With a compact design that is easy to carry, the office lunch box is a very convenient item for office workers or students. Although it is used daily, do you know how to properly clean your lunch box? Read our article below to learn many useful tips!
A. Cleaning the plastic lunch box
There are many types of office lunch boxes, including heated lunch boxes, plastic lunch boxes, glass lunch boxes… Today’s article will introduce you to the methods of cleaning plastic lunch boxes and glass lunch boxes.
1. Cleaning the plastic lunch box
The first step to remove the food odor and residue on the plastic container is to wash it as soon as possible. If you don’t have time, you can rinse the box and soak it in water. Then, you can wash it thoroughly with warm water and dish soap. Finally, rinse it with clean water.
If the lunch box has a food odor, you can try the following methods to remove the odor:
Cleaning with vinegar
After washing the plastic container with warm water and dish soap, fill the box with vinegar and let it sit for 3 minutes. Then, pour out the vinegar and rinse it again with clean water and dish soap. All the stubborn food stains and unpleasant odors will disappear.
Using fresh lemon
For dishes with strong odors and dark colors such as curry, Thai hotpot… when stored in a plastic lunch box, it is easy for the smell and color to stick to the container. The solution is very simple: After removing the food from the plastic container, just rub a fresh lemon on the container, then soak it in warm water and wash it with dish soap, and all the stains will be completely removed.
Using baking soda
Just pour some warm water and a little baking soda, then rub the inside and outside of the lunch box. Let them sit for a day and then rinse them thoroughly. If there are still many stains and odors, repeat the process until it is clean.
2. Cleaning the glass lunch box
Compared to plastic lunch boxes, glass lunch boxes are less likely to absorb food odors and are easier to clean. Therefore, when cleaning a glass lunch box, simply use water and dish soap. If the lunch box has a food odor, you can apply the same odor removal methods as with the plastic lunch box mentioned above.
B. Cleaning the lunch box lid
Cleaning the lunch box lid is similar to cleaning the lunch box, but it is more difficult due to the rubber seal that seals and insulates the lunch box. After a period of use, this rubber seal often gets yellowed. The main reason is that water or grease from the food gets stuck around the rubber seals and is not cleaned or dried after cleaning the lunch box. Moreover, the rubber seal itself has small grooves that can accumulate water, and if left for a long time, oxidation will occur, causing them to turn yellow or black and become difficult to clean.
Here are some methods to clean the rubber seal:
1. Using baking soda
– First, use a tool (such as a toothpick…) to remove the rubber seal from the lunch box lid.
– Pour water and 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda into a bowl and dissolve the mixture. Then, place the lid and rubber seal of the lunch box in the bowl and soak them for about 30 minutes, then use a cloth to scrub off any dirt.
– When the seal is moldy, if it is a white seal, it can be soaked in disinfectant to completely remove the mold and restore its original color.
– Dry the seal and lid thoroughly before reattaching them for future use.
2. Using vinegar:
Add about 2 tablespoons of vinegar and warm water, shake well, and soak the rubber seal for 1 hour, then rinse with warm water.
3. Using lemon:
Squeeze the juice of 1 lemon into a bowl, add warm water, shake well, then soak the rubber seal in the mixture for 1 hour, then rinse with warm water.
4. Baking soda + vinegar:
If the seal is too dirty, pour 2 tablespoons of baking soda and 1 tablespoon of vinegar into a bowl, add warm water, shake well to dissolve, then soak the seal in this mixture for about half an hour.
Note: When cleaning the lunch box or rubber seal, do not use strong detergents because strong detergents or corrosive solutions such as bleach, acetone… are not good for the health when cleaning food containers. In addition, they may corrode and damage the protective layer and material of the lunch box, thereby reducing its durability and aesthetic appeal.
According to An Nhiên – Vietnamnet
There are several methods to remove food odors: clean with vinegar by filling the box with vinegar for 3 minutes, then rinsing; use fresh lemon by rubbing it on the container and then washing with soap; or try baking soda by pouring some into the box, rubbing it on the inside and outside, and letting it sit for a day before rinsing.
Glass lunch boxes are less likely to absorb food odors and are easier to clean. Simply use water and dish soap. For plastic lunch boxes, you may need to use additional methods like the ones mentioned above to remove odors.
The rubber seal can be cleaned by removing it from the lid and soaking it in a mixture of water and baking soda for 30 minutes. Then, scrub it with a cloth. For mold removal, soak the seal in disinfectant. For heavily soiled seals, try a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. Always dry the seal and lid thoroughly before reattaching them.
Avoid using strong detergents or corrosive solutions like bleach or acetone. These can be harmful to your health and may corrode and damage the protective layer and material of your lunch box, reducing its durability and aesthetic appeal.
