Last Updated on February 9, 2026 by Erin Jahan Eva

THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO REMOVING ODOR FROM SILICONE BAKING MOLDS

Your silicone baking molds smell terrible. They pick up odors from garlic, onions, or fish. Sometimes they have that plastic smell right out of the package. The bad smell transfers to your food.

I’ve dealt with this problem for years. I own dozens of silicone molds. Ice trays, cupcake pans, and loaf molds. They all develop odors over time.

But I’ve found solutions that work. You can remove these smells completely. Your silicone kitchenware can smell fresh again.

This guide shares proven methods. You’ll learn multiple cleaning techniques. Some use baking soda. Others use heat or vinegar. All of them work.

You don’t need expensive cleaners. Common household items do the job. Most methods take just minutes.

Let’s fix those smelly molds right now.

Why Silicone Absorbs Odors

Silicone is porous at a microscopic level. Tiny holes cover the surface. You can’t see them. But they’re there.

These pores trap food particles. They also trap oils and grease. Bacteria grow in these spaces. This creates bad smells.

Silicone utensils have the same problem. Your silicone spatula can smell like garlic for weeks. Silicone ice cube trays pick up freezer odors. Ice molds absorb smells from other foods.

The plastic smell is different. New silicone products sometimes smell like plastic. This comes from the manufacturing process. Chemical residues remain on the surface.

Food-grade silicone is safe. But it still absorbs odors easily. Strong-smelling foods are the worst culprits.

I made salmon in a silicone pan once. The fishy smell lasted weeks. No amount of dish soap helped. I needed stronger methods.

Understanding this problem helps you fix it. You’re not just washing the surface. You need to clean deep into those pores.

The Baking Soda Method

Baking soda is my go-to solution. It neutralizes odors chemically. It doesn’t just cover smells. It eliminates them.

This method works on all silicone cookware. Use it on molds, ice trays, and utensils. It’s safe and effective.

What You Need

• Baking soda
• Warm water
• A bowl or sink
• A soft brush or sponge

Step-by-Step Process

First, rinse your silicone mold with warm water. Remove any visible food particles.

Create a thick paste. Mix three parts baking soda with one part water. Stir until smooth. The paste should be spreadable but not runny.

Apply this paste everywhere. Cover the entire surface of your silicone mold. Get into all the crevices. Don’t skip any spots.

Let it sit for one hour. For really bad smells, leave it overnight. The baking soda needs time to work.

Scrub gently with a soft brush. Work the paste into the silicone. Pay extra attention to areas that held food.

Rinse thoroughly with hot water. Make sure all the baking soda washes away. Residue can leave a white film.

Smell the mold. If odor remains, repeat the process.

I use this method weekly on my silicone ice cube trays. They pick up freezer smells constantly. Baking soda keeps them fresh.

Why This Works

Baking soda is alkaline. Most food odors are acidic. The baking soda neutralizes these acids. This breaks down the smell molecules.

The paste also acts as a gentle abrasive. It pulls trapped particles from the pores. This deep cleans your silicone kitchenware.

This method saved my favorite ice tray. It had absorbed onion smell from the freezer. One overnight treatment fixed it completely.

The Boiling Water Technique

Heat opens up silicone pores. This releases trapped odors. Boiling is one of the fastest methods.

Safety First

Only boil silicone rated for high heat. Check your product label. Most food-grade silicone handles boiling. But verify first.

Don’t boil silicone with metal parts. Remove any metal inserts or handles.

The Boiling Process

Fill a large pot with water. Use enough water to fully submerge your silicone mold.

Bring water to a full boil.

Carefully place your silicone cookware in the water. Use tongs to avoid burns.

Boil for five to ten minutes. For stubborn smells, boil up to fifteen minutes.

You’ll see bubbles coming from the silicone. This is normal. Trapped air and odors are escaping.

Remove the mold with tongs. Place it on a clean towel.

Let it cool completely. Don’t touch it yet. Hot silicone can burn you.

Rinse with cold water once cool.

I boil my silicone spatula every month. It gets heavy use. Boiling keeps it odor-free between deep cleans.

Adding Lemon for Extra Power

Add lemon slices to the boiling water. This combines two methods. The acid cuts through grease. The pleasant smell replaces bad odors.

I slice one whole lemon. Throw it in the pot with the silicone. The results are amazing. Your ice molds will smell citrus-fresh.

This combination works beautifully on silicone utensils too. The heat and lemon tackle even garlic smells.

Vinegar and Lemon Solutions

White vinegar is a natural deodorizer. It’s acidic. This breaks down odor-causing compounds.

Vinegar works great on that plastic smell. New silicone products respond well to this method.

Vinegar Soak Instructions

Mix equal parts vinegar and water. A 50/50 ratio works best.

Place your silicone mold in the solution. Make sure it’s fully submerged.

Let it soak for at least two hours. For severe odors, soak overnight.

Remove the silicone from the solution.

Wash with dish soap and warm water. This removes the vinegar smell.

Rinse very thoroughly. Leftover vinegar can affect food taste.

Air dry completely before storing.

I bought cheap silicone ice cube trays online. They had a horrible plastic smell. I couldn’t use them for ice. The smell transferred to drinks.

I soaked them in vinegar for twelve hours. The plastic smell disappeared completely. Now they’re my favorite ice trays.

Lemon Juice Treatment

Lemons are nature’s deodorizer. The citric acid cuts through grease. The fresh scent replaces bad smells.

Cut two fresh lemons in half.

Rub the lemon directly on your silicone mold. Squeeze as you rub. The juice needs to cover all surfaces.

Focus on areas with the worst smells. Get juice into every corner and crevice.

Let the lemon juice sit for thirty minutes.

Rinse with warm water. Wash with dish soap.

Combining Methods

Mix lemon juice with baking soda. This creates a fizzing paste. The combination is powerful.

Apply this paste to your silicone cookware. The fizzing action helps lift odors. Let it sit for twenty minutes.

Scrub gently. Rinse thoroughly.

I use this combination on ice molds after making flavored ice. Coffee or juice cubes leave strong smells. Lemon and baking soda remove them every time.

Preventing Odors in Silicone Cookware

Prevention is easier than removal. Good habits keep your silicone molds fresh.

Clean Immediately After Use

Don’t let food sit in silicone. Wash your molds right after use.

The longer food stays in contact, the worse the odor. Oils and fats soak deep into the pores.

I learned this with my ice molds. I made herb-infused oil cubes once. I left them in the molds for days. The garlic smell never fully left.

Now I empty molds immediately. I wash them before odors set in.

Use Hot Water and Dish Soap

Lukewarm water isn’t enough. Heat opens the silicone pores. Hot water with good dish soap cleans deeper.

Scrub every surface. Use a bottle brush for an ice tray with small compartments.

Rinse with the hottest water you can handle. This flushes out trapped particles.

Dry Completely Before Storing

Moisture trapped in silicone creates bacterial growth. This causes bad smells.

Air dry your silicone cookware completely. Stand molds upright so water drains out.

I use a dish rack for this. My silicone ice cube trays stand on end. All the water drips out.

Never stack wet silicone. Air can’t circulate. Odors develop quickly.

Store Properly

Don’t seal silicone in plastic bags or containers. It needs air circulation.

I store my silicone utensils in a drawer with ventilation holes. My silicone spatula never develops odors there.

Ice molds go in an open basket in my freezer. They don’t sit directly on freezer shelves. This prevents absorbing other food smells.

Replace When Necessary

Silicone doesn’t last forever. Over time, it breaks down. Pores get larger. Odors become impossible to remove.

Check your silicone cookware regularly. Look for permanent discoloration, sticky texture, or tears.

If your ice tray smells bad after trying all these methods, replace it.

I replace my silicone ice cube trays yearly. They’re inexpensive. Fresh molds work better.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my new silicone mold smell like plastic?

New silicone often has a plastic smell from manufacturing. This comes from chemical residues or heat during production. Wash the mold in hot soapy water. Then soak it in a vinegar solution overnight. The plastic smell should disappear.

Can I use bleach to clean silicone?

Avoid bleach on silicone cookware. Bleach damages silicone over time. Use baking soda, vinegar, or lemon juice instead. These are safer and just as effective. They won’t harm your silicone kitchenware.

How often should I deep clean my silicone molds?

Deep clean silicone molds once a month if you use them regularly. Clean them immediately if they develop odors. For items like silicone ice cube trays, deep clean every two weeks.

Will dishwashers remove odors from silicone?

Dishwashers help but don’t remove strong odors. Hand washing with the methods described works better. However, run your clean silicone through the dishwasher as a final rinse. The high heat helps.

Can I clean a silicone spatula the same way as molds?

Yes, all these methods work on silicone utensils. A silicone spatula can soak in vinegar or baking soda paste. Boiling works great for spatulas too. Just check the heat tolerance first.

Why do my silicone ice cube trays smell like the freezer?

Silicone absorbs odors from nearby foods in the freezer. Store ice molds in sealed bags or containers. Keep them away from strong-smelling foods. Clean your freezer regularly.

Is it safe to use silicone that smells bad?

Food-grade silicone is safe even with odors. The smell is unpleasant but not dangerous. However, bad smells transfer to your food. Clean the silicone before using it. If the smell won’t leave, replace the item.

Conclusion

Smelly silicone doesn’t mean you need to throw it away. Multiple methods remove even stubborn odors. Try baking soda first. Combine it with lemon or vinegar for tough smells.

Prevention keeps molds fresh longer. Clean immediately after use. Dry completely before storing.

Start removing those bad smells today. Your silicone cookware will be fresh again.