How to Clean Food Dyes from Plastics

Food coloring used to give food and beverages bright colors quickly adheres to plastic surfaces. Plastic is porous and the coloring gets trapped in the pores making it difficult to remove. These stains should be treated as early as possible for the easiest removal. Here are several different techniques that can be used to remove the coloring stains from your plastic pieces.

You Will Need:

• Water
• White distilled vinegar
• Mild soap
• Large bowl or bucket

Steps to Remove the Stain:

1. Start by selecting a container that is large enough to hold the item to be cleaned. For larger pieces, use a bucket. Smaller pieces can be placed inside of a bowl.
2. Fill the bowl or bucket with a solution of one part water and one part white vinegar.
3. Place the piece in the bucket and allow it to soak for several minutes for lighter stains or overnight for darker stains.
4. Remove from the solution and clean with mild soap and warm water.
5. Dry thoroughly.
6. If any part of the stain remains, repeat the above procedure, or try one of the methods below.

You Will Need:

• Rubbing alcohol
• Chlorine bleach
• Soft cloths
• Large bowl
• Rubber gloves (optional)
• Mild soap
• Water

Steps to Remove the Stain:

1. If using this method after the vinegar method above, wash the item again thoroughly to be sure that all vinegar residue is removed. If vinegar and chlorine bleach mix, a toxic gas is created.
2. Place the stained piece inside of the large bowl. This will be used to catch any liquids that drip off of it as you are applying the alcohol and bleach.
3. Pour rubbing alcohol over the stained area and rub it in gently with your hands or a soft cloth. Wear rubber gloves to protect your hands from the harsh cleaners.
4. Let the rubbing alcohol set on the piece for a minute or two.
5. Next, pour some bleach over the stained area and spread it around with your hand or a soft cloth.
6. Allow it to set for a minute or two.
7. Rinse thoroughly with fresh water.
8. Wash as normal with mild soap and warm water. Do not use dish liquid if it contains ammonia (which most do) as the combination of ammonia and chlorine bleach creates a toxic gas.
9. Dry thoroughly prior to use.

You Will Need:

• Large bowl or bucket
• Denture cleaning tablets
• Mild soap
• Water

Steps to Remove the Stain:

1. Begin by placing the stained item in a large bowl.
2. Fill the bowl with hot water so the entire plastic piece is covered. Or, if the plastic is a dish, you can just fill it with water so that the water covers the entire stained area.
3. Add one denture tab for smaller containers or light stains and two tablets for larger containers or darker stains.
4. Allow the piece to soak in the solution overnight.
5. The following day, rinse thoroughly.
6. Wash with mild soap and warm water several times to ensure that all of the cleaner has been completely removed.

You Will Need:

• Lemon or lemon juice
• Sunny Day

Steps to Remove the Stain:

1. Cut a lemon in half and rub the juice over the stained area on the plastic.
2. Set in direct sunlight.
3. The lemon juice and sunlight act as a natural bleaching agent that will remove the stain.
4. When the stain is gone, wash as normal.

• If the stain is persistent, it can be soaked in a solution of bleach and water (half and half) overnight. Wash thoroughly the next day prior to use.
• Ensure that all cleaning products are thoroughly removed from the plastic prior to use. Running the piece though the dishwasher or washing several times may be necessary.
• There are also plastic cleaners available such as Cascade Plastic Booster.
• If you need to clean a plastic item that is a vertical surface or otherwise cannot be soaked, instead soak a paper towel with the solution and press it against the area that you want to soak. Cover the paper towel with plastic wrap to lock in the moisture for a longer soak and tape the plastic wrap in place with a weak tape like masking tape.