The Shocking Discovery I Made With My Glass Food Storage Containers

I've long been a fan of ditching plastic food containers in favor of glass ones. I find they store leftovers and freeze meals much better — no more pesky pink stains from tomato sauce, and they don't warp over time.

But earlier this year, something truly disturbing happened.

I was standing in the kitchen waiting for my leftovers to warm up. As I absentmindedly flipped the container lid back and forth between my hands — I often use it as a coaster to avoid leaving heat marks on my wooden table — I noticed something odd: tiny black specks between the lid and the rubber seal that locks it in place.

I immediately turned on the kitchen light, and to my horror, I found the culprit: mold!

It turns out that while I wasn’t paying attention, bits of food, water, and who knows what else from my dish soap were making themselves at home in the crevices of my containers. I pulled out several lids from different containers, and sure enough, all of them had little spots of mold.

I shouldn’t have been so shocked. The rubber gasket isn’t really sealed to the lid; it’s just there as a stopper to keep air out and liquids in. It’s an essential part of the lid, but I hadn’t considered how easily mold and food particles could sneak into those tiny, barely-visible gaps.

I turned to my wise grandmother for advice, and together we came up with a brilliant solution that would let me keep using my container collection without worrying about mold creeping near my food: an occasional bleach soak.

How to Tackle Mold on Your Food Container Lids

About once a month, I take my container lids out of storage and submerge them in a sink filled with a mixture of 10 parts warm water to 1 part bleach. (Honestly, you could probably use a more diluted solution, but since I have the bleach bath going, I take the opportunity to clean other things like shower liners, steamer mops, and showerheads as well.)

The lids soak in the solution for about 10 minutes, allowing the water to penetrate the crevice between the lid and the rubber rim, effectively killing the mold. Afterward, I rinse them off, place them in the dishwasher for another round of cleaning, just to ensure all the bleach is washed away. The antibacterial effect has helped prevent mold from growing back quickly, giving me peace of mind that my lids and containers will stay safe for long-term use.

Alternatively, you could use a small towel to dry between the two components of the lid. However, since the rubber seal on my lids is quite stiff, I've found it difficult to pry it away without damaging it. To avoid breaking it, I stick with the bleach soak method instead.

Make sure to periodically check any glass food storage containers with rubber seals, as well as items like tumblers, water bottles, and snack bowls, for hidden mold. It's better to be proactive and inspect your everyday containers before mold has a chance to grow.

Additional Kitchen Cleaning Tips:

• Here's the Best Way to Remove Smells From Tupperware
• Sanitize vs. Disinfect: What's the Difference?
• The Dirty Truth About Cleaning Behind Your Fridge