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Silicone is brilliant for children’s tableware: unbreakable, flexible and often with built-in suction. Its downsides are that it can hold on to oily smells, pick up orange stains and develop a cloudy white film. None of that makes it unsafe, and most of it can be sorted with things you already have.
Always check the manufacturer’s care instructions first. Heat ratings differ between products, and the maker’s advice comes before any general tip here.
Everyday washing
- Wash soon after use, before food dries on, in hot soapy water or the dishwasher if it is rated for it.
- Use a soft sponge; abrasive scourers roughen the surface and give residue more to cling to.
- Dry completely before stacking.
Oily residue and lingering smells
Silicone can hold on to fats, which is why a plate can smell faintly of last night’s dinner even when it looks clean. Try these in order:
- Wash with washing-up liquid in water as hot as your hands can stand. Plain water spreads grease rather than lifting it.
- Coat it in a paste of bicarbonate of soda and water, leave it for a few hours, then wash again.
- If the manufacturer says the item can go in boiling water, a short soak in just-boiled water can loosen stubborn residue.
Orange stains
Tomato, carrot and turmeric leave orange marks on light-coloured silicone. They are cosmetic. Leaving the clean item in sunlight for a day or two often fades them noticeably; a bicarbonate of soda paste helps too.
Cloudy white film
A chalky white film is usually mineral deposit from hard water or dishwasher residue, not a problem with the silicone. Soak it in warm water with a splash of white vinegar for 30 minutes, then rinse and wash.
Keeping suction bases working
Suction depends on a clean, flat seal. Wash and dry the underside, as a film of grease or crumbs stops it sticking, and make sure the surface you are sticking it to is smooth and clean. Our toddler plates guide explains why some high-chair trays never hold suction at all.
When to replace
Replace silicone that has torn or split. Tears trap food where it cannot be cleaned, and small pieces that break off should not end up in a child’s mouth.
