No matter how neatly we pack our kids’ Lunch in their lunch boxes, the kids always manage to make a big mess. Peanut butter and jelly smeared all around the box, spills and sticky candy can turn a beautiful Lunch Box into a perfect place for bacteria and mildew development. Our kids’ health is important and using toxic cleaners is just out of the question. But there are several ways that can make the cleaning of the lunch box easier. Here is some good advice on how to clean a child’s lunch box easy and fast.
The most important rule is to wash the lunch box by hand! Don’t use chemical cleaners and try to stick to natural products like baking soda and vinegar for sanitizing and deodorizing the lunch box. You can try this awesome recipe for a home-made natural cleaning solution.
You will need:
- A small bowl
- Warm water
- Baking soda
- White distilled vinegar
The recipe: Fill the bowl with warm water. Add 1 cup of baking soda and stir the solution. Then add 1/2 cup of white distilled vinegar and stir to make a paste. Apply the paste on the lunch box and make sure to cover the whole surface of the box. Leave the solution to soak for a couple of minutes. It will dissolve the hardened spills and stains and it will loosen the sticky food buildups.
What to do now? Baking soda and vinegar are natural products and they are absolutely harmless. If you rinse the lunch box thoroughly, you don’t have to worry about leaving toxic substances on the lunch box.
Tips and Tricks: A great way to keep your child’s lunch box away from the stains and spills is to cover the bottom and insides of the box with paper towels. They will absorb any spilled liquid and they will help you collect and clean crumbs and fallen food.
Cleaning with detergents: You can use mild detergents, like liquid dish soap, to clean lunch boxes. Fill your sink or basin with warm water and add a bit of the detergent. Put the lunch box in the water and leave it there for about 15 to 30 minutes. Brush off the dissolved food buildups and stains and remove the soap scum with a soft sponge. Rinse thoroughly under running water and leave the lunch box on the kitchen counter to dry.
