So... how DO you clean a Stasher bag?

​With thanks to our friends at Stasher

Stasher Cleaning Do's and Don'ts to Keep Your Bags Healthy (And Smelling Fresh)

One of the best and most important features of Stasher is that it's endlessly reusable! The very first Stasher bags ever made are still going strong, keeping food fresh, making life easier and preventing plastic pollution every day. Your Stasher bags can last for decades as long as you treat them right. 

So how to you extend the life of your Stashers? With simple, safe cleaning. 

How to Clean Your Stasher Bags

After regular use (sandwiches, snacks, non-food items, etc.), your Stasher bags can go straight in the dishwasher! Easy like Sunday morning!

But what if  you've got a really messy Stasher bag? (It's always good to have the tools for the worst case scenario!) So, maybe you used it to cook salmon with all the seasonings, or to store some leftover chili. It's got a greasy residue from cooking oils and it's even taken on a stain. Yikes... But don't worry!

First things first: Do not turn your Stasher bag inside out. Flipping your Stasher inside out to clean it like you would with a regular plastic baggie will degrade the strength of the bonded edges*, and eventually your Stasher will rip open. We know it's tempting, but we don't recommend it. 

*What are the edges bonded with? The liquid form of the same pure platinum silicone is used to adhere the glossy and frosted sides together.

Now that that's out of the way, let's get down to business. 

1. Rinse the inside of your Stasher with hot water to loosen and wash out any remaining food debris.
2. Create an all-natural yet effective cleaning solution with equal parts baking soda, distilled white vinegar, and lemon juice. The baking soda will help with stains and smells, the vinegar will kill bacteria, and the lemon juice will cut grease while leaving a fresh scent. 
3. Apply your mixture all over the inside of your Stasher and let it soak for 20-30 minutes. (It may help to lay it horizontally, and to flip it over half-way through.)
4. When your soak is complete and stains are gone, rinse your Stasher bag thoroughly with warm water. 
5. Set the bag on your drying rack or towel dry by hand for best results. 

Concerned about mould?

Sometimes even when you give it a good cleaning, your Stasher might harbour some invisible lingering traces of food that can cause mould to grow. If this happens, let your Stasher bathe in some vinegar or boiling water to sanitize. 

Frustrated with water spots?

If you clean Stasher bags in the dishwasher or sometimes when you let them air dry, you can get water spots on the silicone. They're completely harmless, just not as attractive as a crystal clear Stasher. To get rid of water spots, simply polish your bags inside and out with a tiny bit of light cooking oil. Good as new! You can prevent water spots by towel drying your Stashers after cleaning. We promise it's not as time consuming as it sounds!

Other tips for making your Stasher bags last

• Before using your Stasher for the first time: rinse it with warm water, towel dry, and then coat the inside with a tiny bit of light cooking oil. This will help prevent any future stains and smells and can be done periodically—kind of like polishing leather or seasoning cast iron. 
• Use coloured Stasher bags to store like-coloured foods and camouflage stains.
• Avoid using or cleaning knives near your Stashers.
• Don't store sharp objects in them.
• Avoid trapping moisture by storing your Stashers with the seals open.
• Don't force the opening to open farther than it does naturally. 

Got any tips to add to the list? Let us know!

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