Sunlight is the real fix for stained plastic.

Tomato and turmeric stains in plastic come out best with sunlight, not scrubbing.

The reason soap alone doesn’t work: both turmeric (curcumin) and tomato (lycopene) are oil-soluble pigments. They bind to the plastic’s surface and regular dish soap won’t lift them. Rub the stain with a little cooking oil — vegetable or olive works — let it sit for 10 minutes, then wash normally. The oil dissolves the pigment so soap can finally grab it.

For whatever’s left, put the container in direct sunlight for a few hours. UV light breaks down the pigment molecules and bleaches the stain away. This works shockingly well. Flip the container so the stained surface faces the sun.

Skip the steel wool and abrasive pads. Scratching the plastic just gives future stains more places to hide. Baking soda paste works okay in a pinch, but it’s the sun that finishes the job.

Or just accept it. A stained lunch box still functions perfectly fine — you’re the only one who notices.