We’ve all been there. Last night’s curry or bolognese is finished, and you’re left with a plastic container coated in an oily film that no amount of sponging seems to shift. Many of us keep those takeaway containers for leftovers, freezer meals or the grandkids’ snacks. So it’s frustrating when they stay slippery and smelly no matter how hard you scrub.
The good news is there’s a quick fix, and you probably already have everything you need. This clever hack, shared by TikTok cooking account @cookistwow, takes about a minute and needs no scrubbing at all.
The 60-second paper towel hack
Add paper towel and soap. Scrunch up a sheet of paper towel, pop it inside the empty container and add a good squirt of dishwashing liquid. A splash of warm water helps the soap spread.
Put the lid on and shake. Close the container firmly and shake it hard for about a minute. The paper towel acts like a scourer on every surface, including corners a sponge can’t reach.
Rinse. Remove the paper towel and rinse the container under warm running water.
Finish if needed. If any greasy patches remain, give them a quick wipe with a sponge, then leave the container to dry upside down.
Plastic is “oil-loving”, which means grease clings to it far more stubbornly than it does to glass or ceramic. Dishwashing liquid breaks the oil down, and the paper towel scrubs and absorbs it as you shake. Instead of smearing the grease around with a sponge, it ends up in the paper towel, which goes in the bin.
Grease is only half the battle. Here’s how to deal with the other common problems.
Leave the clean container in direct sunlight for a few hours. UV light naturally fades many tomato and turmeric stains. Or rub on a paste of bicarbonate soda and a little water, leave it for 15 minutes, then rinse.
Soak the container in warm water with a cup of white vinegar for 30 minutes, then wash as normal. Or put a tablespoon of bicarbonate soda inside, put the lid on and leave it overnight.
Pull out removable silicone seals and wash them separately, because grease and mould love to hide underneath.
Rinse straight away. Grease is much easier to shift before it sets, so give containers a quick rinse as soon as they’re empty.
Wipe out first. Use a paper towel to wipe out oily sauces before washing. It saves your sponge and your pipes.
Use warm, not boiling, water. Very hot water can warp thin takeaway plastic.
Use the dishwasher’s top rack. Many containers can go on the top rack, away from the heating element. Check the base for a “dishwasher safe” symbol.
Reheat oily food in glass. Heating oily or tomato-based food in plastic makes stains worse. Many single-use takeaway containers aren’t designed for repeated microwave use either.
Know when to let go. If a container is cracked, warped or permanently cloudy, it’s time to recycle it.
Often, yes, but it depends on your council. A plastic’s recycling number doesn’t guarantee it’s accepted in your local yellow bin, so check your council’s website. Containers should be empty with visible food removed. A quick rinse is enough, and there’s no need to scrub them spotless or use hot water. Food-soiled containers can contaminate whole loads of recycling, so this hack is handy even if you’re recycling them rather than reusing them.
How do you get grease out of plastic containers? Put a sheet of paper towel and a squirt of dishwashing liquid in the container, put the lid on and shake hard for about a minute. Then rinse with warm water. The paper towel scrubs and absorbs the grease as you shake.
Why are my plastic containers still greasy after washing? Plastic attracts and holds onto oil, so a sponge often just spreads grease around. Use enough dishwashing liquid and warm water, and try the paper towel shake method to lift the oil off instead.
How do I get tomato stains out of plastic containers? Leave the clean container in direct sunlight for a few hours, or apply a paste of bicarbonate soda and water for 15 minutes before rinsing.
How do I get rid of smells in plastic containers? Soak the container in warm water with white vinegar for 30 minutes, or leave a spoonful of bicarbonate soda inside with the lid on overnight.
Can I put takeaway containers in the dishwasher? Many can go on the top rack, but thin single-use containers may warp. Check the base for a dishwasher-safe symbol.
Do takeaway containers need to be clean to recycle? They should be empty, with visible food removed. A quick rinse is enough. Rules vary between councils, so check what your local council accepts.
Do you have a favourite cleaning hack for stubborn kitchen jobs? Share it in the comments below.
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