Tupperware Tips

Now that you own a few pieces of Tupperware, you should know how to take care of your investment. Tupperware products are more expensive than other generic plastic containers, so naturally you want to make them last. Yes, of course there is that lifetime warranty... but sometimes it takes a while for items to be replaced not to mention that it is a conditional warranty too. Or the stock is not available.

Here I will tell you a few important tips regarding cleaning, storage and making sure your favorite things are always in good condition.

sponge for cleaning Tupperware
Use the yellow soft part of the sponge
to clean your Tupperware.

As soon as you bring back your Tupperware home, give it a good rinse in lightly soapy solution. Rinse again with clean water and then wipe dry.

When you store the unused container, do not seal the lid. Leave a little space in between so that air can circulate. The reason is because, stale air can leave unpleasant smell. Another reason is, if left too long in your pantry when the temperature fluctuates, the air trapped in the container (Tupperware containers are air-tight, so air cannot escape!) will cause the lid to break over time. I have seen enough instances whereby my customers complained about this "mysterious phenomenon"

It is important to use only soft sponge to clean it.

You know that washing up sponges have two sides, right?

the Use the side that is not abrasive ONLY to clean your precious Tupperware.

Otherwise there will be unsightly scratches on your precious pieces.

Oh yes, train your maid too about how to clean your Tupperware. I have heard too many horror stories about maids who use excessive cleaning agent and steel wire to clean the Tupperware *gasp*

Oily Tupperware from leftover food especially from curry and sauces? It is one of my pet peeves if someone leave my Tupperware together with oily plates or bowls in the kitchen sink. Separate them, ladies.

However, if the Tupperware containers themselves are oily, first get some hot water (not boiling hot, mind you) and pour it in the container with some washing up liquid. Shake it a little and throw the hot solution out. Only then clean with soft sponge and rinse with clean water. Hot water works best to clean the oily residue. It is also good if you wipe out the oily residue with kitchen towel before you pour the hot water so that less washing up liquid is needed.

Tupperware containers which were produced after September 1979 can be washed using the dishwasher but please place them on the top shelf, away from the heating elements. However, some items are not suitable to be washed with the machine, like the E-Series knives or cleaver.

tupperware liquid What kind of detergent is best to get the oily residue from your Tupperware? TupperClean Dish Wash concentrate cleaner is the answer. Besides being environmentally friendly, this is a really concentrated solution which can be diluted six times as much and still clean your dishes and Tupperware perfectly. It is also kind to your hands too.

Tupperware Tips to clean stains from your Tupperware

Then, there is a matter of stains that will not come out. Tomato paste and curry are notorious for leaving their marks on our lovely Tupperware. So, how do we prevent this from happening?

You can either spray some non-stick oil before putting the sauces or curry inside the container OR use a pastry brush to lightly brush the sides of the container with vegetable oil before pouring in the stain making sauces. The principle behind this is, this thin layer of oil will prevent the sauces from sticking on the side of the container. Simple, isn't it?

If you get some undesirable smell out of your containers, there are several ways to deal with them. Here are some effective methods:

Wet some pieces of newspaper and store it overnight with the lids closed. The carbon in the newspaper print will absorb the smell.
Shred some pandanus leaves and leave them in the container
Wash with some real lime or lemon juice to get fresh fragrance

Tupperware Tips for Storing your Tupperware

All Tupperware lovers know that we always have more Tupperware than we will ever need and we keep them either in boxes or in the pantry or even under our beds *grin*

So, here is an important tip: Do not close the lids, make sure the lids and the bases are separated. Otherwise you will get to see a mysterious phenomenon whereby the lid disintegrate by itself like I mentioned before.

Some industrious ladies swear by this method instead: after three months or so, take them out of storage and give them a good soak overnight.

Then dry them and store them back. The reason behind this is simple, Tupperware is made out of biodegradable oil that needs moisture. Just like our skin, it needs tender loving care.

You can refer to the picture above to see what I mean by leaving the lid open a little for storage. Or, you can also stack the bases and put the lids separately as shown too.

I am sure these basic tips will see your Tupperware in good hands. If you have other tips, feel free to submit your tips to my Tupperware forums.

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