why does some plastic tupperware type containers still look & feel greasy after washing even with name brand soap (dawn, ajax ect.)
In: Other
Anything acidic or corrosive can break down the smooth outer surfaces of plastic over time, this could be acidic foods like tomatoes (pasta sauce), fruit acid, bleach and other abrasive/corrosive cleaners and simply tough scrubbing with scouring sponges.
Once the sealed coating of the plastic wears away then it allows the ingress of oil and as others have mentioned, oil and plastic are pretty similar at a molecular level, so it is easy for them to bond together.
Cheaper containers (e.g dollar store, takeaway tubs you reuse) break down more quickly because of the quality of the materials and the finish, but even high-quality plastic kitchen wear will breakdown over time with enough exposure to acidic foods, corrosive cleaners, mechanical scrubbing and extreme heat/cold.
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