Useful Tips to clean and care for your Tupperware Products

Now that you own a few pieces of Tupperware, you should know how to take care of your investment.

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

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.
It is important to use only soft sponge to clean it.
You know that washing up sponges have two sides, right?
Use the side that is not abrasive ONLY to clean your precious Tupperware.
Strictly avoid the use of abrasive scrubbers and washing powders to prevent cuts and scratches.
Otherwise there will be unsightly scratches on your precious pieces.
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.
Oily Tupperware from leftover food especially from curry and sauces? It is common that we leave our 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.

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?

Few more tips for cleaning Tupperware stains which you will surely find very useful.

Baking soda – This is one of those products which can be used to remove the stains with very less effort. You just need to sprinkle the soda in the container and wipe it slowly with a moist cloth or towel. You will see the stains disappearing very soon.

Lemon juice – There are many stains which we refer to as ‘stubborn’, since we cannot get rid of them easily. Lemon juice works well to remove these stains. You just need to squeeze fresh lemon juice on the stained area of the container and then place it in the sun. You will notice that the stain is slowly dissolving in the juice. When you rinse it in warm water, you will find that the stain has completely disappeared from the Tupperware. Lemon juice helps to remove some undesirable odors too which might exist in the container.

White vinegar – This is one of the oldest methods to remove stains from containers. White vinegar is known to be one of the best stain removers and is considered to be safer than several commercial products. You can mix white vinegar with warm water and then leave it on the stain for around an hour. After one hour you can rinse the container. You will love to see the stain disappearing in no time. If you still find that the stain is not removed or has just lightened a bit, you can add some baking soda with white vinegar and try to remove the stains. You will surely be successful in not only removing the stains but in also getting rid of some unwanted odors.
Salt – You can also use milk powder with some iodized salt as a scrub to remove stains from Tupperware. You can dissolve the salt in some lukewarm water and then use a very soft cloth or a wipe and scrub it slowly on the stained area. It is best to keep the Tupperware soaked in the solution for an hour to get the maximum benefits. However, you have to remember that you don’t rub the Tupperware too harshly as it shall damage the container.

Smelly Containers:
Do you notice sometimes that if you’ve left something in a tupperware for days, or weeks, or even months (if you’ve frozen it), your tupperware will still smell like its previous contents even after they are gone? 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.
• Wash with some real lime or lemon juice to get fresh fragrance
• To remove food odor from plastic storage containers , fill with warm water and add a little dry mustard (about 1/4 teaspoon per quart). Let soak for an hour or so, then wash.

Tips for Storing your Tupperware

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. So, always  do not close the lids, make sure the lids and the bases are separated or at least leave a little space in between so that air can circulate as shown in the picture.

How to Clean Vintage Tupperware

Finally let us see how to clean our old Tupperware products. Generally Tupperware has a lifetime guarantee against chipping and cracking, but years of use will leave your vintage Tupperware tacky and stained, and it seems impossible to clean. Believe it or not, the solution is probably hiding in your cupboard, and before you know it, your vintage Tupperware can look like the day it was delivered.

Instructions:

• Pour 2 cups of white vinegar into a bucket or shallow bowl.
• Place the lids to your vintage Tupperware in the vinegar to soak.
• Dip a sponge into the vinegar and wipe the entire surface of your Tupperware bowl or canister. The built-up grease and grime will wipe off.
• Wet the bristles of a soft brush with vinegar. Run the brush along any edges and under the lip of your Tupperware item to reach any hidden grime.
• Scrub the lids gently with the brush, taking care to reach the grooves and edges.
• Rinse all pieces and towel- or air-dry them. Your Tupperware will look like new

Hope all these tips are useful..  Please do share some if you know :)

Instructions for Use In Microwave:

• ONLY Microwave Reheatable food containers are to be used in Microwave viz. Crystal wave Bowl, Crystal wave Divided Bowl, Crystal wave Mug, Rock ‘n’ Serve Bowl, MultiCook, Iso Duo.
• Tupperware Microwave Reheatable food containers can save your time as food cooked in advance can be stored in the refrigerator in Microwave products, ready to reheat in Microwave and serve, all in the same container.
• The unique venting cap on the seal of the bowl releases steam and the seal will prevent splashing in the microwave.
• Nutrient Retention: Vitamins and minerals are preserved since food’s exposure to heat and water is short.
• Natural Flavors and Texture: Food is cooked in its own moisture and hence the natural flavors and texture is retained.
• Weight Watcher’s Delight: Use of less fat and therefore food is lighter.
• Energy Saving: Food gets cooked in about 1/4th of the time required as on a gas burner.
• Microwave reheatable products are safe for food temperatures 0 Degree C to 120 Degree C.
• Pop open the little steam vent before placing the sealed bowl in Microwave to prevent steam build up (In case of Crystal wave series). Keep the cover in other cases.
• Do not use air tight / water tight seals while reheating in Microwave.
• After removing the Crystal wave container from the Microwave, keep the steam vent open for sometime before closing it.
• Always lift off the seal or cover away from you so that steam does not burn your fingers.

Related Tips:

• Reheat cooked food from the refrigerator or room temperature, but not from Freezer.
• Thawing frozen food in the microwave can cause damage to the container.
• Do not attempt to “cook” in microwave reheatable products in the Microwave and do not put food on the seals or cover to reheat.
• Do not leave the microwave unattended as spots from food splashes can overheat and cause blisters.
• Constant stirring of food will help in uniform heating of food and avoid localized overheating of food and will avoid blisters on products.
• Reheating of food with high oil, fat and sugar content will lead to over heating of food in very short time, leading to blisters on product.
• Always rinse the containers in cold water immediately after use to prevent strong smells or stains.
• Staining is not covered under Tupperware Guarantee.
• Microwave reheatable products are designed for storing in refrigerator and should not be used in freezer, as they become brittle and could break.
• Do not use the products in the conventional oven or grill.
• In Crystalwave products, steam vent is an integral part of the seal so do not twist the hinge or try to remove as this could cause breakage.
• All Microwave reheatable products have same Quality Guarantee as all Tupperware products.
• Source: Tupperware leaflets.

Handling instructions for products with printing:

• The printed products must be gently washed with water and mild soap solution.
• Do not use abrasive cleaning material such as plastic, scrubber, hardwire brush, scrub pad, abrasive powder, ash or sawdust. Use soft sponge for cleaning.
• Never use concentrated dish washing liquids / cake. Always dilute with water before usage.
• There is no life time guarantee on the printing.
• NOT FOR USE IN FREEZER.

Refrigerator Storage with Tupperware:

• Careful storage of food in the refrigerator reduces the chances of food getting contaminated with harmful bacteria. Choose Tupperware to store your food in the refrigerator.
• Tupperware’s range of Fridge products help you transform a messy fridge into an organized one. You not only save space, but even money, since everything can be kept fresher for longer, while the fridge looks its very best.
• Store food as soon as possible to minimize the growth of harmful bacteria.
• Storing food in Tupperware’s covered containers minimizes the chances of cross contamination i.e. bacteria passing from one food item to another.
• Proper storage in the refrigerator ensures that food retains Vitamin C, which is vital for children.
• Stock foods which require lower temperatures on the higher shelves.