Thermoses are in great demand because they are inexpensive, convenient to take with you, and maintain the desired temperature for a long time. Vacuum flasks are different, but all thermos flasks are difficult to clean due to their design. Coffee, tea and other beverages leave marks and marks on the sides and bottom of the thermos, but these stains can be cleaned at home.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Soda and vinegar
Step 1. Put baking soda on the bottom of a thermos and pour vinegar
Pour in 120 ml of distilled white vinegar first, then add a tablespoon (15 ml) of baking soda for every 250 ml of thermos. The mixture of baking soda and vinegar will foam, so place the thermos in the sink.
- Baking soda and vinegar will not only remove stains, but also rid you of bacteria.
- Use only distilled vinegar as it is more acidic and cleans up surfaces better. In addition, this vinegar is unlikely to leave a sour taste and smell in a thermos, unlike other types of vinegar.
Step 2. Pour hot water into a thermos
When the foam settles, fill the thermos with water up to the neck. This will help break up the dirt on the sides of the thermos and will also help to distribute the cleaning mixture evenly. Do not twist the thermos so that too much pressure builds up inside.
When combining vinegar and baking soda, a very vigorous reaction can occur, which can cause the mixture to spray all over the room and even damage something
Step 3. Leave the thermos for a while
Keep the mixture inside a thermos for 8-10 minutes. The solution will begin to break down the marks and the hot water will soften and collect the dirt. It's that simple!
If there is a strong plaque in the thermos, hold the mixture longer
Step 4. Rub the inside of the thermos with a bottle brush
Purchase a special bottle brush from the baby department. There are special long and thin brushes for baby bottles, which are convenient for cleaning thermoses. If the mixture of baking soda and vinegar has not broken down all the plaque, scrub the walls with a brush.
- These brushes are inexpensive, but very useful on the farm.
- Remember to wash the brush in the dishwasher when you're done cleaning the thermos.
Step 5. Pour out the solution and rinse the thermos
Pour the liquid out of the thermos so that nothing remains inside. Fill and pour warm water until there are no traces of baking soda and vinegar in the thermos. Remember to rinse the neck of the thermos flask. The thermos can now be used again.
- Wipe the surface, neck and lid of the thermos with a clean towel or leave to dry.
- Smell the thermos. If you can still smell the vinegar, rinse the thermos a few more times, or fill the thermos with warm water and leave to soak until the smell disappears.
Method 2 of 3: Ice and Salt
Step 1. Fill the thermos with ice
If there is liquid left in the thermos, discard it. Fill a quarter of a thermos with ice. It is better to choose small and uneven or crushed ice, but regular ice cubes will also work. The amount of ice depends on the volume of the thermos.
- You can buy fine ice from the store.
- If you only have coarse, smooth, or round ice, try crushing it. You can put ice in a bag and press on top, or crush it in a food processor.
Step 2. Add a couple of tablespoons of salt
Pour 2-3 rounded spoons onto ice. It is best to use coarse salt, including sea salt. Add salt quickly to keep the ice from melting.
- Add half a spoon (7 ml) more fine salt.
- Melting ice can dissolve the salt, causing it to lose its cleaning properties.
Step 3. Close the thermos and shake it
Screw the thermos on securely and shake it vigorously. Shards of ice and salt will rub against the walls, removing plaque from the metal. Shake as long as you like. The more plaque, the longer it takes to shake.
- The mixture of salt and ice will act as a scrub - it will mechanically scrub the walls.
- Don't be afraid to damage the metal. The metal used in the manufacture of thermos flasks can withstand extreme temperatures, minor shocks and is generally durable.
Step 4. Rinse the thermos
Unscrew the stopper and pour out the mixture. Rinse the thermos with water. Swirl the water in a thermos to rinse off any residual plaque and salt. Rinse the neck of the thermos and leave to dry without the stopper.
Salt and ice is an easy and sustainable way to clean. Both components are safe for health and will not cause harm if swallowed
Method 3 of 3: Denture Cleaning Tablets
Step 1. Buy a pack of denture cleaner tablets
Go to the pharmacy and buy Denture Cleanser Denture Cleaning Tablets. These tablets often contain sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), which fizzles and foams when released into water. These tablets scrub plaque off dentures, which means they are safe for handling objects that come into contact with the mouth.
- These pills are inexpensive and will last for a long time.
- The tablets have antibacterial properties - they will sterilize your thermos.
Step 2. Pour water into a thermos
Pour warm water up to the middle of the thermos. The higher the water temperature, the faster the plaque will begin to move away from the walls. Let the water sit in the thermos for a couple of minutes before moving on to the next step.
Swirl the water to get all the walls wet. This will allow the tablets to clean the entire inner surface
Step 3. Put 1-2 tablets in the water
Foam is formed due to the chemical reaction, so it is best to do this in the sink so as not to flood the surrounding surfaces with water. Do not close the thermos with a stopper - this will create excessive pressure.
You should put one tablet for every 250 milliliters of the volume of the thermos
Step 4. Leave the thermos for a while
The tablets take some time to take effect and dissolve the plaque. Leave the thermos for 30 minutes - after half an hour, the activity of the tablets will begin to decrease.
- Denture tablets are one of the safest and most effective ways to clean thermoses and thermo mugs. You just need to drop the pill and wait.
- When the foam settles, scrub the walls with a brush for a perfect cleanliness.
Step 5. Rinse the thermos several times
Empty the thermos, fill with clean water and rinse the thermos. Repeat several times so that no traces of pills remain in the thermos. Dry the thermos upside down and without the stopper. When the thermos is dry, it will look like new!
If you twist the plug until it dries completely, bacteria can begin to grow in the thermos
Advice
- Clean your thermos every few weeks to keep it always clean.
- Empty the thermos when not in use. This will help it dry faster and keep bacteria and mildew free inside.
- The lids and straws from thermoses and thermo mugs are usually dishwasher safe.
- Buy a separate thermos for drinks like coffee and tea that will stain surfaces. This way, you don't have to thoroughly clean the thermos before adding another liquid.
Warnings
- Do not put the thermos in the microwave, freeze or heat it.
- Do not rub the walls of the thermos with sponges. They are too large to fit inside and are inconvenient to clean inside a thermos.
- Do not wash the thermos in the dishwasher. High temperatures will deprive the thermos of its thermal insulation properties and damage the coating.
- Do not clean the thermos with strong industrial products such as OxiClean or bath products. If you swallow even a small amount of these funds, you can get poisoned.