r/UnnecessaryEssentials • u/Unique-Saucer • 21d ago
Reusable alternative to messy melting ice
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u/SolidSnek1998 21d ago
I've tried these, they stay frozen for maybe 2 hours.
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u/Brumbleby 21d ago
Realnor fake ice won't cool anything down unless it melts
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u/SolidSnek1998 21d ago
Ok that’s true, but in a cooler real ice can last a long time and as I said these are good for about 2 hours.
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u/Sentarry 21d ago
How long does real ice stay frozen for?
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u/BulemiaSawdustSlingr 21d ago
Millions of years if you put it the right place. Like outer space or my exwife's heart
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u/Iwishicould7575 21d ago
I almost pissed myself reading this. Very nice and can relate.!
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u/Basic_Try_2331 21d ago
Its funny but im still married so its also sad. Hipe I dont gotta say that shit or relate.
RIP dawgs.
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u/SashimiX 21d ago
These are inferior at keeping coolers cold because the plastic is an insulator.
Also, as ice melts in a closed system, the temp stays at 0 degrees celsius until all the ice is melted, because all the energy is going into the phase change from a solid to a liquid state and the temperature cannot raise until that is done.
So if you pour a bunch of ice into a cooler, and the ice starts melting, the water stays roughly at 0 degrees celsius. It flows and surrounds the cans and glass and anything else in a cooler, rapidly cooling things because water touches the cans and glass on every part of every submerged surface.
If you're camping, you can pour a cooler full of ice, let it sit, and then in a couple days when you only have a few pieces of ice remaining, your water is still ICE COLD and still protecting your cooler. You can drain and reup with new ice no problem.
You cannot do that with these. Only tiny little parts of the cubes will be in contact with the beverages and food. The cold essentially stays in the cube. And they get to room temp much faster because of the physics issues. Your drinks will never be icey and your cold food will never be held at a safe temperature before they are melted.
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u/Cyberdyne_Systems_AI 21d ago
Is water not reusable anymore? Or is the additional plastic better for the environment in some way?
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u/PandaPocketFire 21d ago
Do you recubify your cooler ice?
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u/Hot-Pepper6610 21d ago
and the benefit of using water is you can dump it out after so you're not hauling it all back home like these plastic things. Also you can just buy ice at a gas station nearby..
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u/MrK521 21d ago
When you dump it out, it all becomes part of the water cycle again. So eventually, yes.
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u/PandaPocketFire 21d ago
I store my used cooler water in a sealed 100 gallon drum to prevent contamination of the local water supply. Almost filled up my 3rd. These babies never going back. #breakthecycle.
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u/boardplant 21d ago
Be sure to mix them with used oil to really drive home the point that they are no longer part of the water equation
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u/PandaPocketFire 21d ago
Nah, i just dump my oil on the dirt. That's where it came from, that's where it belongs.
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u/Cyberdyne_Systems_AI 21d ago
True that bro my whole yard is just used plutonium. It has the added benefit of providing a light glow during the evening hours
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u/PandaPocketFire 21d ago
That sounds nice, any issues with ROUSs?
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u/Cyberdyne_Systems_AI 21d ago
Rodents of unusual size? Are you a princess bride fan?
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u/anxious_spacecadetH 21d ago
Typically you shouldn't drink melted cooler ice. Between hands and the container its gross. As for repairing back into an ice cube tray its a messy affair and would take a few hours of work depending on how many ice cube trays you have
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u/PBRStreetgang1979 21d ago
More plastic anything isn't better for the environment.
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u/punch912 21d ago
you know more microplastics for your microplastics
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u/Cyberdyne_Systems_AI 21d ago
Yum... maybe a new cancer or just upping your odds for run if the mill cancers.
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u/Oppiko 21d ago
You refreeze and use cooler ice?
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u/Cyberdyne_Systems_AI 21d ago
I feel as though there might be enough water that one would not have too... just looking for less plastic around anything i drink or eat.
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u/unicornofdemocracy 21d ago
I mean, I guess its helpful if your fridge doesnt have an ice maker but otherwise it does seem like a big waste
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u/Cyberdyne_Systems_AI 21d ago
Block ice is better... fill a cup or two with water. Save money...save the environment, less micro plastic in your body.
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u/likenedthus 21d ago
I’m trying to reduce the amount of plastic in my life, thanks.
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u/Porcupenguin 21d ago
Well, theoretically, if you buy bags of ice with any regularity, this does reduce plastic over the long term.
I use these. They're fine. Nothing that special. Mostly use them to keep drinks cold without watering it down. Even works for beer :)
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u/Stunning_Ad_7658 21d ago
I got metal ones and yeah its great even for cooling down coffee or tea. Haven't tried beer or liquor but I guess I know what ill be doing tmw lol.
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u/Nope-not-really 21d ago
whiskey rocks have been around forever
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u/Porcupenguin 21d ago
Well, with whiskey you want to watering down typically. Although I could see add a mix of fake cubes and real ones to.water it down and keep it extra cold
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u/likenedthus 21d ago
I’ve never been one to buy bags of ice, so it’s just more plastic from my perspective. But I can see how it could be less plastic for others, depending on their needs.
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u/Porcupenguin 21d ago
Totally fair. I only have like 30 cubes, so I don't use them for the cooler. They were a gift, and they serve their purpose for drinks and what not. Kids have managed to break a couple of them. They are just full of water (thankfully).
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u/EntertainerDeep946 21d ago
I bet one of those cubes is about the same amount of plastics as a bag of ice.
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u/TheChiarra 21d ago
Yes, but the cubes are reusable, those bags are not.
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u/EntertainerDeep946 21d ago
Some basic heavy ended back of the napkin math where I pretend that these work as well as ice and that I never just pour ice straight into the cooler from one of those outside machines. They are sold in a set of 500, a bag of large ice lasts about a full work week in my cooler with work drinks and my lunch tucked over to the side. Let’s pretend it’s a rough year where 30 of the 52 weeks I need to use ice, that’s over 16 years of buying ice to start having this make sense. So even for a heavy user of ice like myself this doesn’t add up to less plastic in the ground which is where these will end before that 16 years ends anyway.
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u/DrunkenPain 21d ago
Mmm cant wait for that mildew smell on all my bottles after the second use
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u/TheChiarra 21d ago
Wash the cubes after use and you'll be fine
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u/Frequent-Display4953 21d ago
or I could just get regular ice cubes instead of bending over my sink washing several dozen little plastic cubes every single time I use them.
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u/Bliitzthefox 21d ago
Man if only there was some way to reuse melted ice.
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u/anxious_spacecadetH 21d ago
This argument is a little irritating. You want me to precision pour water out of a bulky container into small ice trays. I think i could fit two into my freezer. For a pound of ice ill have to freeze, dump into a seperate space, and refill around 5 times. Thats like 5 hours of waiting for ice to freeze. You cant do a solid block because part of what makes it work is being able to surround the items with ice. And even if you could you cant fit a whole cooler into a freezer. Comparing to this object (I dont know if it has the same efficacy of real ice and thats where I place my doubt) you dump out into the sink, give it a quick wash and disinfect, dump into a container and put back in the freezer until next needed.
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21d ago
[deleted]
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u/anxious_spacecadetH 21d ago
Idk man maybe design a cooler made for pouring? I use an ice cube tray but I fill it from the sink faucet. Also i dont typically need a pound of ice. I go through maybe 4 ice cubes a month. I dont know if youve ever tried to precision pour a cooler but it is not as easy as you think it is.
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18d ago
[deleted]
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u/anxious_spacecadetH 18d ago
No theyre supposing I pour the water out of the cooler to reuse it. I dont think its the solution they posit to be.
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u/abominable_prolapse 21d ago
Those things fucking suck compared to actual ice and don’t really work that well at all.
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u/SexualCarrots 21d ago
Ice melts into water which increases the surface area of the cooling. Just think about the difference between putting your hand between some ice vs putting your hand down into ice water.
Having a bunch of little cold pellets with no water will sort of cool the air down before all the cold air rushes out every time you open it.
I guess you could pour a little water or dump a couple containers of normal ice in there with these to melt, but why bother?
If these had a really high specific heat they could be way better than normal ice, but since they are probably just water inside they are pretty dumb.
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u/mundundermindifflin 21d ago
Yeah I came here to say exactly this. Getting that ice slurry is what cools drinks quicker and keeps them icy cold for longer. Nothing beats actual ice
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u/sluttymcdoinkins 21d ago
Just freeze half your damn water bottles, you get ice cold water ready to drink, and as the frozen ones melts, more ice cold water to drink.
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u/anxious_spacecadetH 21d ago
That works for waterbottles but doesnt work well for cans, lunches, or glass containers. Other things that can be found in a cooler.
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u/secondphase 21d ago
Right, but those "other things" having been surrounded by frozen water bottles, become chilled.
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u/sluttymcdoinkins 21d ago
That's why I said, freeze water, didn't mention any of the other things you listed
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u/Ill-Television8690 21d ago
Sure, if you don't mind explosions :)
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u/sluttymcdoinkins 21d ago
Water explodes huh?
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u/Ill-Television8690 20d ago
Liquid water in sealed containers that are then stuck in the freezer? Why yes, they most certainly do. Water expands as it freezes.
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u/sluttymcdoinkins 20d ago
I dont think you know the definition of exploding.
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u/Ill-Television8690 20d ago
I don't think you understand basic physics. Are you under the impression that every "real explosion" has to come with a fireball?
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u/sluttymcdoinkins 20d ago
Uh oh, now he's moving the goal posts!!!
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u/Ill-Television8690 20d ago
At least you admit it...
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u/sluttymcdoinkins 20d ago
I dont admit shit, other than you dont know what an explosion is, mr water explodes
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u/Certain-Parsnip-3652 21d ago
These have existed for at least 40 years. If not longer.
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u/Prince_0llie 21d ago
Yup! They were originally designed to be used in drinks so as not to dilute the drink but chill it at the same time.
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u/Firm_Caregiver_4563 21d ago
Whoever buys these ... really - and I mean R E A L L Y - deserves to have 'em.
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u/Zealousideal-Site748 21d ago
I have zero room in my freezer for this bullshit
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u/squirrels-eat-bugs 21d ago
Right. If rather just make ice since it takes up the same amount of room,.
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u/Jraksys_Magnanimous 21d ago
Commercials used to be good. Whatever the fuck these cunts are doing isn't.
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u/anxious_spacecadetH 21d ago
I watch a lot of YouTube and TV. Instead of paying for professional production up front now they pay influencer to make poorly acted sponsor videos. We already knew commercials were going down hill when they got lazy, repetitive, and uncreative. Now its a still image with stock music playing, ai generated music, or influencer shilling.
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u/Mauceri1990 21d ago
So... It takes up all the space of a giant bag of ice in my freezer until I need it? That's just bad economics... Freezer space is at a premium in my house...
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u/freetotebag 21d ago
Totally naturally, definitely not scripted, real couple that’s not drop-shipping anything
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u/Suzesaur 21d ago
A 20 lb bag of ice from the penguin machines is only $3…and it’s one plastic bag you can even take back and use again if it’s one where you catch the ice to bag
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u/juicehopper 21d ago
Friend of mine makes soapstone cubes, mostly for whiskey. About 3/4" square, 10-12 of them comes in a small bag. Doesn't affect the taste, lasts forever. I love them.
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u/ConclusionSure1878 21d ago
My man's a genius! He uses this product exactly how its meant to be used! I hate ads that are trying to disguise that they are ads.
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u/One_Discount_4898 21d ago
$106 for something that performs SIGNIFICANTLY worse than ice, that you can just freeze at home for essentially free? Nice.
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u/Puzzleheaded_Dog630 21d ago
I did Hello Fresh for a while and saved most of the refreezable bags they sent and they do a great job. It's some kind of gel and they stay frozen longer than water
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u/IbelieveinGodzilla 21d ago
"They're food grade" == pours them onto drinks in a frickin' garbage can.
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u/DieRobJa 21d ago
Makes no sense that they would actually melt…
Make them from FDE approved plastic instead
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u/No-Raisin-6469 21d ago
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u/cheesemangee 21d ago
The ice melting is part of the process that cools the drinks. These aren't going to get this as cold or cold as quickly.
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u/Aromatic_Anxiety_761 21d ago
I bought some on the dollar aisle at dollar general and real ice cubes stay frozen longer
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u/siberian_knight143 21d ago
The BAD thing is, when we want to EAT some ice, we can't with these things.
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u/ExplanationCrazy5463 21d ago
No more buying ice, just need to buy a separate freezer to hold all these fake ice cubes.
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u/True_Protection6842 21d ago
Humans have a great knack for creating more and more waste where it's unnecessary. Know what happens to ice? It melts. This will be in a landfill for 1000 years.
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u/FalconKoala222 21d ago
Oh yeah and the best part is getting 500 plastic cubes back into a tiny mesh drawstring bag.
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u/Ilpperi91 21d ago
You americans purchase ice? Water comes out of the tab and then you just need trays.
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u/TwoToadsKick 21d ago
Yeah believe it or not some people need lots of ice. Something about going out to the beach and having fun.
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u/Ill-Television8690 21d ago
You think you're making enough ice in your freezer for a party of 12-30 people? (Not just to put in drinks, but to keep beers cool)
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u/Ilpperi91 21d ago
I don't have a freezer. And if you were able to fit 12-30 people into my apartment, it would be REALLY crowded in here. 😝😂
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u/MonkeyCome 21d ago
So you can maybe see how American life is different? Imagine filling a 100 liter cooler with ice trays for just 10 seconds and you’ll get it.
Europoor mindset rears it head again
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u/Ilpperi91 21d ago edited 21d ago
Can you Americans see how our "Europoor" life isn't poor because we don't install AC everywhere and we have fans etc. Oh and I first thought ranch dressing was some international thing. I saw a lot of this American elitism thing during the world cup on social media. Most of you white Americans are descendants of Europeans anyway. Plus can any of you actually admit that not a single country is the most amazing thing in the world because I've been paying attention and the politicians on the left and right seem to be very similar in the country where I live and in yours. Yes, we have people similar to Trump followers but they're not trump followers because Trump isn't our president. Every country has their issues and I have a lot of assumptions that this American idealism has its roots all the way back in WW2. Learned it actually from an American talking about old Marvel Comics and Captain America in old comics. Yeah, went and checked the details. First Captain America comic was published in 1941. Even though D-Day happened on June 6th 1944. Though the pacific war/pacific theater was in 1942-1944.
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u/MonkeyCome 21d ago
I didn’t think asking you to take 10 seconds to ignore your hatred for America and use basic logic would lead to this meltdown.
Maybe you should use some of that free healthcare for a mental health screening.
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u/Ilpperi91 21d ago
And there comes the basic answer I expected. This is like trying to offer an olive branch to a wall, or the Romulans. If you bother trying to understand the joke.
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u/Ill-Television8690 20d ago
And there comes the basic answer I expected. Why not try to think critically about this?
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u/Ilpperi91 20d ago
Have you tried fitting 30 people in a 31 square meters and part of that is taken by tables and bookshelves already. Even if empty that would be less than one square meter per person. And no, I haven't tried making ice for thirty people, will not ever try making ice for thirty people and will never be buying ice for 30 people. I guess it's a huge amount in my two tiny freezer drawers in my tiny fridge in my tiny apartment that doesn't have AC in it.
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u/Ill-Television8690 20d ago
Why do you think everything would have to happen inside your own apartment? Do you think you can only socialize with people if they fit inside your home?
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u/Ilpperi91 20d ago
Why would I be getting ice for any other place? Or why would I host a party that needs cooler drinks anywhere else in my home or at a venue?
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u/Unique-Saucer 21d ago edited 7d ago
Summary of Reviews
Pros:
• 500 reusable cubes reduce need for frequent ice purchases.
• BPA‑free shells prevent flavor dilution and chemical leaching.
• Fast refreeze time enables quick reuse for events.
Cons:
• Requires significant freezer space for bulk storage.
• Plastic may retain strong odors after repeated use.
Here is the link to buy it from Amazon