Heather asked: My plastic food storage containers are in my kitchen cabinets – some with stuff in them, some without. If they sit there long enough without being used, there will be this extremely sticky, light yellowish, almost clear stuff on them. Do you have any idea what this might be? I usually have to throw them in the dishwasher just to get them clean again, that’s how sticky it is. Thanks.
There
are a variety of thoughts as to the cause of the sticky film on the plastic containers, all of which could be the issue. Some feel it’s the plastic seeping, a sign that it’s old. Other thoughts include grease and oils from the air collecting on the surface, or oils from previous items that were stored in the container coming to the surface. Regardless of the cause, the removal of this sticky film is quick and easy.
You Will Need:
- Baking soda
- Water
- Soft cloths
Steps to Remove the Stickiness:
- Mix baking soda and water in a small dish to make a paste. It should be about the consistency of toothpaste. (Make a small pile of baking soda and keep adding a little water until you have the right consistency.)
- Use a soft cloth to rub the paste over the surface of the plastic. The baking soda will act as a mild abrasive and remove the sticky film.
- Rinse completely with water. If you cannot rinse the item, wipe if off with a damp cloth instead.
- Repeat if necessary.
Additional Tips and Advice
- If you don’t have any baking soda available, white vinegar or isopropyl alcohol can work as well. Simply apply them to a cloth and scrub the plastic clean.
- Some plastic containers get sticky as they get old. If this is the case, it may be time to purchase some new storage containers. The stickiness can be removed, but it will return, which could get into the food if your container is used for food or could damage any non-food items stored in the container.
- Store plastic containers in a cool, dry location. Areas where steam rises (near the stove) allow for grease to travel with it and transfer to the plastic. Even though they are stored in the cupboard, whenever the doors are opened, the air enters and can settle on the pieces. One site user recommends storing plastic containers in plastic bags, saying that it helps to prevent them from becoming sticky, as well as keeps dust and other unwanted items off of them.
Baking soda! I’ve been struggling with this problem for years until today! After reading tons of forums I decided to give a go at baking soda. My old kitchen scale was all gooey and sticky. The coating on the plastic had become like glue. I poured a bit of baking soda, a teaspoon, on it and started rubbing with a damp cloth. The plastic became shiny again and not sticky at all. Ok, gotta go now, I’ve got a whole lot of remote controls, game controllers and apliances to take care of :-D. Laurent
When plastic material becomes sticky, I use 90 percent alcohol rubbed with a cloth. It works!
I was looking for a way to clean the stickiness from some old plastic toys and the isopropyl alcohol solution worked perfectly! I even found some isopropyl alcohol wipes on Amazon that makes taking the residue off easily and thoroughly.
I tried many things to clean the sticky handle on my wet/dry vac, but nothing worked. Your suggestion of rubbing alcohol (50%) did the trick. Thank you.
The back of my Bose Wave radio/CD player was sticky with gunk. Frankly it was disgusting. It had been just sitting in the entertainment center cabinet for years. I cleaned the back of it with rubbing alcohol and cotton pads. It took about four pads, but I got it clean.
I have a hard plastic laptop case that I cleaned with SuperGreen cleaner. Bad news. It made the plastic sticky. I researched all kinds of “de-sticky” solutions for plastic and tried them all. Methylated spirits, denatured alcohol, baking soda/water, Goo Gone, rubbing alcohol . . . the case is still sticky. Any more ideas anyone?
Baking soda and white vinegar seem to work, plus a little dishwashing liquid.
Hiya,
I used the baking soda method on an old pair of binoculars and once proved, on the dashboard area of my Piaggio 250. It worked brilliantly. For awkward spots I used an old, stiff art brush – which needed constant rinsing – but did an excellent job.
Thank you so much. Very effective!
Neil
Goop brand hand cleaner works on just about any oily or sticky surface!
What about brand new plastic items? I purchased some of those new Ramen noodle cooking trays. After the first time I used them, they felt oily. I thought that it was because of the noodles or the spice package contents that left an oily residue. Rinsing had no effect, but even after washing, they still felt oily. They were not oily feeling before I used them. Any ideas, thoughts, suggestions? Thanks, -M
Oils tend to stick to plastics; I find a mix of dish soap and baking soda a huge help in degreasing all my plasticware. Good luck!