Hot soapy water, then a bleach rinse

Hot soapy water gets a lunch box clean; a dilute bleach rinse gets it truly disinfected. The trick is the order and not going overboard with harsh chemicals or scalding water.

First, wash the box inside and out with regular dish soap and the hottest tap water that won’t warp the material. Plastic lunch boxes will distort if you use boiling water, so stick to hot from the tap. For stainless steel or glass, you can be more aggressive. Rinse everything well.

Now sanitize, like they do in restaurants. Mix one tablespoon of plain unscented bleach per gallon of water (or one teaspoon per quart). Swish or wipe that solution over the entire surface, including the lid and any latches, and let it sit for a couple of minutes. Then rinse thoroughly and air dry.

Skip bleach if you have a fancy insulated soft-sided cooler — the lining won’t like it. For those, use a damp cloth with hot soapy water or a food-safe spray sanitizer and let it dry completely.

Final thought: Your nose will tell you if you missed a spot.