How to Fix a Warped Tupperware Lid (Fixing Common Problems)
Tupperware has been around forever. Most likely you are related to someone who has owned or sold Tupperware products. Unfortunately, the plastic used by this company is not perfect. It has its own set of flaws that come from simple human error.
How to fix a warped Tupperware lid: Fortunately, plastic can be reshaped when it becomes warped. Tupperware plastic is no different. Some people use their microwave for a minute or two and then place a flat heavy object over the warped lid to get it back into proper shape.
To learn more about fixing a warped plastic Tupperware lid, just continue to read our article. It has the information you need to know about and some possible solutions. No guarantees are made here though, each situation is different.
Tupperware Lid 101
Can You Fix a Warped Tupperware Lid?
This is a yes and no type question. There are some success stories and there are negative ones. Your result will depend a lot on how badly warped the Tupperware lid is. Some warps are impossible to get out of.
The heat of the dishwasher is extreme and many Tupperware plastics are not made for the dishwasher. Some are but a lot of the older lids are not. When you put the lids in the dishwasher the lids will warp to such a point, it may be impossible to get the damage undone.
Some fixes can be applied and those fixes depend on heat. That is about the only element that will work on reshaping plastic. The key is not to over due the heat levels or you just add to the damage and the lid may not even be accepted through Tupperware’s lifetime warranty.
How to fix a Warped Tupperware Lid
As we just noted, heat is going to be the key element needed in order to fix a warp. Heat is what warped the plastic lid in the first place and heat is what is going to be needed to fix it. This is a one-time fighting fire with fire will work.
One solution is to put the lid in your microwave and turn it on. The heat level is going to be done by trial and error as different thicknesses of plastic will respond to different levels of heat.
As well as the time frame. You certainly do not want the lid in the oven for too long or you just damage it further. Try a minute at a time and then place a heavy flat object on top of the lid to bring it back to its original size.
Another solution would be to place the lid in some boiling water, again not for a very long time, and then either let the lid lie flat without any weight or add a little weight to encourage the plastic to return to its original shape.
The key is to be careful and not forget about the lid being in such heat. Left underweight for a long period is not going to be a problem.
Tupperware Lid Won't Close
This is a common problem with older Tupperware lids. It happens to just about everyone so you are not alone. One solution is to place the lid in the dishwasher for one cycle.
Then while warm simply place the lid back on the bowl it came from and let the lid cool. This way the lid will reshape itself and still be able to grab the bowl lip when it is cool.
If you do not have a dishwasher you can use your microwave and a boiling pot of water to warm the lid up and then place it back on its bowl to cool. The key will be the length of time in all three options.
There is always a risk of melting the plastic or deforming it further when left under extreme heat for too long. Also, microwaves heat from the inside out so you have to be careful not to ruin the integrity of the lid when using that appliance.
Tupperware Lid Too Loose
This is going to be a tricky maneuver as it is hard to shrink plastic to where it will provide a perfect fit and keep the food inside fresh. You can try the methods we already listed above to see if those options help tighten the lid up but in most cases, it may not work.
In this case, it would be best to contact Tupperware itself and see if the lid qualifies for their limited lifetime warranty. Here is the link to their website page that provides the instructions for how to replace your lid.
No one is talking about shrinking a lid so there is no way to report an alternative solution other than contacting the company. The problem with shrinking plastic, especially for something so vital as keeping food fresh, is that the method has to be done evenly.
If one part does not shrink, it will not provide the seal you are looking for. In this situation, Tupperware plastic, and any plastic, can be very finicky because it is not just the shape or the fit you are going for, it is the tight seal that has to be done as well.
Tupperware Lid Doesn't Fit
If the lid is too loose, it may simply need to go on a larger bowl. Then if it doesn’t fit there, you may be able to loosen the lid up enough to get it to fit tightly by following the methods we have already described.
The best of all the methods we have already mentioned is the one where you heat the lid for about 15 minutes in boiling water and then place the lid over the bowl it belongs to.
As the lid cools, the seal and the plastic should re-shape themselves and become a perfect fit. We say should because this is not a foolproof method. When it comes to plastics, everything is a depends because plastic is not the most durable product anyone can use.
Once plastic loses its shape, it can be a nightmare trying to get it back to its original shape. You can do the boiling water method or the microwave option several times to try to see if the lid will regain its old shape but just be careful as it is possible to heat the plastic too much.
Broken Tupperware Lid
Before you throw this item away, and after you find out it may not be replaced by Tupperware (its lifetime policy does have limits on it) there is a way to fix broken plastic lids. It takes only one special tool and a little time.
It is possible to solder broken plastic back together again. You may think that soldering is just for electronics and light metal parts but that is not the case. You can use your soldering iron to fix broken plastic pieces.
The good news is, that you do not have to stop at Tupperware lids. You can fix most broken plastic pieces by welding them together. Here are the steps you need to take:
- 1. Warm up a standard soldering iron or station. Just use the one you already own. If you do not have one, the cheapest basic one will work.
- 2. The flat tip is the best one to use. It covers more area.
- 3. Pick out some scrap plastic items you can use. These come in handy when the plastic is too thin and will not weld together correctly. use these pieces like solder or create a hole in the broken plastic and use them to fill the hole.
- 4. If the plastic feels weak, you can make the weld stronger by using crazy glue to glue the pieces together first then add the weld afterward. Or use staples to help hold the two sides together again.
- 5. Make sure to protect yourself. Welding plastic together will create toxic fumes so have the right face mask on and use gloves. The plastic will get very hot and you need to protect yourself from burns.
- 6. Solder like you would metal and then let the plastic cool before checking to see if the weld will hold. If not you may need to melt some of those scrap pieces of plastic over the weld to add some strength.
Tupperware Lid Bent
The easiest solution to this problem would be to simply contact your Tupperware rep and see if the lid will meet the criteria of the limited lifetime warranty Tupperware places on all of its products.
If the bent lid does not qualify then the three solutions we have already provided will help you out. Of course, their success will depend on the severity of the bend. Some bends may be too much for those simple solutions but they are your first step.
Another solution would be to put cool water in a bowl, place the lid back on as best as you can, and place the set up in your microwave for a minute or two. Once heated you can try to unbend the warm plastic that has been made pliable by the steam from the water.
My Tupperware Lid is Stuck After the Microwave
This is a common occurrence as many people think that microwave-safe extends to plastic lids. In many cases, it does not and it is best not to microwave anything with a plastic lid unless it is truly microwave-safe. Even Tupperware may have this vulnerability.
The first trick to do is place the bowl back in the microwave and heat it up again for a very short time. Then pull the bowl back out and before waiting for the lid to cool again, pull it off. This is the easiest method you can use.
Some people have suggested using dull butter knives to pry the lid off but this is a very primitive method that may not work or it may damage the lid. Or you could end up burning yourself when the hot steam starts to escape once you get the lid off.
Tupperware Lid Melted in the Dishwasher
In this scenario, you may have only one option as a solution. Contact Tupperware at the link we gave you above or talk to your Tupperware rep first and see what they say. The problem with the latter solution is that the character of your rep may not be as helpful as you would like.
Tossing it out may be your only solution for the lid. As for your dishwasher, replacing the element may be the only way to go. There are remedies for removing melted plastic from the element but they are not always a success for everyone.
You can try placing ice on the melted plastic for 30 minutes then peel the plastic off, but as we said, this is not always successful. Or you can try scraping the plastic off with a dull knife but the results may not be encouraging after a lot of hard work.
One method that may work, would be using your hairdryer. make sure the dishwasher element is completely cold and there is nothing inside of the appliance. Then turn on your hairdryer to warm up the plastic and scrape it off with a dull piece of wood or another object (non-plastic).
Then use a warm wet cloth to wipe away any plastic residue you can’t see. After that, simply run your empty dishwasher through a hot cycle to burn off the rest of the plastic you could not remove.
Why Are My Tupperware Lids Sticky?
To avoid voiding the Tupperware warranty, you should look on their website for the proper solutions to use to clean that sticky texture off their bowls, etc. Baking soda and water is the official Tupperware solution and one that will keep the warranty intact.
You can try vinegar and water also but make sure you double-check with your Tupperware rep or the company itself for this and any other home remedy that comes your way.
The sticky feeling is supposed to come through a lack of use. One person did not use the baking soda solution but substituted Murphy’s Oil instead. They reported successful results.
This website provides a lot of home remedies you can try but again, you should double-check first before using them.
Tupperware Cover Alternative
Many people have a negative attitude towards plastic items. Their reason is that the plastic doesn't biodegrade and remains in the landfills or oceans forever. They have come up with different alternatives you can use to cover your Tupperware bowls.
Glass is one option, instead of using plastic bowls and lids, change to glass storage jars. Or you can use paper or cotton snack bags that will biodegrade after awhile. Actually any non-plastic bag will suffice as an alternative.
There are such things as compostable cling wrap. They are made out of corn and these work just as well as plastic lids. Some of the ideas these people came up with are a little bit weird and many are just common sense that anyone would think of using.
You can use a rubber band and non-plastic paper, etc., to cover your Tupperware bowl.
Do Tupperware Lids Shrink?
It is plastic so the answer to this question is yes, they will. Or a better term would be they will deform in a way that implies shrinking and stop the lid from fitting. But it is possible to get the lid to fit again if it has not lost a lot of size or shape.
Evenly heat the bowl and then see if the lid fits. If it doesn’t do not heat the lid but continue to heat the bowl till the lid does fit correctly. Once you have achieved that objective immediately cool the bowl and lid down so the shape remains.
You can try heating the lid and the next section will give you the instructions on how to do that.
How to Stretch Tupperware Lids
Heat is always going to be part of the solution when it comes to plastic. You need heat to shrink or reshape plastic material and you will need heat to stretch it out a bit. You won’t or shouldn’t try to get a lot of stretch as that will lose the integrity of the lid and the results will not be even.
Small stretches are okay and you can try heating the lid under some running hot water and then placing the lid back on the bowl till it cools. Or you can soak the lid and seal it in hot water for about 15 minutes and then fit it over the bowl.
There is the dishwasher option but in our research, we found that may be the appliance that will void the warranty so be careful. Even 60-year-old Tupperware is still under warranty.
How to Get Tupperware Lids Replaced
The first step is to contact your Tupperware rep. They should know the correct procedure and they can look at the lid and see firsthand what damage was done. If you do not have the name or phone number of the rep you can go to the Tupperware website and find one that is closest to you. They have a rep finder web page.
Or if you do not want to use that step, as not all reps are that great, you can call 1-800- Tupperware and talk to the company directly. Or use their website to contact them. The link above will provide some instructions to help you do just that.
Those are the two methods you should use and dealing directly with the company may spare you some headache and speed up the process.
Can Tupperware Lids Be Recycled?
Yes, they are and most Tupperware products, including lids, have the #1 or #2 recycling symbol on them. Those symbols tell you that almost every recycling plant will accept them.
Of course, you will have to clean the lids and other Tupperware products you no longer have any use for. Also, you should have them empty if containers and dry. Even #5 labeled Tupperware products should be recyclable.
If you are going to recycle the containers, you should include the lids and place them on the containers when you drop them off into a recycle bin or at the plant. Recycling is better than tossing the plastic lids in the trash and you should recycle broken, melted, bent, etc., plastic lids as well.
There is no place in the landfill or oceans for plastic materials so recycle all plastics even if they are not Tupperware items.
What to do With Tupperware Lids
Never throw them away. If they do not fit the bowl or other container, contact Tupperware and get a replacement then recycle the lids. Or you can try to use one of the many methods already described to get them to fit the proper container again.
It is easy to re-purpose the Tupperware containers but not so easy to do that with the lids. The best option is to recycle them so that the material can be used once again. Even broken plastic Tupperware lids can be welded back together and reused so do not forget that option.
Some Final Words
Fixing Tupperware lids requires heat. That is the first ingredient you have to set up. The trick is to find the right level of heat and the right source to make sure you do not ruin the lid or void the warranty.
Here is the main URL for the Tupperware website and you can click on it and explore the site for more helpful information. Or talk to your Tupperware dealer to make sure you are finding the right solutions to help you when the lids do not work anymore.
