I have this lunch box that is huge but works really well for me. I made a mistake a few weeks ago by leaving rotten food in it over the weekend and the stench is unbearable.
This lunch box has a removable interior made of some kind of plastic so I removed it and soaked it in warm water and dish soap for 48 hours in the sink and then I scrubbed the interior with a sponge.
When I got done, it still smelled like rotten food! I also cleaned the lid which isn’t removable but made of the same material. But just used the sponge on it.
Sticking my head inside is where I smell it most, so I think it’s the removable tub.
I also tried teabags as I heard of something like this with smelly shoes, but now my lunch box smells like feet lol.
So I’m at a loss. I love this box and don’t want to trash it. It was hard finding one like it.
Anything else I can try?
Edit: thanks for the suggestions! I forgot to mention that I did put some vinegar and baking soda in last night and kept the lid closed. I’ll leave it this way until tomorrow night and see.
Thanks for the suggestions!
Bleach could potentially damage the lunch box given that OP says it’s plastic. I’d stick with just vinegar.
Why would bleach damage it?
Bleach can react with certain plastics and corrode it over time.
Why does bleach come in plastic containers ? Acids on the other hand (like vinegar) come in glass containers .
As far as I know, only HDPE is suitable for vinegar. Other types of plastic react with even a weak acid causing swelling/softening.
It’s highly unlikely that a cap full of bleach is going to damage the plastic in any meaningful way.
One could go for a less aggressive base, like baking soda. It is also slightly gritty.
Alternating between one and the other with hot water and then drying in the sun should be enough to remove the funk.