what keeps smells alive.

Your lunch box shouldn’t smell like last Tuesday’s pasta.