Rubbermaid lids get sticky

"Pylls, Barry" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I find that lids for rubbermaid tupperware get sticky
for no reason when they are several years old.
Scrubbing with soap and warm water doesn't seem
to help. These are the flat rectangular containers,
frosty semi-translucent body and beige lid. However,
I've found usenet testimonies of the longevity of
rubbermaid tupperware. Does anyone else experience
this?

Nope -- mine are fine and I've had my Rubbermaid containers for going on 20
years. What are you storing in them, are you using them in the microwave,
and how are you cleaning them?

ObPedant: Rubbermaid is not Tupperware is not Rubbermaid -- Tupperware and
Rubbermaid are separate products/brands.

-j

I've also had good luck with mine. For years, I have used two
rectangular ones, like you descibe--usually for lettuce and romaine
storage. (I "burp" the air out of them, and the romaine stays fresh
and crisp.) I put them in the dishwasher, and they clean up very well.

Pylls said:

I find that lids for rubbermaid tupperware get sticky for no
reason when they are several years old. Scrubbing with soap
and warm water doesn't seem to help. These are the flat
rectangular containers, frosty semi-translucent body and
beige lid. However, I've found usenet testimonies of the
longevity of rubbermaid tupperware. Does anyone else experience
this?

Don't they have a lifetime guarantee? Just turn them in for
replacement.
-L.

On Mon 16 Jan 2006 12:40:32a, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it Pylls, Barry?

Quoted message said:

I find that lids for rubbermaid tupperware get sticky for no
reason when they are several years old. Scrubbing with soap
and warm water doesn't seem to help. These are the flat
rectangular containers, frosty semi-translucent body and
beige lid. However, I've found usenet testimonies of the
longevity of rubbermaid tupperware. Does anyone else experience
this?

I've only had this happen with ancient Tupperware. However, Cascade has a
relatively new product on the market called Plastic Booster 2N1 that's
supposed to work miracles on cleaning up all sorts of plastic items. You
might give it a try.

--
Wayne Boatwright Õ¿Õ¬
__________________________________________________________________
And if we enter a room full of manure, may we believe in the pony.

Remove all "[censored]'s" from address to e-mail directly.

In article <[email hidden]>,

Pylls said:

I find that lids for rubbermaid tupperware get sticky for no
reason when they are several years old. Scrubbing with soap
and warm water doesn't seem to help. These are the flat
rectangular containers, frosty semi-translucent body and
beige lid. However, I've found usenet testimonies of the
longevity of rubbermaid tupperware. Does anyone else experience
this?

I quit using rubbermaid.

They leak.

I've switched to the ziplock and glad disposables.

I can use each one at least a dozen times. When they start leaking, I
throw them away and replace them.
--
Om.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-[censored]." -Jack Nicholson

On Mon, 16 Jan 2006 02:40:32 -0500, "Pylls, Barry" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I find that lids for rubbermaid tupperware get sticky for no
reason when they are several years old. Scrubbing with soap
and warm water doesn't seem to help. These are the flat
rectangular containers, frosty semi-translucent body and
beige lid. However, I've found usenet testimonies of the
longevity of rubbermaid tupperware. Does anyone else experience
this?

Do you wash them in the dishwasher? This seems to help.

Sue(tm)
Lead me not into temptation... I can find it myself!

"-L." <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Pylls said:

I find that lids for rubbermaid tupperware get sticky for no
reason when they are several years old. Scrubbing with soap
and warm water doesn't seem to help. These are the flat
rectangular containers, frosty semi-translucent body and
beige lid. However, I've found usenet testimonies of the
longevity of rubbermaid tupperware. Does anyone else experience
this?

Don't they have a lifetime guarantee? Just turn them in for
replacement.

They guarantee replacement for "chipping, cracking, breaking or peeling" not
'stickiness'. When I've run into this stickiness, I've used a paste of
baking soda on a damp cloth and it's taken care of it.

Gabby

OmManiPadmeOmelet said:

I can use each one at least a dozen times. When they start leaking, I
throw them away and replace them.

That's what a Scotsman once said about his condoms!

;---p

--
Best
Greg

jacqui{JB} said:

"Pylls, Barry" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I find that lids for rubbermaid tupperware get sticky
for no reason when they are several years old.
Scrubbing with soap and warm water doesn't seem
to help. These are the flat rectangular containers,
frosty semi-translucent body and beige lid. However,
I've found usenet testimonies of the longevity of
rubbermaid tupperware. Does anyone else experience
this?

Nope -- mine are fine and I've had my Rubbermaid containers for going on 20
years. What are you storing in them, are you using them in the microwave,
and how are you cleaning them?

I'm storing them in the cupboard above the sink (and incidentally,
above the toaster, used on average once a day). They are stored with
lids of plastic tubs for margarine & other things. Only the Rubbermaid
lid gets the sticky film.

I don't use them in a microwave.

I clean them in hot soapy water, with a cloth and a scrub brush (plastic
bristles).

Quoted message said:

ObPedant: Rubbermaid is not Tupperware is not Rubbermaid -- Tupperware and
Rubbermaid are separate products/brands.

Oo. My bad. Thanks for clearing that up.

Gabby said:

"-L." <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Pylls said:

I find that lids for rubbermaid tupperware get sticky for no
reason when they are several years old. Scrubbing with soap and
warm water doesn't seem to help. These are the flat rectangular
containers, frosty semi-translucent body and beige lid. However,
I've found usenet testimonies of the longevity of rubbermaid
tupperware. Does anyone else experience this?

Don't they have a lifetime guarantee? Just turn them in for
replacement.

They guarantee replacement for "chipping, cracking, breaking or
peeling" not 'stickiness'. When I've run into this stickiness,
I've used a paste of baking soda on a damp cloth and it's taken care
of it.

I wonder what the sticky film is, though. I store the tupperware with
plastic tubs formerly used for margarine, and the tubs & their lids
don't get sticky. I've heard that plastics sometimes secrete a film
when they age. If it has reached that point, perhaps I will toss it
rather than having the secretion make its way into my food.

Wayne Boatwright said:

On Mon 16 Jan 2006 12:40:32a, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it Pylls, Barry?

Quoted message said:

I find that lids for rubbermaid tupperware get sticky for no
reason when they are several years old. Scrubbing with soap
and warm water doesn't seem to help. These are the flat
rectangular containers, frosty semi-translucent body and
beige lid. However, I've found usenet testimonies of the
longevity of rubbermaid tupperware. Does anyone else experience
this?

I've only had this happen with ancient Tupperware. However, Cascade has a
relatively new product on the market called Plastic Booster 2N1 that's
supposed to work miracles on cleaning up all sorts of plastic items. You
might give it a try.

If it's the aging plastic that is secreting this stickiness, though,
I think I'll toss it instead of constantly trying to clean it off.
It's informative to know that it actually happens to other, though.

"Pylls, Barry" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Gabby said:

"-L." <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Pylls, Barry wrote:

> I find that lids for rubbermaid tupperware get sticky for no
> reason when they are several years old. Scrubbing with soap and
> warm water doesn't seem to help. These are the flat rectangular
> containers, frosty semi-translucent body and beige lid. However,
> I've found usenet testimonies of the longevity of rubbermaid
> tupperware. Does anyone else experience this?

Don't they have a lifetime guarantee? Just turn them in for
replacement.

They guarantee replacement for "chipping, cracking, breaking or
peeling" not 'stickiness'. When I've run into this stickiness,
I've used a paste of baking soda on a damp cloth and it's taken care
of it.

I wonder what the sticky film is, though. I store the tupperware with
plastic tubs formerly used for margarine, and the tubs & their lids
don't get sticky. I've heard that plastics sometimes secrete a film
when they age. If it has reached that point, perhaps I will toss it
rather than having the secretion make its way into my food.

I've had some of my Tupperware for over 20 years and have not experienced it
much. I've found though that it is usually the items kept in high cupboards
& not used much. They don't get washed as often, for obvious reasons, and
tend to accumulate whatever grease is in the air. My worst experience with
the phenomenon was with Frig-o seal containers. Again, the baking soda
paste worked well.

Gabby

Gabby said:

"Pylls, Barry" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Gabby said:

"-L." <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

>Pylls, Barry wrote:
>
>
>>I find that lids for rubbermaid tupperware get sticky for no
>>reason when they are several years old. Scrubbing with soap and
>>warm water doesn't seem to help. These are the flat rectangular
>>containers, frosty semi-translucent body and beige lid. However,
>>I've found usenet testimonies of the longevity of rubbermaid
>>tupperware. Does anyone else experience this?
>
>Don't they have a lifetime guarantee? Just turn them in for
>replacement.

They guarantee replacement for "chipping, cracking, breaking or
peeling" not 'stickiness'. When I've run into this stickiness,
I've used a paste of baking soda on a damp cloth and it's taken care
of it.

I wonder what the sticky film is, though. I store the tupperware with
plastic tubs formerly used for margarine, and the tubs & their lids
don't get sticky. I've heard that plastics sometimes secrete a film
when they age. If it has reached that point, perhaps I will toss it
rather than having the secretion make its way into my food.

I've had some of my Tupperware for over 20 years and have not experienced it
much. I've found though that it is usually the items kept in high cupboards
& not used much. They don't get washed as often, for obvious reasons, and
tend to accumulate whatever grease is in the air. My worst experience with
the phenomenon was with Frig-o seal containers. Again, the baking soda
paste worked well.

Yes, I too thought that it may just pick up grease in the air. The margarine
tubs and tub lids do not do this, however, and neither does the body of the
rubbermaid container. That's why I was being cautious about the possibility
that the rubbermaid lid is simply secreting it. If this is true, then having
seldomly cleaned lids on a top cupboard shelf would also allow it to accumulate.

Thanks for the baking soda tip.

Curly Sue sez:

Quoted message said:

Do you wash them in the dishwasher? This seems to help.

Sue(tm)
Lead me not into temptation... I can find it myself!

Wash what? The condoms??!?

Spitz
--
"Home, James, and don't spare the horses!"

"Pylls, Barry" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Gabby said:

I've had some of my Tupperware for over 20 years and have not experienced
it
much. I've found though that it is usually the items kept in high
cupboards
& not used much. They don't get washed as often, for obvious reasons,
and
tend to accumulate whatever grease is in the air. My worst experience
with
the phenomenon was with Frig-o seal containers. Again, the baking soda
paste worked well.

Yes, I too thought that it may just pick up grease in the air. The
margarine
tubs and tub lids do not do this, however, and neither does the body of
the
rubbermaid container. That's why I was being cautious about the
possibility
that the rubbermaid lid is simply secreting it. If this is true, then
having
seldomly cleaned lids on a top cupboard shelf would also allow it to
accumulate.

Thanks for the baking soda tip.

I don't think it's secretion but rather the different type of plastic which
seems to latch on to whatever is in the air. My very first experience with
the stickiness was with an old 'cake taker', an item that had a rubbery feel
to it, similar to that of the seals. That's how I discovered the baking
soda trick. The sticky film came right off the cake taker and left it
almost as good as new.

Gabby

Curly Sue said:

On Mon, 16 Jan 2006 02:40:32 -0500, "Pylls, Barry" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I find that lids for rubbermaid tupperware get sticky for no
reason when they are several years old. Scrubbing with soap
and warm water doesn't seem to help. These are the flat
rectangular containers, frosty semi-translucent body and
beige lid. However, I've found usenet testimonies of the
longevity of rubbermaid tupperware. Does anyone else experience
this?

Do you wash them in the dishwasher? This seems to help.

I don't have a dishwasher, but I scrub them in hot soapy water
with a cloth and a scrub brush with plastic bristles. It helps
for a while, but the stickiness comes back again. Cleaning them
off is not my main concern, it is more about whether the stickiness
is secreted by the plastic itself. If that's the case, I'd just
toss the container rather than have it get on food. The funny
thing is that my margarine tubs don't get this stick film, and
neither does the body of the rubbermaid container. Only the lid
does. However, Gabby came up with another possible explanation,
that the plastic simply attracts grease more than other plastics.
So I'll just wash it with baking soda as per her suggestion.

OmManiPadmeOmelet said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Pylls said:

I find that lids for rubbermaid tupperware get sticky for no
reason when they are several years old. Scrubbing with soap
and warm water doesn't seem to help. These are the flat
rectangular containers, frosty semi-translucent body and
beige lid. However, I've found usenet testimonies of the
longevity of rubbermaid tupperware. Does anyone else experience
this?

I quit using rubbermaid.

They leak.

I've switched to the ziplock and glad disposables.

I can use each one at least a dozen times. When they start leaking, I
throw them away and replace them.

Bags are good for some things, but I like the solid shape of a rubbermaid
container to protect the contents. Since I won't be turning it on its side,
leakage is not a problem.

Gabby said:

Pylls said:

Gabby said:

I've had some of my Tupperware for over 20 years and have not
experienced it much. I've found though that it is usually the
items kept in high cupboards & not used much. They don't get
washed as often, for obvious reasons, and tend to accumulate
whatever grease is in the air. My worst experience with the
phenomenon was with Frig-o seal containers. Again, the baking soda
paste worked well.

Yes, I too thought that it may just pick up grease in the air. The
margarine tubs and tub lids do not do this, however, and neither
does the body of the rubbermaid container. That's why I was being
cautious about the possibility that the rubbermaid lid is simply
secreting it. If this is true, then having seldomly cleaned lids on
a top cupboard shelf would also allow it to accumulate.

Thanks for the baking soda tip.

I don't think it's secretion but rather the different type of
plastic which seems to latch on to whatever is in the air. My very
first experience with the stickiness was with an old 'cake taker',
an item that had a rubbery feel to it, similar to that of the seals.
That's how I discovered the baking soda trick. The sticky film came
right off the cake taker and left it almost as good as new.

Actually, Gabby, the soda tip works about as well as scrubbing with
hot soapy water, meaning that it removes the film for the time being.
The problem I'm finding is that it builds back up in a matter of days,
even though not much cooking is being done in the kitchen, and the lid
is in an enclosed space. I'm inclined to think that it is secretion
from the plastic. The reason for this is because of additional
evidence that I've found just now. I dug up an old rubbermaid
container from storage, and the lid is a very heavy film of the same
kind of stickiness. It certainly is not slippery like oil.

The strange things is that not all my rubbermaid lids do this. The
original beige colored ones do, but the newer white lids do not.
Sounds strange, but I think I'll choose my rubbermaid according to
color from now on....

In article <[email hidden]>,

Pylls said:

OmManiPadmeOmelet said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Pylls said:

I find that lids for rubbermaid tupperware get sticky for no
reason when they are several years old. Scrubbing with soap
and warm water doesn't seem to help. These are the flat
rectangular containers, frosty semi-translucent body and
beige lid. However, I've found usenet testimonies of the
longevity of rubbermaid tupperware. Does anyone else experience
this?

I quit using rubbermaid.

They leak.

I've switched to the ziplock and glad disposables.

I can use each one at least a dozen times. When they start leaking, I
throw them away and replace them.

Bags are good for some things, but I like the solid shape of a rubbermaid
container to protect the contents. Since I won't be turning it on its side,
leakage is not a problem.

I use them to take meals to work in my bag. :-)
Sometimes I take soup or other "wet" stuff.

Leakage can be a real issue!!!!! I carry my books in there too.
--
Om.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-[censored]." -Jack Nicholson