The most effective way to get a smell out of a storage container is mixing a tablespoon of baking soda with a little water into a paste, rubbing it over the inside of the container, and leaving it uncovered overnight. Baking soda does not just mask the smell, it neutralises the acidic and sulphur compounds behind it, so the result actually sticks.
This works especially well for the marks that onion, garlic, fish or pickles leave on plastic; rinsing the container well with water the next day clears most of the smell away.
How is the baking soda method applied?
Mix baking soda with a small amount of water and rub it over every surface of the container with a sponge, paying extra attention to the corners and edges. Leave the container uncovered rather than sealed, so the baking soda keeps reacting with the air as it draws out the smell.
Rinsing it well with water the next morning clears away most of both the smell and any faint staining; stubborn odours can be treated a second time if needed.
Where does sun-drying get its effect from?
Leaving a washed container uncovered in the sun for a few hours lets ultraviolet light help break down some of the compounds behind the odour. This works even better when combined with the baking soda treatment.
Since direct sunlight can fade plastic's colour over the long run, it is enough to limit the exposure to just a few hours.
Why does crumpled paper absorb the smell?
Crumpling up newspaper or paper towel and sealing it inside the container lets the paper's porous texture soak up moisture and odour molecules from the air, cutting down the smell. This works overnight and is a good stand-in when there is no baking soda around.
Replace the paper if it gets damp and swollen; wet paper can start giving off its own smell instead of absorbing the container's.
In which containers does the smell linger longest?
Soft, flexible plastic absorbs odour more deeply than rigid plastic, since its porous structure lets smell molecules work their way further in. This effect is more noticeable in containers that spend a long time holding strongly coloured or scented food like red pepper or garlic.
Glass containers hold onto smell and staining far less than plastic; choosing glass for foods with a strong, regular smell extends how long a container stays usable.
How can the smell be kept from coming back?
Sealing a container before it is completely dry creates a damp environment where a new smell can start forming, so containers should air dry fully before being used again. Setting aside a separate group of containers just for strong-smelling foods also cuts down the overall problem.
The lid's rubber seal holds onto smell too; removing and washing it separately keeps the odour from coming from the lid even when the rest of the container is clean.
In short
A baking soda paste left overnight is the most effective fix for a smell trapped in a storage container; sun-drying and crumpled paper work as supporting alternatives. Soft plastic containers hold onto smell far more deeply than glass ones.
Letting the container dry completely before sealing it, and washing the lid's seal separately, goes a long way toward keeping the smell from coming back.
Comments (4)
Sarımsak koktu diye attığım bir kabı son kez kabartma tozu macunuyla denedim, bir gece bekletince gerçekten koku büyük ölçüde gitti. Keşke daha önce denemiş olsaydım, birkaç kabı boşuna çöpe atmışım.
Sarımsak koktu diye attığım bir kabı son kez kabartma tozu macunuyla denedim, bir gece bekletince gerçekten koku büyük ölçüde gitti. Keşke daha önce denemiş olsaydım, birkaç kabı boşuna çöpe atmışım.
Sarımsak koktu diye attığım bir kabı son kez kabartma tozu macunuyla denedim, bir gece bekletince gerçekten koku büyük ölçüde gitti. Keşke daha önce denemiş olsaydım, birkaç kabı boşuna çöpe atmışım.
Sarımsak koktu diye attığım bir kabı son kez kabartma tozu macunuyla denedim, bir gece bekletince gerçekten koku büyük ölçüde gitti. Keşke daha önce denemiş olsaydım, birkaç kabı boşuna çöpe atmışım.