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Thermoses have become essential for everyday use. However, preventing your Thermos from retaining the flavor of yesterday's soy latte requires more than just a quick rinse. Fortunately, you can easily clean your favorite Thermos with a mixture of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to restore it, a dental tablet to remove stains, or distilled white vinegar to eliminate odors.
Steps
Using Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide
Pour 1 inch (2.5 cm) of hydrogen peroxide into the bottom of your Thermos. The mixture will create foam once the final 2 ingredients are added. Leave enough space in the Thermos to prevent overflow by adding no more than 1 inch (2.5 cm) of hydrogen peroxide.
- You can buy 3% hydrogen peroxide from any local grocery store.
Add 1 US tbsp (20 grams) of baking soda to your Thermos. Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is highly effective for deodorizing and whitening. For larger Thermoses, you can increase the amount to 2 tbsp (40 grams) of baking soda.
- For optimal results, use 1 US tbsp (20 grams) of baking soda for every 2 cups (470 mL) of liquid capacity in your Thermos.
Fill your Thermos three-quarters full with boiling water. To activate the baking soda properly, hot water is necessary. Add the boiling water to your Thermos immediately after adding the baking soda to ensure effectiveness.
- Expect a slight foaming reaction from the mixture.
Allow the mixture to sit overnight. Giving the mixture adequate time to work is crucial, so leave it overnight for the best outcomes.
- If you wish to clean the Thermos lid, place it sideways on top of the Thermos with the drinking side submerged in the liquid, and let it sit overnight.
Rinse the Thermos with warm water and let it air dry. In the morning, rinse the Thermos thoroughly with warm, running water. The mixture should rinse out easily. Then, leave the Thermos upside down to dry, and it will be ready for use.
- After rinsing, you can wash the Thermos as usual, although it's not mandatory.
- To remove any residual baking soda, scrub the Thermos bottom with a bottle brush.
Cleaning with Dental Tablets
Fill your Thermos three-quarters full with warm tap water. You don’t need to use very hot water. Warm water from your tap is sufficient. Ensure there's about a quarter of space left between the water level and the top of the Thermos.
Drop 1 dental tablet into your Thermos. These tablets are designed to effectively clean and sanitize mouth appliances, so one tablet should be strong enough to eliminate tough stains. Dental tablets are readily available at local drug stores or grocery stores.
- Any brand of dental cleaner will suffice.
- If your Thermos has a narrow neck, you can break the tablet in half to fit it inside.
Allow the mixture to sit for 5-10 minutes or until the fizzing stops. Once you add the dental tablet to the water, it will start fizzing. To ensure the effectiveness of this method, wait until the fizzing subsides before proceeding with the cleaning.
- You'll observe the fizz gradually diminishing within 5-10 minutes.
Rinse out the mixture, wash the Thermos with soap and water, and let it air dry. After the fizzing of the dental tablet ceases, discard the mixture into the sink. Wash your Thermos as usual using dish soap and warm water, then dry it with a towel or leave it upside down to air dry.
- Use a bottle brush to ensure thorough cleaning and removal of any remnants of the dental tablet from inside the Thermos.
- For stubborn stains, you may need to repeat the process.
Eliminating Stains and Odors with White Vinegar
Add 2 capfuls of distilled white vinegar to your Thermos. You don't need to use a large amount of vinegar to refresh and clean the Thermos. Ensure that you pour enough vinegar to coat the entire interior of the Thermos.
- If you don't have a cap on your vinegar bottle, simply add a splash of vinegar to the bottom of your Thermos.
Screw the cap tightly onto your Thermos and shake it for 30 seconds. The aim is to distribute the vinegar evenly throughout the interior of the Thermos before adding water. Double-check that the cap is securely fastened before shaking the Thermos.
Fill the Thermos halfway with lukewarm water. Once the interior of your Thermos has been coated with white vinegar, remove the cap and pour in the water. Ensure not to exceed halfway full.
- While lukewarm water is preferable, any temperature will suffice.
Use a bottle brush to scrub the inside of your Thermos. There's no need for extensive scrubbing. Focus on scrubbing any stained areas to help loosen the stains.
- If you don't have a bottle brush, you can use any soft-bristled cleaning brush that fits inside your Thermos.
Reattach the cap and shake the Thermos once more. Shake the Thermos sufficiently to ensure that the water and vinegar mixture coats the interior. This will further assist in loosening any stains you've scrubbed. Shake for approximately 15 to 30 seconds.
Thoroughly empty and rinse your Thermos, then let it dry. After shaking, remove the Thermos lid and pour out the water and vinegar mixture. Rinse the Thermos with warm water.
- You can choose to wash the Thermos with dish soap and water, but it's not necessary. The Thermos won't retain any vinegar taste or odor.
- If you still see stains, odors, or discoloration, repeat these steps.
Items You'll Need
Using Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide
- Baking soda
- 3% hydrogen peroxide
- Hot tap water
- A bottle brush (optional)
Cleaning with Dental Tabs
- Warm tap water
- 1 dental cleaning tablet
- A bottle brush (optional)
Removing Stains and Odors with White Vinegar
- White vinegar
- Lukewarm water
- A bottle brush
Tips
Warnings
- Avoid using bleach to clean your Thermos as it can damage the surface over time and may pose toxicity risks if ingested.
