Quick Guide: How to Get Smell Out of Silicone Easily

ube tray. And then, bam! A bad smell hits you. This happens a lot. But don’t worry! Figuring out how to get smell out of silicone is actually easy. I know this from my own kitchen stuff. For example, my baby bottle parts sometimes smelled like old soap. Also, my baking mats held onto garlic smells. It’s not fun! You buy these good, bendy items. Then, they hold smells and make you mad.

Silicone is great. It lasts long. Plus, it bends. Food does not stick to it much. However, it can soak up smells. Strong foods like onions, garlic, or curry can cause this. In addition, some soaps for dishwashers can too. The good news? You don’t have to throw your smelly silicone away. I will share easy ways to make your silicone smell fresh and clean. Best of all, you likely have the stuff you need in your kitchen right now. These are simple ways that real people, like me, use. So, let’s make your silicone great again!

Understanding Why Your Silicone Stinks: How to Get Smell Out of Silicone

So, why does silicone get smelly? Well, it’s not trying to make your nose unhappy. Silicone looks smooth. But it has tiny, tiny holes you can’t see. These tiny holes, you see, can trap small bits of food or oil. This happens more with foods that have strong smells. Consequently, the food bits then stay in the silicone. That’s why your silicone can keep a smell.

Oily parts in food are often the main cause. For instance, foods like garlic, onions, and strong spices can leave their smell. Tomato sauces can too. And it’s not just food. Sometimes, oils or scents in dish soaps can stick to silicone. I once changed my dishwasher soap. Soon after, all my silicone baking cups smelled strange, like a chemical. So, I had to learn how to get smell out of silicone. Then I changed back to my old soap. Your silicone is not ruined for good. It just needs a good deep clean. This will let the trapped smells out. Indeed, this is a common problem. You are not the only one with this smelly issue!

Essential Prep Steps for How to Get Smell Out of Silicone

Okay, let’s get ready before we try to stop the smells. A little prep work helps a lot. In fact, it helps you win the fight against smells! First, wash your silicone item well. Use hot water and your usual dish soap. Get off all food bits. Also, wash off any grease. It does not make sense to try to get smells out of dirty silicone, right? You want to fight the smell, not old food.

Once it’s clean, dry it. Now, take a good sniff. Sometimes, a good wash is all you need, especially if the smell is not too strong. But if that smell is still there, then it’s time to act. Pick one of the ways we will talk about. A quick tip: some ways work better for certain smells or for different silicone items. So, you might need to try one or two ways. I have found that what works for garlic smell might not be best for a soapy smell. Still, don’t worry! These ways are all very simple.

Tried and True Methods: How to Get Smell Out of Silicone Effectively

Okay, here is where the good stuff happens! We will look at many ways to get bad smells out of your silicone things. Most use items you have at home. I have used all of these ways myself. And they all work well for getting smells out of silicone.

Harnessing Baking Soda Power for Gentle Silicone Deodorizing

Baking soda is like a superhero for cleaning. It is great for many things. And indeed, getting smells out of silicone is one of its powers. It is gentle. Plus, it works well. It is cheap. This is great for fighting silicone food smells.

Here is how I use baking soda:

1. Make a Paste: First, mix baking soda with a bit of warm water. Make a thick paste. It should feel like toothpaste. You don’t need to measure. Just guess.
2. Apply Generously: Next, put the paste all over the smelly silicone. Get it in all the small spots. Use a lot of it!
3. Let it Sit: Now, you need to wait. Let the baking soda paste sit on the silicone for some hours. Honestly, I find it works best if I leave it on all night for bad smells. For example, one time, my silicone ice cube tray smelled like coffee. (Don’t ask why!) I put paste all over it. Then, I left it until the next day.
4. Rinse Thoroughly: Finally, after its rest, wash the silicone item very well with hot water. Get all the baking soda off.

Baking soda works by taking in the smell parts. It does not just cover them up. Instead, it helps get rid of them. This is usually the first thing I try when I need to learn how to get smell out of silicone.

The White Vinegar Soak: A Key to Neutralizing Silicone Smells

Ah, white vinegar. Another cleaning star. It is good at getting out smells, like those in silicone. It is sour, which helps break down smelly bits. You might think, “Will my silicone smell like vinegar?” But no! The vinegar smell will go away when you rinse and dry it. And it takes the bad smell with it.

Here’s how I use vinegar to get smells out of silicone:

1. Prepare a Soak: First, mix white vinegar and hot water. Use half vinegar and half water. Put it in a bowl or sink big enough for your silicone item. If the smell is very strong, then use a bit more vinegar.
2. Soak it Up: Next, put the silicone item in the vinegar water. Let it soak for 30 minutes to an hour. For very bad smells, I have let things soak for a few hours.
3. Rinse and Dry: After it soaks, wash the silicone well with hot water. Make sure all the vinegar is gone. Then, dry it all the way.

This worked so well on a baby bottle part. It had a weird milk smell that washing did not fix. A quick vinegar soak, and it was good as new. It is also great for silicone seals from food tubs that hold food smells.

Lemon Fresh Clean: Tackling Silicone Odor Problems with Citrus

Do you like a fresher scent than vinegar? Or do you just have lemons at home? Well, lemons can also get smells out of silicone. The sour juice in lemons works like vinegar. It helps break down smelly stuff. Plus, it leaves a light, clean lemon smell. That’s a nice bonus!

Here are two ways to use lemon to make your silicone fresh:

1. The Lemon Rub: First, cut a lemon in half. Rub the cut part of the lemon all over the silicone. Squeeze it a bit to get the juice out. Let it sit for 20 to 30 minutes. Then, wash it well with hot water. I love this for things like silicone cutting boards or spoons that touched garlic or onion. It’s fast and smells nice.
2. Lemon Water Soak: Or, you can squeeze lemon juice into a bowl of hot water. Use one or two lemons if the item is big or the smell is strong. Soak the silicone for about an hour. Afterwards, wash and dry it.

This way feels so fresh and natural. It might not be strong enough for the worst smells. But for normal food smells, it’s a great choice. Sometimes, if I use a silicone tool for a strong-smelling food, I’ll just give it a quick lemon rub before I even wash it.

Sunlight Deodorizing: Nature’s Free Fix for Smelly Silicone

This way sounds too easy. But sunshine is strong! It can be a free fix for smelly silicone. The sun’s rays can help stop odors. In fact, they can even clean things a little. It’s like nature’s own cleaner.

Here’s what to do for sun-powered silicone care:

1. Wash First: Make sure your silicone item is clean. You don’t want old food bits on it.
2. Sunbathe: Then, put the clean silicone in direct sun for some hours. It can be a little wet or dry. Outside is best. However, a sunny window can work too. It might just take more time.
3. Check and Repeat if Needed: After some hours, check it. Sometimes, that’s all you need! If it still smells, then you can leave it out longer.

I use this for light smells that stay after washing. Or for things like silicone bibs that need to freshen up. I would not use this for very strong, set-in smells. But it’s a great, easy way to get out mild smells. A note: silicone is tough. Still, I would not leave things in hot, direct sun for many days. This is just to keep it safe for a long time. A few hours to a day is usually okay.

How to Get Smell Out of Silicone with a Good Ol’ Boil

Sometimes, you need more power. Boiling is a good way for how to get smell out of silicone. It works well for stubborn odors. The hot water can help open the tiny holes in silicone. This way, it lets the trapped smell parts out. My grandma used to boil almost anything to clean it well. And it turns out she was right about silicone too!

Here’s how to boil for deep cleaning silicone:

1. Get a Pot: First, find a pot big enough for your silicone item(s). They need to be all the way under water.
2. Add Water and Item: Next, put the silicone item in the pot. Cover it with water.
3. Optional Boosters: To help more, add a spoon or two of baking soda to the water. Or, add a bit of white vinegar (about 1/4 cup for a medium pot). I have tried both. And they seem to help.
4. Boil Away: Then, heat the water until it boils hard. Let the silicone boil for 15 to 20 minutes. Watch the water so it does not all boil away.
5. Cool and Rinse: Finally, take the silicone out of the hot water with care. (Use tongs!) Let it cool a bit. Then, wash it one last time with cool water and dry it.

This way is great for things like silicone baby chew toys. (But check what the maker says first!) It’s also good for menstrual cups or kitchen tools that get very smelly.

Understanding the Oven Heat Advantage for Silicone Odors

Using the oven might seem strange for cleaning smelly silicone. But baking your items (empty, of course!) can really get out smells that won’t go away. The main good thing is that steady, dry heat helps free trapped oils and smells from the silicone. Food-safe silicone can usually take high heat. This is often up to 400-450°F (200-230°C). However, you must always check this for your item. You don’t need very hot heat to get smells out. Medium heat works well. Before you start, make sure your silicone is very clean and dry. No food bits or water drops should be left.

Your Step-by-Step Guide to Oven Baking Silicone

After you check that your silicone is oven-safe and clean, here is how to use the oven to get rid of smells:

1. Preheat Your Oven: First, set your oven to medium heat. About 250°F to 350°F (120°C to 175°C) is good. I often start with a lower heat, like 250°F.
2. Bake It: Next, put the silicone item right on an oven rack. Or put it on a baking sheet. Let it “bake” for 20 to 30 minutes. For very bad smells, some people leave it in for an hour. For example, I once had silicone baking molds. They got a weird chemical smell from new dishwasher soap. About 45 minutes at 300°F fixed them.
3. Cool Down: Then, turn off the oven. Let the silicone cool all the way down inside the oven. You can leave the door open a little. Or, take it out and let it cool on a rack.
4. Air Out (Optional): Finally, after it’s cool, you might want to let it air out more. This makes sure all smells are gone.

Always check twice that your silicone item can go in the oven. Many good silicone baking brands say their items are oven-safe. For instance, you can often find details about their Silpat product oven safety and care on their web sites. This way is a real winner for those super bad, almost baked-in smells.

Tackling Stubborn Silicone Smells: Advanced Odor Removal Tactics

So, you tried a way or two. And that bad smell is still there? Like a guest who won’t leave? Don’t give up yet! Sometimes, for really stubborn silicone smells, you need to use stronger plans. Or, use a few plans together to get smells out. I once had a silicone coffee cup lid. It just would not stop smelling like old coffee. And frankly, it made me crazy!

For example, you could use a baking soda paste. Or, try boiling with baking soda in the water. If it still smells a bit, then let it sit in the sun for an afternoon. It comes as a powder or small bits. If you have some, you could try placing the smelly silicone in a closed box with some charcoal for a day or two. The oven way we talked about is also one of my top “stronger plans” when other things don’t work. Indeed, it’s very good for those really deep smells. And sometimes you need to try a bit harder to figure out how to get smell out of silicone when it’s being very hard.

Key Prevention Tips for Keeping Silicone Smelling Fresh

You know the old saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”? Well, it is very true for keeping your silicone items smelling fresh! It’s great to know how to get rid of smells. But it’s even better if you can stop them from starting. Or, at least make them happen less often with your food grade silicone. These steps to stop smells can make a big change in your silicone care.

Daily Habits to Minimize Silicone Odor Buildup

Easy things you do each day are your best guard against silicone smells.

• Wash Promptly: This is very key. Try to wash your silicone items very soon after you use them, especially if they touched strong-smelling foods like garlic, onions, curry, or tomato sauce. The less time those oily, smelly bits have to sink in, the better. I just give them a quick wash with soap right after I cook or eat.
• Choose Your Soap Wisely: Do your silicone items often get a soapy or perfume smell? Then your dish soap or dishwasher soap might be the cause. Some silicone types seem to soak up soap smells more. So, try using a soap with no smell or a mild soap for a while. See if that helps. There are many good “free and clear” soaps that clean silicone well.

Smart Storage and Usage to Prevent Lingering Smells

How you keep and use your silicone can also help stop lasting smells.

• Air it Out: After washing and drying, try to keep your silicone items where air can move around them. Otherwise, if you stack them tight or seal them in boxes when still a bit wet or in a wet place, they can get a damp smell. I leave my silicone baking mats flat or rolled loosely. Also, my ice cube trays stay empty and open in the freezer.
• Rotate Usage (If Possible): Do you have many silicone tubs or tools? Then try to use different ones. That way, one item isn’t always touching strong-smelling foods.

These little things might not stop smells all the time, especially with very strong foods. But they can make smelly silicone happen much less often. You can often find general tips for cleaning silicone kitchenware from The Spruce which share these good habits for silicone care.

Cleaning Smelly Silicone: Common Mistakes to Avoid

We talked about good ways to get smells out of silicone. But it’s also key to know what not to do when cleaning smelly silicone. You don’t want to hurt your silicone. Worse yet, you don’t want to leave bad stuff on items that touch your food. Silicone is quite tough. Still, it can be damaged. Not making common mistakes will help it last long. And it will also keep it safe for food.

Damaging Don’ts: Harsh Chemicals and Abrasives on Silicone

Using the wrong things can hurt your silicone items for good. Also, this can make it harder to get smells out later.

• Harsh Chemical Cleaners: Do not use things like pure bleach. (Some say a very little bit of bleach in water is okay for cleaning some things like menstrual cups. But it’s not good for most food silicone. Plus, it can wear it out over time.) Also, do not use oven cleaners (unless they say they are for silicone and you really need to, but I would not). And stay away from other strong chemical cleaners. These can hurt the silicone. For example, they can make it sticky. Or they can leave stuff you don’t want near your food.
• Abrasive Scrubbers: Do not use steel wool. Or very rough cleaning pads. Or cleaning powders that scratch (like Comet or Ajax). Silicone does not scratch easy. However, it can scratch. Small scratches on the surface can trap more food bits and smells later. So, use soft sponges or cloths.

Procedural Pitfalls: Soaking Times and Scraping Silicone

Even with safe items, doing things the wrong way when you clean silicone can cause problems.

• Soaking for Excessive Periods in Strong Solutions: A good soak in vinegar or baking soda water works well. But don’t leave it for days and days in a very strong mix. A little is good. Too much is not. So, use the times we talked about. And always wash it very well after.
• Using Sharp Objects to Scrape: If food is dried on, don’t try to scrape it off with a knife or sharp tool. You will likely cut the silicone. Instead, soak it to make the food soft.

You want to clean and get smells out. You don’t want to fight your silicone. Reputable sources often talk about the power of simple things like baking soda. For instance, you can see this in articles that explore the many household cleaning applications of baking soda. This shows that strong chemicals are often not needed.

Enjoy Your Fresh, Odor-Free Silicone! by leaning How to Get Smell Out of Silicone

So there you have it! Many easy, good ways to fight those bad smells. Now you can get your silicone items back to smelling fresh and not stinky. You can use baking soda paste. Or a vinegar soak. Or lemon, sunshine, a good boil, or even the oven. Clearly, you have lots of choices. No more cringing when you open that silicone tub! And no more wondering if your ice will taste like old curry!

Remember, silicone is a great thing for the kitchen and more. It lasts long. Plus, it bends easy. These things are hard to beat. It just needs a little extra care now and then for smells. Don’t let a lasting smell make you stop using your favorite silicone gear. With these tips on how to get smell out of silicone, you can use them for many years with no worry.

I have found that washing things fast helps a lot. Then, using baking soda or the oven for very tough jobs keeps my silicone things in good shape. You might need to try a few ways to find your favorite. But hopefully, this guide helps you get started. So, go get those smells out! Your nose (and your food) will thank you.

FAQ – How to Get Smell Out of Silicone