Regular cleaning of a stainless steel thermos is a habit that not only ensures its hygiene and durability, but also enhances the user experience by maintaining the taste of the beverages and their aesthetic appearance.
A thermos(either bottle or tumbler cup) used to contain liquids, such as water or hot beverages, can accumulate residues, bacteria and germs over time, and residues or remnants of previous liquids can affect the taste of the beverages placed in the thermos.
Regular cleaning helps prevent cross-contamination of unwanted flavors and eliminate unhealthy debris and germs. It also ensures the durability of the tumbler by ensuring the integrity of the material.
Steps to clean a tumbler properly
Cleaning a stainless steel tumbler is actually a simple task for which no special tools or knowledge are needed, but you do need to keep in mind certain aspects when it comes to making cleaning easier.
The first and most important for Cool Bottles stainless steel thermoses is a basic consideration that as manufacturers we do on the maintenance of our products, and is that we strongly recommend not to put them in the dishwasher, as the material and insulating finishes can be compromised by the temperature and cleaning products used by the dishwasher.
Therefore, from Cool Bottles, we will always recommend washing the thermos by hand, but here we explain step by step, how to do it.
You will see that this procedure is very simple:
1. Initial rinse
Start by rinsing the tumbler with warm tap water. This will help to remove any residue and beverage residue that may be present inside the tumbler.
2. Cleaning with soap
- Add a small amount of mild soap, preferably liquid, to the tumbler.
- Fill the tumbler approximately one-third full with warm water.
- Close the lid tightly if the tumbler has one.
- Shake the tumbler so that the soapy water reaches all interior and exterior surfaces.
- Use a soft brush or sponge to scrub areas that may need more intense cleaning, such as the lid or rim.
- Rinse the tumbler thoroughly under running water until no soap residue remains.
Drying and maintenance
- Shake the tumbler to remove excess water.
- Allow the tumbler to air dry with the lid open to ensure that no moisture is trapped inside the tumbler, which could cause odors or stains.
- If the tumbler has stubborn stains, you can use a mixture of baking soda and water or vinegar gently to help remove them.
- Clean the lid separately and make sure it is completely dry before reassembling it on the tumbler.
By following these three steps, you will keep your tumbler clean and ready for its next use, thus prolonging its life. Good maintenance is always a must, but even more so when you have a children's water bottle.
Tips to eliminate bad odor from thermos flasks
If you do a regular maintenance of your thermos, cleaning it as we have explained in the previous point, it is very difficult that a thermos, either bottle or tumbler can develop some kind of bad smell.
However, if we do not clean the thermos well after each use, or if we leave liquids with strong odors such as tea or coffee for prolonged periods, it is very possible that the thermos has acquired an unpleasant aroma.
But, do not panic! because we can eliminate those annoying odors with a few simple tricks that we leave you here:
Lemon:
- Cut a lemon into slices or use fresh lemon juice.
- Place the lemon slices or pour the juice into the thermos.
- Fill the thermos with hot water and shake well so that the lemon permeates the inner surfaces.
- Let the solution sit in the thermos for a couple of hours.
- Rinse the thermos with hot water to remove any lemon residue and odor.
Salt and hot water:
- Add a tablespoon of salt to your thermos.
- Fill the thermos with hot water.
- Shake the mixture so that the salt dissolves and is distributed to all internal surfaces.
- Let the salt solution sit in the thermos for at least one hour.
- Rinse the thermos with hot water to remove any salt residue.
Baking soda and vinegar:
- Add a teaspoon of baking soda to the thermos.
- Then, pour a small amount of white vinegar into the thermos.
- This mixture will produce an effervescence that helps eliminate odors.
- Let the mixture sit in the thermos for a few minutes, then rinse it well with hot water to remove the baking soda and vinegar.
These trickswill help you to remove bad odors from your thermos in an effective and natural way. But be sure: after using any of these methods, be sure to rinse the thermos thoroughly with hot water to remove any residue of the ingredients used.
How to remove scale from a stainless steel flask
It is not common for a stainless steel thermos to develop scale. Stainless steel is a corrosion and wear resistant material, which makes it less prone to scale formation compared to other metals. Scale generally forms on metal surfaces that are in constant contact with hard water, which contains minerals such as calcium and magnesium.
However, in some situations, it is possible for a small amount of scale to form on the flask if the water used to fill it is particularly hard or if the water is allowed to evaporate inside the flask, leaving the minerals behind.
In exceptional cases, this could result in the formation of a thin layer of scale on the inside of the flask.
To prevent scale formation in a stainless steel flask, it is important to use filtered or demineralized water whenever possible and to regularly clean the flask to remove any mineral build-up.
Significant scale formation in a stainless steel thermos is usually rare, but if it does occur, we explain the step-by-step method we recommend to remove it.
Materials needed:
- White vinegar
- Hot water
- Baking soda
- Soft brush or sponge
- Cotton swabs (optional)
- Toothpick (optional)
Filling the thermos:
- Pour a mixture of equal parts hot water and white vinegar into the thermos until it is about two-thirds full.
Soaking:
- Close the thermos tightly to prevent leaks and shake it gently to make sure the vinegar and water solution covers all areas affected by tartar.
- Let the solution sit in the thermos for several hours or overnight to allow the acid in the vinegar to dissolve the scale.
Cleaning the interior:
- After soaking, shake the thermos again to make sure the solution reaches all affected areas.
- Use a brush or soft sponge to scrub the areas with scale, applying gentle pressure to remove it.
- In hard-to-reach areas, you can use a cotton swab or toothpick to reach the affected areas.
Rinsing:
- Rinse the thermos several times with warm water to remove any vinegar residue.
Exterior cleaning (optional):
- If scale also affects the outside of the thermos, you can apply a paste of baking soda and water to the stained areas, rub gently with a soft sponge and then rinse with water.
Drying:
- Make sure the thermos is completely dry before using it again to avoid scale or stain buildup in the future.
This method with vinegar and baking soda is effective for removing scale on stainless steel thermoses. However, keep in mind that it may require some time and patience, especially if the scale is deeply embedded. If the problem persists, you may need to repeat the process or look for a specific scale removal product.
Now that you know how to clean a stainless steel thermos properly, we recommend you visit our collection of tumblers and this selection of the 5 best stainless steel bottles.