Grandma's hack for removing stains from Tupperware goes viral on TikTok: 'Best hack I was ever taught'

Jun 19, 2023

Thu, July 20, 2023 at 12:40:32 PM EDT

A grandmother’s trick for getting stains and discolorations out of plastic containers is being hailed as one of the “best hacks ever.”

Uploaded by her granddaughter’s friend @ariganja, the hack gained over 659,000 views, 29,000 likes, 4,200 shares and 700 comments.

Now, much like the paper towel storage hack that has TikTokers furious they didn’t know it sooner, @ariganja‘s kitchen hack has TikTokers heading to their kitchens to try it out for themselves.

And while we’ve seen cleaning hacks go viral in the past — like this mom’s trick for removing and cleaning toilet seats that gained over 2 million views — @ariganja‘s video proves that hacks don’t always have to be complicated to be effective.

Best hack i was ever taught 💘 #grandmasarethebest #fyp #foryoupage #hack #cleaninghack

The video — captioned “Best hack i was ever taught” and tagged #grandmasarethebest — starts off with @ariganja displaying her recently washed but still discolored plastic container.

Armed with nothing more than a few torn pieces of paper towel and some everyday dish soap, @ariganja demonstrates how a little friction can go a very long way.

TikTokers took to the comments to share their reactions to the grandmother’s hack.

“Can confirm this works. I don’t even use that much water. It’s so awesome!” wrote @pervykittkat.

“literally just finished scrubbing a container with red pasta sauce stains and gave up … algorithm is algorithming,” commented @mahdlo_nosila.

“Tupperware witchcraft! 😂” added @phlo78.

Other TikTokers weighed in with Tupperware hacks of their own.

“Put some oil or Pam in the container before you put in your food,” suggested @talljill.

Most often tomato-based foods tend to stain plastic containers more than others. The culprit behind those stains, Science Focus magazine explains, is a bright red pigment in tomatoes called lycopene.

“[Lypocene] is ‘hydrophobic’ (it repels water), and so are your plastic containers. Hydrophobic molecules come together in order to minimize their contact with water, so the pigment clings to the containers,” Science Focus says.

“The hydrophobic nature of lycopene also means that it resists attempts to clean it with soapy water, and the high temperatures in a dishwasher can drive stains even deeper into your plastic containers. Try spraying the inside of your container with oil before use, which may help to protect the plastic by giving lycopene something else to cling to,” the magazine adds.

In The Know by Yahoo is now available on Apple News — follow us here!

More from In The Know:

'It literally smells so bad': Parents stunned to discover washing machine filter needs to be cleaned monthly

Ring doorbell captures UPS driver's lightning-fast reflexes when 4-year-old is pinned by 100-lb. package

12 flowy pants under $50 that are hanging out at Nordstrom right now

7 plus-size summer essentials from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale you need to build out your dream wardrobe

What are has the best Korean food? A Los Angeles native shares his answer.

Who are the rapping girls running all over TikTok?

“The morning after my wedding I wake up to a bunch of text messages — ‘Mikayla don’t go on TikTok,’ ‘Don’t go on TikTok.'”

These lightweight shoes will be able to keep up with you no matter what.