Join millions of people around the world taking action on World Refill Day, June 16.

Using reusable products can be a great way to reduce the need for single-use plastic. Properly cleaning your reusables goes a long way toward helping them last. Here are our tips for taking care of reusable containers.

How to clean reusable containers

• Remove any leftover food and rinse in hot water
• Wipe extra grease with a sponge or paper towel
• Wash in the sink with dish soap and warm water, or put it in your dishwasher’s top rack
• You may want to add a plastic booster (put it where you would add a rinse aid
• Dry your container using a kitchen towel or on the low-heat cycle in the dishwasher
• While plastic food containers are most common, try mixing it up with glass containers. Glass is sturdier, and less likely to stain or degrade over time.

If your plastic dish or container can’t hold its shape in hot water or the microwave, or is cracked, then you may need to recycle it. This is true of most containers that are meant for on-time use only, like takeout containers and those that you purchase food products in.

Resources

https://www.refill.org.uk/world-refill-day/

https://www.cleaninginstitute.org/cleaning-tips/dishes/wash-dishwasher-or-hand/plastic-food-containers-and-dishes

https://www.cleaninginstitute.org/cleaning-tips/clothes/fabric-care/cleaning-reusable-bags

https://www.cleaningiscaring.org/wpd/cleaning-reusables/