Sometimes when I’m unloading plastic containers from the top rack of the dishwasher I think to myself, how tragic that neither I nor my children nor my children’s children will live to see a day when these vessels are dry once again. While my beloved dishwasher can leave plates, wine glasses, and silverware streak-free, squeaky clean, and bone-dry after a wash cycle, even the smallest sour cream tub will take the better part of a day to stop dripping. Thanks to a recent article over at BBC Future , I might finally know why.

BBC Future explains that one part of the answer to this irritating conundrum lies in “good old-fashioned thermodynamics.” Most other objects we load into a dishwasher, including ceramic or porcelain plates and bowls and metal utensils, retain heat better than plastic; as a result, they hold on to more of the heat from the water and steam in a wash cycle, and because they stay warmer longer, that warmth helps evaporate any water left on the surface. Plastic, meanwhile, grows room temp and stays soggy, its water unable to evaporate faster than a snail’s pace.

There’s also the fact that plastic is derived from oil—and we all know oil doesn’t play nice with water. A scientist tells BBC Future that any water that comes into contact with plastic immediately forms beads and puddles rather than spreading out into a thin layer, as it might on a glass surface. This clumping makes it harder for the water to evaporate. Additionally, many plastic items such as storage containers have a textured surface for easy gripping, but that means that it’ll also “grip” any water it comes into contact with, liquid settling in the tiny grooves.

We might never fully solve the issue of drippy plastic, but there are a few steps you can take to streamline your dishwashing experience. Here are a few tips:

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