The Reusable Milk Cartons That TikTok Is Wild About (But Are They Practical?)

It's no secret that the organization enthusiasts of TikTok have somewhat of an obsession with aesthetically pleasing clear storage containers. While they are an excellent vessel for pantry staples and other non-perishables, some are taking their love for chic storage bins to a whole new level, even pouring laundry detergent into a cute container. The latest viral craze is clear plastic milk cartons. These containers are all over TikTok, but the truth is, they are not all that practical; they are tricky to clean, potentially faulty, and may cause milk to spoil faster.

For those who love minimalism, the packaging of a store-bought milk carton does not exactly match that vibe. However, transferring your dairy beverage into a trendy bottle may not be the best alternative. Even if you stick a pretty label on it, the original expiration date will likely not be accurate in its new container. Plus, thorough cleaning is essential to prevent bacteria, but this viral container can only be hand washed, and doing so is not very easy. So, before you take TikTok's organization advice and give these stylish milk containers a try, let's go over the (valid) reasons why they are getting mixed reviews.

There's no denying that these reusable milk containers have a beautiful shelf presentation, but some people believe there is a reason why perishables like milk are kept in their original packaging. Store-bought milk is sold in containers made of durable materials such as paperboard. A few commenters on a viral video by @enerlivin claimed that their containers leaked, though the original creator replied saying that this didn't happen to them.

Another commenter points out that milk should be kept in an opaque container to preserve the vitamins, and this person is right. According to the National Dairy Council of Ireland, clear containers may reduce the potency of milk's beneficial vitamins like riboflavin, aka vitamin B2. Not only that, but milk that is exposed to light will become spoiled faster and more easily, says The United Dairy Industry of Michigan.

Further, these particular containers are made of plastic, which can develop mold if not cleaned and sanitized properly, as one comment points out. Dairy products, in particular, are prone to mold when expired. Given what we know about milk spoiling faster in clear containers, the expiration date on the original carton may not be accurate when transferred to the new container. Cleaning mold residue may also be more difficult because of the container's narrow opening, and this TikTok-viral container is not dishwasher safe. All this being said, minimalist-chic milk cartons may bring more headaches than they're worth.