Kill lunch box mold with vinegar, not bleach

Vinegar and a toothbrush will kill lunch box mold better than bleach.

First, take the lunch box apart as far as it will go. Pop out the silicone gasket, pull off the latch covers if you can, even the hinge pin if you’re feeling brave. Mold loves those hidden spots, so you need access.

Rinse off any loose stuff, then soak the pieces in white vinegar or 3% hydrogen peroxide for 10–15 minutes. Scrub with a toothbrush, especially in the seams and the gasket channel. Bleach seems logical, but it doesn’t penetrate silicone and plastic pores like vinegar does, and it can wreck the gasket over time.

Rinse everything well and let it air dry completely, and I mean completely, before putting it back together. Leave it open overnight. If you see mold again after a proper vinegar soak, it’s living inside the plastic itself, and no cleaning will fix that.

If you have to scrub that hard, just buy a new one.