Our Customer Care Staff are available to help you Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm MT excluding US holidays.

Our business days are Monday through Friday, excluding US holidays.   We can not change, add or remove items on an order.   We can only cancel the entire order.  We have until 5pm MT the day an order is placed to try and cancel it.   If you would like us to try and cancel your order on a business day, please contact us at info@planetbox.com with "Cancel" and your order number in the subject line and we will do our best to help you.   The cancellation process is not automatic.  Please wait for our response as to whether or not we canceled the order.  

We stand by every product we ship. If you, the purchaser, are not pleased and excited by your new PlanetBox products you can contact us within 60 days of receipt for return instructions. This applies only to purchases made through our website, PlanetBox.com. Purchases made through a store other than PlanetBox.com are subject to the return policy of the store itself.

In order to be eligible for return, a Return Authorization Number must be requested in advance by contacting us at info@planetbox.com. Note that we do not cover shipping costs to return merchandise.  Refunds will be credited to the original payment source and cannot be guaranteed without a Return Authorization Number.

You will need to pay the shipping charge to send any items back to us for a refund unless there is a warranty related issue or website error that occurred at the time of purchase.

PlanetBox warrants you, the original purchaser of this new PlanetBox product (“Product”), that the stainless steel Product shall be free of defects in the original manufacturer of the material or workmanship for a period of five (5) years from the date of your purchase of the Product (“Warranty Period”). Soft goods are to be free from defects in material or workmanship for a period of one (1) year from the date of original purchase.  For this warranty to apply, your Product must be purchased online at www.planetbox.com or from a PlanetBox authorized retailer.

How long does the coverage last?

The Warranty Period of stainless steel items lasts for 5 years from the original date you purchased the Product. The warranty of soft goods lasts for 1 year from the original date of purchase. Your purchase date is shown on your order confirmation or printed on the receipt you received with the Product.

What does this warranty cover?

PlanetBox’s sole obligation under this warranty and any implied warranty is limited to replacement of the same or equivalent Product or refund (refunds can only be issued for products purchased within the last 90 days on planetbox.com) of any component that fails to conform to this warranty. This warranty lasts as long as you own your Product during the Warranty Period. Warranty coverage terminates if you sell or otherwise transfer the Product.

How to obtain warranty service?

Customers who purchased items from PlanetBox.com should contact info@planetbox.com.

Customers who purchased items from one of the retail stores located in the US or Canada as listed on the Store Locator page on planetbox.com should contact info@planetbox.com.

Customers who purchased items from one of the retail stores located anywhere OUTSIDE the US or Canada as listed on the Store Locator page on planetbox.com should directly contact that business with any warranty concern.

What does the warranty not cover?

Customer instruction/education

Cosmetic damage

Accidental damage

Misuse

Abuse

Negligence

Loss or Theft

To begin the warranty process, if the replacement request is determined to be within one year of purchase for soft goods and five years from date of purchase for stainless steel goods, the following information must be provided to Customer Service at info@planetbox.com: 

1. PlanetBox.com: Order number
2. Amazon, Costco and authorized retailer:  A photo of the receipt which includes date of purchase must be provided 
   
3. Picture of the entire item.
4. Picture of the defect (this can be included in the image above if defect is visible in the photo.)
5. Picture of the Lot number on tag inside bag or the number on the bottom of the stainless steel item.
6. Full address where the replacement item should be delivered.  

 (Warranty issues for Items purchased from outside US or Canada should be directed to store where purchase was made.)

We want you to enjoy your new PlanetBox products. If you received a broken item in your package, you may either submit your request for replacements at the link below or write to us at info@planetbox.com.

If you choose to write to us, please use subject "Damaged in Shipping: (Insert your order number)", list the item number damaged and include a photo for us so that we can help you as quickly as possible.

Please submit a wholesale application here:  https://www.planetbox.com/pages/wholesale

You are amazing and you can do anything! If the foods are wet or messy, put them in a round or square Dipper. Otherwise, they are good to put directly into one of the lunchbox compartments.  For meal ideas, try our blog.

Our products are independently tested by certified laboratories to be safe from lead, phthalates, PVC, BPA and other toxic chemicals.  These firms certify that our products meet or exceed established quality standards for safety and workmanship, including compliance with the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). 

We do not publicly share the results of our testing as they contain proprietary information about our products. We realize that this may be frustrating to some consumers as they would like to see these results themselves.  Please know that we take safety very seriously.  In fact, it is why PlanetBox was created. 

Our high quality 18/8 (300 SS) and 18/0 (400 SS) stainless steel is food safe and will not leach toxic chemicals when in contact with food. These types of stainless steel have been used for food storage in many cultures for generations and are the preferred materials for hospitals, commercial kitchens and other environments where sanitation is a priority.

We at PlanetBox and our families use our products.  We want only the best for us and you.  We take the safety of our materials and manufacturing processes to heart. Our products are produced for us by long-standing manufacturing partners in China.

Our products are protected by US patents 8,328,034, D616,258 and D655,988. More patents are pending both in the USA and in foreign countries.  

https://www.planetbox.com/pages/patents

The pricing is determined by the high quality, expensive materials.  Our products are intricately engineered to function well over time.   Our stainless steel items are warrantied for 5 years.  Our soft goods are warrantied for 1 year.  

The cost will pay for itself over time.  If you purchase a Rover for $74 (lunchbox plus average shipping and taxes) and use it for one school year (180 days) the average cost of it per day used is 41 cents for just one year.

All promotional offers are announced in our newsletters and on planetbox.com.  If you would like to, you can sign up to receive our announcements on the bottom of the page here:  https://www.planetbox.com/

The discount code section can be found on the second page of the Shopping Cart.  It is on the right hand side, above the total on the Customer Information page.   Below is a screen shot to show you where you can enter it.  

The points can not be used in conjunction with any other promotional offer.   You are welcome to take advantage of points between sales.     

For more information on our Loyalty Rewards program, please visit us here:

https://www.planetbox.com/pages/loyalty

https://www.planetbox.com/pages/loyalty-and-referral-programs-terms-of-use

Pricing shown on www.planetbox.com is final.  

One discount code is accepted per order.  Discount codes or coupons cannot be combined with any other offers or promotional codes or used during a sale and may be limited in application to only full priced items.  

Discount codes or coupons are limited in use to the advertised or stated promotional period only.   Discounts are not valid retroactively or proactively and cannot be combined with any other offers, coupons or promotions. 

PlanetBox LLC may run promotions designed to attract new customers or increase sales. In connection with these promotions, any person that receives refunds, discount codes, or other benefits from PlanetBox by using multiple user accounts or email addresses, using false names, impersonating others, or through the use of any other fraudulent or misleading conduct, shall forfeit any refund, discount code or other benefits obtained through such means, and may be liable for civil and/or criminal penalties under applicable law. 

PlanetBox LLC reserves the right to refuse or alter any discount code or promotion at its discretion.  

The contents of this statement may be altered at any time at the discretion of PlanetBox LLC.

Yes, it may take a few business days longer than our normal 2 to 6 business day (Monday through Friday excluding weekends and US holidays) fulfillment time as our warehouse workers try their best to pack and prepare so many more orders.

Yes, all our pricing is in USD.

We accept all major credit cards, Shop Pay, PayPal and Afterpay. 

For the security of our customers, we do not accept payment by phone.

All prices on the website are in US Dollars only.   We only accept US currency.

We no longer accept checks.

Our digital gift cards can be sent either to the email used at checkout or to the email of the gift recipient. Emails we will be sent at 12:00 PM PT.

Digital Gift Cards can only be used at https://www.planetbox.com/

When shopping at Planetbox.com, make your selections and proceed to Checkout as usual. Enter the Digital Gift Card number during checkout, then click APPLY to redeem.

You can check the balance of your gift card at our look up page.

PlanetBox Digital Gift Cards never expire and carry no fees.

We are currently offering free domestic UPS SurePost service (UPS picks up, Post office delivers) to physical addresses in the Contiguous USA if you have $50 or more of products in your Cart, excluding taxes.  Contiguous USA is defined as the lower 48 US states which excludes Hawaii and Alaska.   Hawaii, Alaska, non-residential military addresses, international addresses and PO Boxes are excluded from the offer.   

Shipping costs vary depending on what you are ordering and where the package is being shipped to. You can view the shipping cost in your shopping cart before you purchase and finalize your order. All costs are shown in US dollars. (Please note that all orders are final and can not be changed.)

We are currently offering free domestic UPS SurePost service (parcel starts with UPS and is transferred to the Post Office for the final delivery) to physical addresses in the Contiguous US if you have $50 or more of products in your Cart, excluding taxes.  Contiguous US is defined as the lower 48 states which excludes Hawaii and Alaska.   Hawaii, Alaska, military addresses, international addresses and PO Boxes are excluded from the offer.   

For shipments leaving the US, duty and taxes are levied on imports by the customs authorities of your country to raise revenue.   If you live in a country outside the US,  you may be charged duty and taxes by the carrier to receive your package. 

The fees are NOT included in the shipping charge that you pay when you make your purchase on planetbox.com.    The shipping charge paid over the website is only the transit cost to get your items to you.   

UPS may try to call you to collect any charges over the phone before they deliver your package.  They may attempt to collect payment at the time of delivery.   Or, they may send you a bill after your package is delivered.

We have no control over whether your local customs officials charge you for duty and taxes and as such we bear no responsibly for these charges.  You, the recipient, will need to pay them.  

(For UPS Standard Service, you will be charged duty, taxes and the brokerage fee.)

It usually takes our New Mexico warehouse team 2 to 6 business days (Monday through Friday excluding weekends and US holidays) to process an order.   

Sales can slow our warehouse workers down by a few business days as they struggle to pack up and ship out the greater than normal number of packages. 

When the shipping label is printed, you will receive an email with your shipment's tracking number.   You can check the scheduled delivery date on the carrier's website with the tracking number. 

The scheduled delivery date will update once the package is scanned by the Post Office or UPS.  We encourage you to keep watch on your shipment's progress so that you know when it will reach you. 

UPS and the USPS give the following estimates for transit time (time between when the package is scanned by the carrier and arrives at the shipping address.)

Domestic Shipping Services

UPS SurePost (UPS picks up, Post Office delivers): Estimated transit time of 5 to 7 business days.

UPS 2nd Day: Estimated transit time of 2 business days.

USPS Priority Mail: Estimated transit time of 1-3 business days.

International Shipping Services

(Estimated Transit Time is subject to customs delays.  Customs tax collected by carrier.)

UPS Standard Ground: Estimated 6-10 business days

UPS Worldwide Expedited: Estimated transit time of 4-6 business days

Yes, we can!   To ship to a non-residential military address or PO Box, you must choose USPS as your shipping method.  UPS will only accept shipments to physical street addresses. If you choose UPS, your package that is addressed to a PO Box may be delayed, will not be covered by any UPS Service Guarantee and will require an address correction charge for an additional fee. Additionally, Army Post Office (APO) and Fleet Post Office (FPO) addresses are not accepted by UPS and you must select USPS Priority Mail for these addresses.

We have unfortunately stopped shipping to certain countries because of current events or additional customer information required by Customs to process packages entering these countries.   We ship to all countries except the following:

Brazil

China

India

Kazakhstan

Russia

South Africa

South Korea

Ukraine

PlanetBox products contain small parts and are not intended for children under 3 years of age.

The latch on the Rover, Launch and Shuttle is designed to be used by people 3 years of age and older. 

We offer various sizes of lunchboxes to accommodate different eating styles and appetites. The Rover is designed for children and adults with smaller appetites who love variety.  It holds nearly 4.5 cups of food. The Rover has 5 compartments and includes 2 Dippers for wet, messy foods: the Big Dipper and the Little Dipper. 

The Launch is larger than both the Rover and the Shuttle.  It was designed with the USDA MyPlate guidelines in mind. It holds 30% more than the Rover at nearly 6.5 cups of food and was created to hold a 3 course meal.  A Tall Dipper, perfect for dips and dressings, is included.

Our Shuttle is about a third the size of the Launch.  It features two compartments and packs approximately 3 cups of food.  It is perfect for snacks and small meals on the go and also includes a Tall Dipper.

The Explorer is our largest lunchbox and is designed to be leakproof.  It includes a stainless steel microwave safe tray.  The removable tray creates two tiers for keeping  food separate. The Rover Dippers and Pods (sold separately) will fit inside the Explorer. 

Here are the dimensions of our lunch packing systems:

Explorer Approximate Specs

Weight 19.2 oz

Holds 4.79 cups total.  Tray holds 2.5 cups.

Total dimensions 3.3 x 5.4 x 7.7 inches

Launch Approximate Specs

Weight 24 oz

Small Side Compartment 280 ml, More than 1 cup, 2.5 x 4.5 x 2.0 inches

Side Compartment 450 ml, 1 ¾ cup, 3.75 x 4.5 x 2.0 inches

Main Compartment 800 ml, 3 ¼ cup, 6.75 x 4.5 x 2.0 inches

Total 1530 ml, Almost 6 ½ cups, 10.25 x 7.75 x 2.0 inches

Rover Approximate Specs

Weight 25 oz

Treat Compartment 25 ml, Almost an ounce, 1.5 x 1.5 x 0.5 inches

Long Compartment 200 ml, ¾ cup, 6.0 x 1.5  x 1.5 inches

Veggie Compartment 180 ml, ¾ cup, 2.0 x 3.5 x 1.5 inches

Fruit Compartment 195 ml, ¾ cup, 4.0 x 2.0 x 1.5 inches

Main Compartment 445 ml, 1 ¾ cup, 4.0 x 4.0 x 1.5 inches

Totals 1045 ml, Almost 4 ½ cups, 10.0 x 7.5 x 1.5 inches

Shuttle Approximate Specs

Weight 11.3 oz

Side Compartment 235 ml, 1.2 cup, 4.25 x 2.35 x 2.0 inches

Main Compartment 470 ml, 2.3 cups, 4.25 x 4.25 x 2.0 inches

Totals 705 ml,3.5 cups, 7.75 x 5.2 x 2.0 inches

Big Dipper  1 cup (4.0" D x 1.5" H)

Little Dipper 1/3 cup (2.0" D x 1.5" H)

Tall Dipper 1/3 cup (2" D x 2" H)

Launch/Shuttle Pods 2.7 oz or 80 ml ( 2" W x 2” L x 1¾” H)

Rover Pods

Rover Small: Holds 1.7 oz or 50 ml (2” L x 1.5” W x 1.5” H)

Rover Large: Holds 2.4 oz or 70 ml (2” L x 2” W x 1.5” H)

You can see a variety of packed lunches here on our Blog.

Will food packed inside the PlanetBox Rover, Launch or Shuttle spill or drip into another compartment or out the sides when one of these boxes is carried and stored on its side?   What about packing fruits that might leak some juice?

These three lunchboxes are designed to keep foods from “touching each other."  When you close the box, the top and the bottom meet so that foods will not co-mingle, even when carried and stored inside a backpack.

The Rover, Launch and Shuttle are not designed to be leakproof.  The lunchboxes are not air tight and are not designed to hold wet, messy foods like yogurt, dips and applesauce.    We created the Big, Little and Tall Dippers for foods such as these.  

Here is some information about how to pack messy foods such as fruits:

The majority of fruits can be packed directly inside the Rover, Launch or Shuttle without leaking.  In our months of testing we have found that most cut up fruits will not create enough juice for there to be any spilling.  However, some fruits can be rather juicy, especially melons and citrus.  We have found that if you cut and pack these fruits the night before, they can create a lot of juice that can leak if put directly in one of the lunchbox compartments.  Therefore, we recommend cutting and packing these fruits in the morning (they make a lot less juice that way) or you can blot the fruit in the morning with a towel to absorb the extra juice. You can also pack them in the Big or Little Dipper (the Rover only) or Tall Dipper (Launch or Shuttle only.)

You can fit about 4 ½ cups of food into the Rover. Many people find that they can pack more food than they originally thought. This is because the lunchbox lid is raised so you can fill the tray up high.  If needed, the Big Dipper can be used independently of the Rover to store a snack outside of the main meal time.  The Big Dipper fits in the Carry Bag's snack pocket.

Each child is unique.  A Rover with the Dippers inside combined with the Carry Bag weighs 2.4 pounds without any food, ice pack or utensils. 

There are many different sizes of bread sold including breads that will fit inside each of our lunchboxes. Here are the dimensions of the large compartments for each of our systems:

The Rover:  4"x 4" x 1.5"

The Shuttle:  4.25"  x 4.25" x 2"

The Launch:  6.75" x 4.50" x 2"

The Rover, Launch and Shuttle are not airtight.  However, most people find that a meal packed for lunch the night before or the morning of will not have any problem with foods becoming stale during the day.   If your foods are getting stale, please try packing your PlanetBox in the morning and putting wet foods inside a Dipper.

Once you cut into a fruit nothing can completely stop the oxidization process that makes fruit brown from happening.  Fruit oxidizing has nothing to do with whether you pack it in a PlanetBox or not.  However, there are a few things that customers have suggested you can do to slow down the oxidation process.

1. Prepare your fruit as close as possible to when you're planning to serve it.
2. Use a sharp knife. This minimizes the microscopic bruising.
3. Toss the fruit with lemon or lime juice.  The acid in citrus fruits inhibits and slows the chemical reaction that causes oxidization. Blot the fruit on a towel after tossing.
4. There are some powders available that you can sprinkle over fruit to stop it from browning. Most of the powders are made from absorbic acid (Vitamin C) and sugar.

The lunchboxes are not designed to retain heat.  The boxes do not keep hot foods hot. You can place warm food (not boiling hot liquid) inside your PlanetBox in the morning and it will be room temperature by lunch time.  The only container designed to transport hot food is the Mercury Food Container which is insulated.

Only the Dippers and the Mercury Food Container are designed to hold wet, messy foods such as creamy soups, dressings, yogurt, applesauce, ketchup, etc.

Our only stainless steel product designed to go in the oven or microwave is the Explorer's top removable tray.   The low profile sides and rounded corners of the tray make it microwave friendly.  

Cautions:

• Always use caution handling the tray when it is hot and make sure to wear a protective oven mitt.  
  
• Refer to your microwave oven owner's manual as to whether you can safely use a metal tray in it.  
  
• If you do put the Explorer's tray in the microwave, place it in the middle of the oven away from the walls.
  
• Do not heat any other stainless steel items at the same time as the tray.
  
• Do not use the tray if it is dented or damaged in any way.
  

The low profile sides and rounded corners of the tray make it microwave safe.  Before using the tray, we recommend you refer to your microwave's manual to determine whether or not you can safely use materials like metal trays in your unit. 

We use 18/8 (300 SS) for the lunchbox tray / Dipper bowls and 18/0 (400 SS) for the lunchbox lid.   The 400 series has slightly less nickel content which makes it better suited to holding the magnets. The 400 series is somewhat hard to work with though so it is not well suited to the lower tray of the PlanetBox assembly due to the deep pockets formed in the sheet material.

Yes!  Always take off the magnets before cleaning your PlanetBox.  Try storing the magnets on the refrigerator until your PlanetBox is clean and completely dry.  And no worries, the magnets are optional so use them only when you wish.  

If you do choose to use the magnets, they are designed to be used only on the top of your PlanetBox lid.   Please do not put them inside the box next to your food.   The magnets are not designed to get wet or to come into contact with foods.  

We do not recommend storing the magnets on the lunchbox.   If the lunchbox is not completely dry, the magnets may degrade and cause the lunchbox lid to rust underneath them.   

Please remove the magnets when you clean the lunchbox.  The magnets can be stored on the refrigerator or another convenient spot.   Some customers keep their cardboard Rover, Launch or Shuttle packing box and store the magnets inside it or inside the carry bag pocket.

The Mercury is our only insulated food container. Our stainless steel boxes are not insulated. If you want your foods to stay cold until lunchtime, the best thing to do is to pack the foods in the lunchbox the night before and chill the entire lunchbox (without the magnets on it) in the refrigerator.  In the morning add the dry foods and an ice pack (sold separately).   Wipe any condensation from the lid of the lunchbox and apply the magnets to the outside of the lid.  Insert the lunchbox inside the bag and you are set to go.  

The length of time that the lunchbox will stay cold is dependent on many factors such as what temperature it started out at, what temp it is being stored at, what type of ice pack you use, etc.  We have tested our ice pack in combination with our lunchbox and Carry Bag on a typical school day.  By pre-cooling the PlanetBox in the refrigerator overnight and then placing it inside the Carry Bag with the ice pack in the morning, a substantial lowering of temperature can be maintained.

The exact temperature maintained throughout the day will depend on the ambient temperature the PlanetBox is stored at during the morning, exposure to direct sunlight or shade, and the number of times the lunchbox is opened throughout the morning. In our tests, a consistent 40° F temperature was maintained inside the lunchbox while the exterior temperature was 75° F through the morning hours. 40° F is a safe temperature to store perishable foods, according to the USDA. If a significantly higher exterior (ambient) temperature is anticipated then we suggest using two ice packs, one placed below the lunchbox and one placed above it, to sandwich the PlanetBox in a blanket of cold throughout the morning. 

Note that the ice pack can keep foods cool for as long as it remains frozen. To keep perishable foods from spoiling for long periods store them in a refrigerator.

Be sure to remove the magnets before washing your PlanetBox.  PlanetBox compartments wipe down easily with a sponge and mild soap and water.  You may also clean your lunchbox and Dippers in the dishwasher.  

Do not use bleach or cleaners containing chlorine to wash the stainless steel.  It is best to dry off your stainless steel immediately after cleaning if you do not want harmless water marks to appear.

Stainless steel is 100% recyclable at your local recycling facility.   

The glass Satellite dish is out of stock.  It has been discontinued because the factory that we worked with to manufacture it is no longer able to produce the container.   If you would like to try looking for a similar product elsewhere, the dimensions of the container with the lid on it are 6" L x 4" W x 2" H.  

The leakproof Space Station salad box was a limited run product that is no longer available.

There are no coatings on the steel. Scratches are perfectly normal and will not affect the function or safety of the stainless steel boxes. Over time, it is completely normal for the boxes to scratch and dull. 

It is normal for there to be a space at the back (hinge) of your PlanetBox Rover, Launch and Shuttle.  It is an intentional part of the design and allows the box to accommodate the Dipper(s).  The back of the PlanetBox does not need to be flush with the hinge and on the Rover, in particular, the rear right side (when looking at the back of the lunchbox) is slightly lifted.

The clip (latch) on the outside of the lunchbox that keeps it closed can loosen up over time.  The good news is that it is adjustable.  You can bend the latch for a tighter or a looser fit depending upon what works best for you.   To adjust the latch,  place your PlanetBox on a firm surface and open the latch. Then put your thumbs on both sides at the top of the latch and give it a firm push towards the box (away from you).

Test the latch now by opening and closing it to see if it is now tight enough.  If not, try again a little harder this time.  It requires a small, but hard, push to move the latch wire ever so slightly.  That is all that is needed to tighten it.    Here is the link to a short video showing you how:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOkdGMSnF9Q

If you are having problems bending the latch, you can wear a pair of gloves to protect your hands and use a hair dryer to warm up the metal a bit and make it easier to adjust.  Also, some customers have told us they have had success using pliers to bend the clip.   If you are unable to adjust the latch, we sell spare latches that will fix your lunchbox.  https://www.planetbox.com/collections/spare-parts/products/replacement-lunchbox-latch

If you purchased your lunchbox within the last five years, write to us at info@planetbox.com with your order number, shipping address and the type of lunchbox you own (polished/shiny or brushed/matte Rover/Shuttle/Launch) and we will send a replacement latch to you so that you can enjoy your PlanetBox.

Please make sure that the Little Dipper is placed in the far left compartment.  The hinge at the back of the Rover allows the lid to flex to accommodate the Little Dipper.  The lid be be hard to close with the Little Dipper in the left front compartment.

We understand that you want your PlanetBox to look spot free so we’d like to explain where spots can come from, why they are harmless and how you can remove them. If you have staining on the lunchbox lid in the areas where the magnets are placed, it is because the magnetic material from the back side of the magnets is rubbing off onto the box.   This happens if your box or magnets are not completely dry when you place the magnets on the lunchbox. 

The discoloration is only cosmetic damage.  The blemishes do not affect the functioning of your PlanetBox and the marks can be cleaned off.  What can be done to fix this is cleaning off the rust, switching to a new set of magnets and always making sure both the magnets and lunchbox are totally dry before putting the magnets on the box lid each time you use it.

The marks can be removed by doing any of the following:

1)  Gently scrubbing with a fine steel wool

or

2)  Making a thick paste of water and baking soda, leaving it on the marks for at least an hour and then scrubbing it off and rinsing.

or

3) Cover the rusted areas with salt and then squeeze fresh lemon juice (stay away from bottled lemon juice, you want juice from a real lemon) over the layer of salt. Don’t discard the used lemon. Let the salt and lemon mixture sit for about two hours. Use the lemon rind as a scrubber to remove the rust. If there are particularly stubborn rust stains, break out the steel wool, a scouring pad or a wire brush. When done rinse off the lemon juice, salt and rust residue and then dry the metal thoroughly.

These methods may scratch the metal but any scratches are purely cosmetic and harmless.  There are no coatings on our stainless steel.

A bend in stainless steel is rather easy to fix as opposed to plastic which just breaks. All you need is a set of pliers and a thin, soft cloth like a dishtowel. The cloth is used to keep the pliers from scratching the metal but really a scratch won't hurt the metal or limit the usefulness of the lunchbox. 

1. Wrap the cloth around the bent edge.

2. Grasp the edge with the pliers. 

3. Pull outwards to straighten the corner.

It may help to wear a pair of gloves and use a hair dryer to heat the metal up a bit beforehand so that it is easier to move it back into shape.   Here is a short video showing you how to adjust the box:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrfN2M2-Cuk

Below are some directions with pictures to show you how to fix the metal rod that has moved out of the metal sheath at the rear of the lunchbox.  

Please note that metal rod (hinge pin) does not extend from one rear corner to the other rear corner.  It only lies in the metal sheath in the middle portion of the back of the lunchbox.

The Rover fits the following:

Rover Big Round Dipper (Included with lunchbox)

Rover Little Round Dipper  (Included with lunchbox)

Rover Big Square Dipper (Sold separately)

Rover Little Square Dipper (Sold Separately)

Rover Pods  (Sold separately)

The Launch fits the following:

Launch/Shuttle Round Tall Dipper (Included with lunchbox)

Launch/Shuttle Big Square Dipper (Sold separately)

Launch/Shuttle Square Tall Dipper (Sold separately)

Launch/Shuttle Pods

The Shuttle fits the following:

Launch/Shuttle Round Tall Dipper (Included with lunchbox)

Launch/Shuttle Big Square Dipper (Sold separately)

Launch/Shuttle Little Square Dipper (Sold separately)

Launch/Shuttle Pods

The Explorer fits:

Rover Pods (Sold separately)

The Rover lunchbox lid will flex and accommodate the Rover Little Dipper only if the Dipper is placed in the rear, left compartment. If the Rover Little Dipper is placed in the front left compartment, the lid will not close.

The printing on the inside of the lid is done with safe, food grade ink.  The Silicone used in our lids conforms to U.S. FDA and Western Europe’s stricter LFGB standards and is safe from toxic chemicals. 

The Pods are reusable silicone cups designed to add color to your lunchbox while also separating smaller food items for added variety. The Pods are not recommended for wet, messy foods.   The Dippers which have lids were created for wet foods.

We do not recommend freezing the Pods.

The Pods can be used in the oven for baking.  They are not recommended or intended for use in the microwave.

It is very easy to overlook the magnets.  The magnets are packed inside a plain cardboard envelope that is attached to the inside of the bottom of the packing box, often hidden under one of the cardboard flaps.   If you are unable to find the magnets, please write to us at info@planetbox.com and we will help you.

The magnets are for decoration purposes only.   They should be placed on the top outside of the PlanetBox lid.  The magnets are not designed to get wet or to go inside the lunchbox next to foods.    Please remove the magnets from the lunchbox lid and store them in a safe, dry place when the PlanetBox is not in use.

No.  If the magnets get wet and are left on the lunchbox, the material will degrade and cause the metal lunchbox to rust.  You can wipe down the magnets with a sponge if they get dirty and then dry them immediately with a towel.  

To remove magnets that have gotten wet and become stuck to the lunchbox lid, please try the following method:

Step 1: Heat the magnet using a hairdryer. As the magnet becomes more pliable from the heat, lift the edge with a plastic scraper.

Step 2:  As you pry up the magnet, spray under it with warm, soapy water.  This should help lubricate it and make it easier to remove

Step 3:  After you pull the magnet off, wash the area thoroughly using the warm, soapy water to remove any remaining residue.  

When the box is completely dry, you can use a new set of magnets.  Make sure to take the magnets off the box when not in use. 

We went to great lengths to ensure that our magnets would not be made out of PVC/vinyl, which is the most toxic kind of plastic produced and is the standard for most refrigerator magnets. Instead, we made the magnets out of a synthetic rubber material that has been certified to be safe from toxic materials and is accepted as safe for use in European markets (which have much stricter environmental health regulations than the USA).

Our Custom Magnets have been discontinued. 

The Rover/Launch Carry Bag is designed to be used with either the Rover or the Launch.  It zips all the way open and you can leave your PlanetBox nestled inside it while you eat your lunch.  The carry strap can be adjusted to be long or to have a short handle. There are separate pockets outside for a snack and a water bottle with a 3 inch or less diameter.  Inside the bag is a mesh sleeve to fit our ColdKit and elastic to secure utensils. 

The Sleeve stores the Launch but will also fit the Rover with a little room to spare.  It has a slim design perfect for carrying inside a larger bag.   It does not have any interior or exterior pockets and will not accommodate a water bottle. It has a detachable carry strap.  

The Shuttle Carry Bag fits the Shuttle lunchbox.  It has a short handle.  It does not have an inner pocket however, it does have both an outside snack pocket on one side and a drink pocket on the other side.   

The Small Carry Bag holds the Shuttle lunchbox with some extra room to accommodate an ice pack.  It has one adjustable carry strap.  It does not have any inside pockets.  There is one outside pocket that can store small items such as a napkin and utensils.  The bag does not include a drink pocket.

The Lunch Sack accommodates any PlanetBox. It is insulated.  It has a sturdy handle along with a velcro closure and pull tab for effortless opening.  An interior pocket fits a Cool Pack and an expandable exterior side pocket fits any of our water bottles.  

The Lunch Tote was designed with versatility in mind and can transport any of the PlanetBoxes.  The adjustable strap allows the Tote to be used as a handbag or a backpack.  Only the back side of the Tote is insulated.   There is one exterior pocket with a zip closure and 2 open interior pockets to store an ice pack and small items.  It does not include a designated bottle pocket.

The bag has a short handle with an adjustable strap.   In order to adjust the strap, you will need to remove the velcro handle cover.  It is an all-in-one design.   

Our Rover/Launch Carry Bag, Shuttle Carry Bag and Lunch Sack have bottle pockets.

The Tote fabric is thick and there is insulation on the back side of the bag.  However, the other sides and bottom are not insulated.  

Wash your bag by either spot cleaning, hand washing or machine washing on gentle in a laundry bag for delicates.  For deep cleaning, you may want to try soaking the bag in a shallow tub with some liquid detergent or liquid soap.  Add one cup of vinegar and one half cup of baking soda.  Let the bag soak for 30 minutes and then scrub it if needed, rinse and hang to dry.  After washing make sure to completely dry the bag to prevent mold.

We don't treat our bags with anti-mold or anti-staining treatments, as they can be quite toxic.  To get rid of mold, spray it with distilled white vinegar.  After the bag has dried, use a soft brush and scrub the area with a mix of lemon juice, salt and hot water.

To keep mold from coming back and to prevent it from growing, wash the bag fairly regularly and dry it completely before putting it away.  Make sure to remove the ice pack from the bag as soon as possible after eating.  

The bags currently sold are PFAS DWR free.

Our stainless steel boxes are not insulated.    If you want your foods to stay cold until lunchtime, the best thing to do is to pack the refrigerated foods the night before and chill the entire lunchbox (without the magnets on it) overnight in the refrigerator.  

In the morning add the dry foods to the lunchbox.  Wipe any condensation from the lid and apply the dry magnets to the top of it.   Insert the lunchbox inside the bag with the ice pack and you are set to go.  

The length of time that the lunchbox will stay cold is dependent on many factors such as what temperature it started out at, what temp it is being stored at, what type of ice pack you use, etc.  

We have tested our ice pack in combination with our lunchbox and Carry Bag on a typical school day.  By pre-cooling the PlanetBox in the refrigerator overnight and then placing it inside the Carry Bag with the ice pack in the morning, a substantial lowering of temperature can be maintained.

The exact temperature maintained throughout the day will depend on the ambient temperature the PlanetBox is stored at during the morning, exposure to direct sunlight or shade and the number of times the lunchbox is opened throughout the morning.

In our tests, a consistent 40° F temperature was maintained inside the lunchbox while the exterior temperature was 75° F through the morning hours. According to the USDA, 40° F is a safe temperature to store perishable foods.

If a significantly higher exterior (ambient) temperature is anticipated then we would suggest using two ice packs, one placed below the lunchbox and one above it to sandwich the PlanetBox in a blanket of cold throughout the morning. 

Please note that the ice pack can keep foods cool for as long as it remains frozen. To truly keep perishable foods from spoiling for long periods, store them in a refrigerator.

The ColdKit's ice pack consists of 8 small squares filled with distilled water.   To prevent puncturing, store the ColdKit in the freezer.  If one square is punctured, the other squares will still work and you can continue to use the ice pack.  

Here are some useful tips in using your ColdKit:

1. You should freeze the complete ColdKkit overnight before using it. 
2. Remove the ColdKit from the lunch bag as soon as it comes home to prevent excess moisture inside the bag.
3. Wash the ice pack's fabric sleeve when needed either by hand or machine.
4. Make sure to thoroughly dry the ice pack's fabric sleeve before using it again.
5. Wipe clean the ice pack as needed.
6. We recommend treating the thawed ice pack with extra care to prevent ripping and puncturing.

The liquid is 100% purified water and completely safe.

The Cool Pack is filled with 4% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and 96% water.

The ColdKit fits inside all of our lunch bags.  

The Cool Pack will fit inside all the bags except for the Shuttle Bag.  If the Cool Pack is used inside the Rover/Launch Carry Bag, it will not fit into the inner mesh pocket however, you can put it outside the mesh pocket alongside the lunchbox.

Yes, the bottle is dishwasher safe on the top rack only.  

Our double-walled, vacuum insulated bottles keep cold drinks cold for up to 12 hours. For best results, pre-chill your drink and your open bottle in the refrigerator.

If the silicone is retaining flavors, smells or has mold, you can try the following to clean it:

1)  Soak the parts overnight in diluted white distilled vinegar and then wash in hot, soapy water.

or 

2)  Soak the silicone pieces in 3 percent hydrogen peroxide for twenty four hours and then wash in hot, soapy water.

To assemble the cap, hold the silicone drinking spout below the cap base opening and pull the front edge of the drinking spout up with the notch correctly aligned. Press the drinking spout upwards into the opening until it pops into place. Align the spout seal into the cap and press to fully seat it.