Baking soda will fix that lunch box

Persistent fish or onion smells in stainless steel come from oils trapped in the metal’s pores, and regular dish soap won’t always cut it.

Make a paste of baking soda and water — thick enough to spread but not runny. Coat the inside of the container, let it sit for ten or fifteen minutes, then scrub gently with a soft sponge and rinse. That neutralizes the odor instead of just masking it.

If it’s really stuck, run a second pass with white vinegar after rinsing. Or just leave the container outside in direct sun for a few hours — UV does a surprisingly good job on food smells.

Stainless steel is non-porous in theory, but in practice it holds onto oils. The trick is always a chemical or sunlight approach, not more scrubbing with detergent.