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Lunchboxes come home with yoghurt in the corners, crumbs in the seal and a smell that builds up week by week. A two-minute routine prevents most of it; the rest is about the one part people forget.
The daily routine
- Empty it as soon as it comes home. Food left in a warm box overnight is where most smells start.
- Wash every part in hot, soapy water, or in the dishwasher if the manufacturer says the parts are dishwasher safe. Plastic parts usually belong on the top rack.
- Dry it completely, with the lid off. A box sealed while damp is the fastest route to a musty smell and mould.
The seal: the part that causes most smells
Leakproof lunchboxes use a silicone seal around the lid, and food and moisture get trapped underneath it. If yours comes out, take it out once a week, wash it and the groove it sits in with a small brush, and let both dry before refitting. Many lingering smells are coming from the seal, not the box.
Smells and stains
- Odours: a paste of bicarbonate of soda and a little water, left on for a few hours and rinsed off, is the gentlest first step.
- Cloudy white film: usually mineral deposits from hard water. A soak in warm water with a splash of white vinegar lifts it; rinse well afterwards.
- Orange stains from tomato or curry: these often fade if the box is left open in sunlight for a day or two.
- Avoid harsh abrasives on plastic, which scratch the surface and give dirt more to cling to.
Insulated lunch bags
Wipe the inside with hot soapy water every day and leave the bag open to dry. Check the care label: many soft bags can go in the washing machine on a gentle cycle, but some lose their insulation if they do. Ice packs need washing too; wipe them before they go back in the freezer.
When to replace it
- Mould that has got into a seal or a soft fabric and will not wash out.
- A lid that no longer seals, which is how yoghurt ends up in the school bag.
- Cracked or deeply scratched plastic, which is hard to get properly clean.
Choosing a new one? Our guide to choosing a kids lunchbox covers what makes one easy to clean in the first place: fewer crevices, and seals that come out.
