Dry it upside down or you'll be scrubbing again next week

The trick to cleaning a lunch box with nooks and crannies isn’t a stronger cleaner — it’s a vinegar soak followed by thorough upside-down drying.

First, take it apart as much as you can. Pull out the rubber gaskets, dividers, and any removable trays. Wash everything in hot soapy water and go after the seams with a bottle brush or an old toothbrush. A sponge just pushes gunk deeper into the grooves.

For the moldy or smelly spots, fill the box with hot water and a cup of white vinegar and let it sit for 20-30 minutes. Vinegar kills most mold spores and knocks out odors without leaving a chemical smell. Rinse well after.

The drying step is the one people skip, and it’s the whole ballgame. Mold needs moisture, so dry every piece with a towel first, then leave the box open and upside down on a dish rack for several hours. Same for the lid and all the little parts. If you pack it away while any water is trapped in a crevice, you’re just farming mold for tomorrow.

A few hours of drying beats scrubbing mold out of a hinge with a toothpick. Every time.