This Viral TikTok Method to Clean Stained Tupperware Is the Most Effective Method Yet

We love a hack that actually works when we try it, and impresses the scientists.

By
Mary Jo DiLonardo
Mary Jo DiLonardo
Mary Jo DiLonardo
Mary Jo DiLonardo has worked in print, online, and broadcast journalism for more than 25 years. She’s covered a wide range of topics focused on nature, health, science, animals, and anything that helps make the world a better place.
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Updated on 07/5/23
person scooping beef stew into a tupperware containers

Getty Images / Brett Stevens

If your plastic Tupperware has been home to leftover tomato sauce, hearty soup, or a bolognese, you’re probably familiar with that impenetrable orange hue that always seems to linger. No matter how many hours you let it soak, or how many times you run it through the dishwasher, the stain remains.

It can be tempting to toss the container—or to relegate it as “the one you use to store sauce.”  But thanks to TikTok, we don’t have to do either. 

In late 2020, Facesbyadi posted a video on TikTok breaking down a genius method that will get rid of your Tupperware stains—and all you need is some dish soap, warm water, and a paper towel. Start by putting a few squirts of soap in the container, add warm water, and a few pieces of ripped-up paper towels. Make sure the lid is on tight before shaking vigorously for about a minute. Rinse and the stain is magically gone, right down the drain.

We Asked A Scientist: But Why Does It Work?

According to microbiologist Jason Tetro—the host of the Super Awesome Science Show and author of The Germ Code and The Germ Files—there are two components that have an impact on why this paper towel shake-down method works.

“The first is the shaking or agitation that physically helps the detergent remove the oil and grease embedded in the plastic. There is a higher concentration of detergent touching the surface and it is being agitated with a greater force than a dishwasher,” Tetro says.

The second is the paper towel and it turns out that’s the key. “The paper towel also absorbs the oil and grease making sure that it won’t fall back into the plastic.” Tetro notes that this technique might only work on fresh stains and not stubborn ones that have been there for a while. But it can be more effective than just washing it in the dishwasher. “The overall effect should be improved removal of the oil and grease in the stain.”

Stain Prevention

To prevent stains from ever happening, spray the inside of the container with non-flavored cooking spray. Even easier? You can also line the container with plastic wrap or foil, as long as you aren’t going to microwave your Tupperware.

Other Tupperware Cleaning Methods

Although this method isn’t exactly the way the experts at the American Cleaning Institute recommend, they say there’s no reason why this hack shouldn’t work.

“The method shown basically recreates the dishwasher, but with more individual attention on the container,” says Jessica Ek, spokesperson for the organization. “It combines the three energies of the cleaning process—agitation, chemistry (detergent), and temperature.”

The American Cleaning Institute suggests these tips for washing stained plastic food containers:

  • Leave containers in direct sun on the kitchen counter for several hours.
  • Soak them in a solution of 2 teaspoons of bleach per gallon of water. Rinse and dry well before using again.
  • For particularly smelly stains, use 1 teaspoon of baking soda with 1 cup of water and scrub well, then rinse. Or try washing and soaking with undiluted vinegar. Rinse well.