Plastic is the problem. Go glass.

The easiest fix is to stop using plastic containers. Glass and stainless steel don’t absorb fish or garlic smells the way plastic does, so your lunch box stays neutral even after curry or tuna salad.

Plastic traps odor molecules in micro-scratches and pores. You can scrub it, soak it, and it still smells faintly of last week’s pesto. Glass is non-porous, so it just washes clean. If you’re serious about this, buy a few glass meal-prep containers and never look back.

If you’re stuck with plastic for now, try a baking soda paste (scrub and let sit) or a vinegar soak. Sunlight works too—leave the empty container in direct sun for a few hours. Those help, but they’re damage control, not a fix.

The real answer is not buying plastic lunch boxes in the first place. Your future tuna sandwich will thank you.