Getting the Dill Pickle Smell Out of Plastic

Wash your plastic container first with mild dish soap and warm water. Let the soapy water sit inside the plastic container for 30 minutes, then rinse with warm water.

Fill your plastic container half full with that subtle but powerhouse favorite: white vinegar. (Put your container in the sink first, just in case it leaks.) Let the container sit overnight, then rinse it thoroughly with warm water.

Mix a solution of ½ cup baking soda to 1 quart water. Baking soda – a terrific odor lifter and sanitizer – may be able to finish the job started by the vinegar. Scrub the container with the solution and then rinse it thoroughly with warm water.

Address a stubborn pickle smell by placing an entire box of baking soda inside the plastic container, then letting it sit overnight. If possible, seal the container. Just as baking soda restores equilibrium to your refrigerator, it can do the same for your much smaller food container.

Attack the toughest pickle smells by filling a small bowl with either imitation vanilla or coffee grounds, both of which are known for their ability to absorb odors. Place the small bowl inside the plastic container and let it sit overnight. Then, the next day, wash the plastic container with mild dish soap and water. If a faint smell of vanilla or coffee lingers for a day or two, and you dislike it, follow the white vinegar and/or baking soda and water remedies to remove the smell.