How to Separate Plastic Storage Containers

Plastic storage containers that are stacked inside each other can become stuck together, the same way that plastic drinking glasses become stuck. If this happens to your containers, there are a couple of methods for getting them unstuck that work. All are easy to do and work well.

• Put the containers in a kitchen sink that has been filled with enough hot water to come half way up the bottom container. Pour cold water with some ice cubes into the inner container. They should easily pull apart after a few minutes. The heat from the hot water makes the outer container expand, while the ice and cold water is shrinking the inner container.


• Place containers in the sink. Pour some cooking oil around the rim of the outer container. Twist and move the containers, until they loosen. You will have to wash the containers once you are done, to remove the oil.


• If the containers are round, you can try rolling them back and forth on the counter, until they come apart.


• If you can bend the outer one out a little or the inner one in, use the hose on your kitchen sink to spray water in between them, until the inner one floats out.


• Place the containers outside on a sunny day. Leave them on the picnic table for a while to let the sun heat them up. They should pull apart after being outside for a while.


• Pour some dish soap between them close to the rim, they will slip apart.


• If there is room in the freezer, place them in there. The cold will contract them and they will come apart after a short period of time.