Say goodbye to stubborn stains with this genius container cleaning hack

If you’ve stored leftover spaghetti or lasagne in a plastic takeaway container, you’ll know all too well the frustration of the orange stain which is left behind.

The contents of the delicious meal may be gone, but the mark just won’t budge, no matter how long you leave the container soaking or scrub it with detergent. And although you know it’s clean, you’re probably inclined to throw it in the bin.

But do not despair, Blossom, a website full of cooking, cleaning and craft hacks, has come to the rescue with a super simple method to removing the stubborn stains.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BvZR_z-A-PF/?utm_source=ig_embed

First, place 1 cup of sugar into the stained container, then drizzle with dishwashing liquid, followed by a handful of ice cubes and a touch of water. Next, mix the ingredients together and leave the container to soak for a couple of hours. Once you think it’s soaked enough, give it a quick wash and watch the stain disappear right before your eyes.

If you’re a little sceptical then you’re in for a wake up call, because the video was shared to Blossom’s Instagram page and it’s sent the Internet wild.

“That stained plastic solution just changed the game,” @nofacceespammm wrote on the post. “How handy,” @lorrenzo said. “This is epic,” @KaylaLouise added.

If however, you’ve collected far too many takeaway containers over the years and no longer need them to store your food, there are other creative ways you can make use of them.

Paint trays

If you’re the artistic type, plastic containers, or the lids alone, make a great paint tray. Instead of using fine china or purchasing a special palette, use old containers or lids to blend colours or keep colours separate.

If you’re enjoying a painting activity with your grandchildren, you won’t have to worry about them ruining anything either with no chance of breakage. As an added bonus, you can simply snap on the lid to save any leftover paint from drying out so you can use it the next day.

Trays for plant pots

Filling your home pots of lovely flowers and plants can really brighten up your environment. The downside is that some pots come without matching water trays, meaning water leaks out the bottom of the pot and onto your floor, even when you think the soil has dried out sufficiently to bring the pot inside after a soaking.

Putting the lid of a takeaway container under your pot will catch any leakage, prevent those little bits of soil from falling from the hole in the bottom of the pot and ensure your floor is mark-free.

Seed-starting trays

Plastic containers can be used to get seedlings started. All you need to do in punch a few holes in the bottom of the container for drainage, fill it with soil, plant the seeds and place the lid back on top.

This creates a greenhouse atmosphere for the seedlings to grow in before they are re-planted in individual pots. And using takeaway containers will save you money, which is a perfect excuse for buying more plants!