How To Clean Safely Your Thermos And Use it Effectively

There's nothing worse than opening your takeaway cup, ready to enjoy a delicious (and healthy) sip, only to find your beverage at room temperature. The thermos allows the contents to be kept hot or cold and keeps the contents inside as close as possible to the original temperature. They're also travel-friendly and can stay safe whether you're heading to the office with cold water or going camping with a healthy soup.

Thermos maintenance is a little different than what you are used to with your typical reusable bottle or container. While many thermoses claim to be dishwasher safe if placed on the top rack when in doubt, hand washing is correct to avoid damaging the insulation. But don't worry, there are some simple tips and tricks you can follow to keep your thermos in top shape for many years to come. Read everything you need to know about cleaning a thermos.

How a thermos works

The thermos uses vacuum-insulated technology to keep hot and cold contents hot. The bottle-in-a-bottle design has a vacuum between the two walls, allowing whatever you put inside to stay at the same temperature for longer.

The design does not conduct heat and also prevents the formation of condensation outside. Maintains room temperature/cool to the touch even if something inside is ice cold or hot. Thermoses are widely available from different brands, in different capacities and colors.

How to clean a thermos

Here are three popular ways to clean your thermos from coffee and soup stains and even remove lingering odors.

Vinegar and baking soda

A combination of vinegar and baking soda is a proven cleaning trick for common kitchen problems.

Pour 1/2 cup of distilled white vinegar into a thermos and sprinkle 1 tablespoon of baking soda on top. The combination undergoes a chemical reaction that causes foaming.

Add some warm water and let the mixture sit for about 10 minutes.

Use a bottle brush or cleaning cloth with hot water to clean the inside of the thermos well. Repeat if necessary.

Tablets for cleaning dentures

If you wear braces or dentures, you may be familiar with the cleaning power of denture tablets. They are also an effective way to clean a thermos!

Fill a thermos 1/2 to 3/4 full with warm water.

Place the tablet in a thermos and let it sit until it stops fizzing, 5 to 10 minutes.

Use a bottle brush or cleaning cloth with hot water to thoroughly clean the inside of the thermos. Repeat if necessary.

Ice and salt

Add crushed ice to a thermos with about 2 tablespoons of sea salt. (Salt has natural antibacterial properties.)

Secure the lid and shake well like a cocktail shaker.

Use a bottle brush or a cleaning cloth with hot water to clean the inside of the thermos well.

Repeat if necessary.

As we have already mentioned, many thermos manufacturers recommend hand washing the thermos, even if it is labeled as a dishwasher-safe product. By putting it in the dishwasher, you risk damaging the vacuum seal that makes the insulation possible, thus defeating the purpose of the thermos.

How not to clean a thermos

Now that we've covered some tips for cleaning your thermos, there are also some things you should NOT do while cleaning.

Do not use chlorine or bleach to clean the thermos. These chemicals can be too harsh and can damage the stainless steel interior.

Do not use very hot or boiling water to clean the thermos. Using boiling water will not only potentially damage the paint or exterior of your thermos, but it could also cause it to melt and even break the vacuum seal, preventing your thermos from insulating properly.

Tips to maximize the life of your thermos

Thermoses are designed for use with liquids, so there's no place to throw any old leftovers

Here's our top tip for maximizing the insulation capabilities of your thermos for cold and hot contents.

For cold content

Place the thermos in the fridge or freezer in advance. Pressed for time? Fill it with ice and water for a few minutes.

Remove the thermos from the refrigerator and pour out the ice water.

Add cold coffee, juice, or smoothie, and secure the lid.

For hot content

Fill a clean thermos with hot water and replace the lid.

After a few minutes, remove the lid and pour out the water.

Add hot soup, tea, or coffee and secure the lid. The temperature of the contents should be higher than if you were to consume it immediately, so be careful when filling the thermos.

Remember that once you've opened the thermos to enjoy its contents, anything that doesn't please you needs to be thrown away to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria.

When to throw out the thermos

Even with proper care and cleaning, not everything in your kitchen will last forever, including the thermos. If you find that it no longer keeps the contents insulated, whether hot or cold, it's probably time to say goodbye. Also, keep an eye out for any chips or cracks on the inside of the thermos - use your phone's flashlight if you have to. If the inside of your thermos is somehow damaged, it's time to replace the thermos.

Bottom Line

Thermoses are a useful tool that you can have at hand all year round. To ensure they stay squeaky clean, use one of the recommended cleaning methods: vinegar and baking soda, dentures, or ice and salt.

Going on a camping adventure? Not without tasty recipes that will fill you up! Check out these 24 healthy camping recipes.