Bleach is fine on a metal lunch box

A metal lunch box is easy to disinfect — wash it with soap and water, then wipe it down with a diluted bleach solution.

First, scrub the whole thing inside and out with hot water and dish soap. This gets rid of the grime that actually protects germs. Then mix 1 tablespoon of bleach per gallon of water (or 1 teaspoon per quart), wipe every surface with it, and let it sit for a minute or two.

Rinse it thoroughly with clean water and let it air dry completely. Bleach smell will be gone once it’s dry — don’t rush it and don’t rinse with vinegar to “neutralize” it, that just creates chlorine gas.

One thing to check: if the box is painted or coated on the outside, bleach can dull the finish. In that case, use 70% rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide on a paper towel instead. Same deal — wipe, wait a minute, rinse.

Also skip the boiling water trick. It works on plain steel, but it can warp the metal or wreck a painted finish.

A quick wipe-down before each use keeps it clean enough. The box doesn’t need to be sterile — it needs to be clean.