Hints From Heloise

Dear Heloise: I was recently given several plastic storage containers that had been in the cabinet for years. They feel tacky and sticky and do not look clean after washing. Is there something I can use to clean them? - Ethel Wegers, Kent, Wash.

You bet there is. First, add 1 to 1-1/2 cups of household bleach to your kitchen sink half full of cold water. Submerge the containers in the solution and soak them overnight. The next morning, rinse well in cold water. If they are still yucky, scrub with a paste of baking soda. Just sprinkle it on a damp sponge, thoroughly wipe over the containers and rinse well.

This should get them as clean as possible and remove most of the stickiness. Unfortunately, some stains may not come out. - Heloise