Sunlight kills lunch box stink

The fastest way to get onion or garlic smell out of a plastic lunch box is to leave it in direct sunlight for a few hours.

Wash the box with dish soap first, then set it outside in the sun. UV light actually breaks down the sulfur compounds that cause the smell — it’s not just drying it out, it’s chemically destroying the odor. A few hours on a sunny windowsill or patio usually does it.

No sun available? Your second best option is crumpled newspaper. Wad some up, stuff the box, close the lid, leave overnight. The newsprint absorbs the odor compounds. Baking soda works too, but it needs a full day and it’s messier.

And if the box has a rubber seal, check that too — that’s often where garlic smell hides. Wipe it with vinegar if soap isn’t cutting it.

The sun is free and it works. Beat the smell before it becomes a permanent feature of the container.