Vinegar makes plastic smell worse. Try sunlight.

For stubborn plastic smells, skip the vinegar and leave the container in direct sunlight. UV light actually breaks down the odor molecules, and vinegar’s acid can make plastic more porous over time, which means it traps smells even deeper.

Baking soda is the best household option, but not as a soak — make a thick paste, scrub it into every surface, and let it sit for an hour before rinsing. That combination scrubs out the grease film odors cling to and absorbs what’s left. Lemon just masks the smell with a stronger one; it doesn’t remove anything.

The real problem is micro-scratches and leftover oil. Wash smelly containers with hot water and dish soap first to strip the grease, then hit them with the baking soda paste or several hours of sunlight. Also stop microwaving in plastic — heat opens up the pores and bakes smells in permanently.

If a container still reeks after a proper wash, a sunlight session, and a paste scrub, that plastic is done. Toss it. A $3 replacement is the only truly permanent solution.