Tips

Tips for Getting Rid of Smells in a Thermos

Long-term use of a thermos flask often leads to an unpleasant odor, but there are simple tricks to improve this situation.

Administrator

17 October, 2023

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With its compact size and excellent heat retention, a thermos has become an essential item for many people to bring with them to work or outings. Besides keeping the temperature, it also helps to preserve the flavor of the beverage for a longer time.

You need to know the tips for cleaning the odor of a thermos because this utensil often has an unpleasant smell after a period of use. (Photo: Pexels)

However, after a long period of use, many people find that this utensil has an unpleasant smell and needs methods to clean the odor of the thermos.

Tips for effectively cleaning the odor of a thermos

Improper cleaning allows bacteria to grow, affecting the health and flavor of the beverage. Therefore, you should regularly clean and check the thermos to detect it in time. When you see that the thermos is dirty and has an unpleasant smell, apply the following simple but effective methods to clean the odor of the thermos.

Use orange peels

Orange peels are rich in essential oils and have a pleasant aroma, which can be used to eliminate any odor in the bottle. First, rinse the thermos with hot water and then put a few fresh orange peels into it, tighten the lid, and let it sit for about 4 hours. After that, pour out the orange peels and rinse the thermos with clean water.

Orange peels clean the odor in the thermos and leave a pleasant orange fragrance. (Photo: Brightly.eco)

Use toothpaste

You will need a toothbrush with a suitable length for the thermos and a little toothpaste. Apply the toothpaste to the toothbrush and brush the inside of the thermos, then rinse it with filtered water and let it dry.

Use coffee grounds

Coffee grounds are also very effective in eliminating odors. It not only helps to get rid of the unpleasant smell in the thermos but also leaves a pleasant aroma. All you need to do is put about 3 – 4 spoons of coffee grounds into the thermos, add a little cold water, and then tightly close the lid, wait for 30 minutes. After that, pour out all the coffee grounds, rinse the thermos with warm water, and let it dry.

Coffee grounds effectively eliminate the odor in the thermos. (Photo: Vienna Coffee)

Use green tea

Green tea contains a lot of essential oils and can effectively eliminate odors. The tip for cleaning the odor of a thermos is very simple: just put 2 – 3 teaspoons of green tea or fresh green tea leaves into the thermos, add a little warm water, cover it for about 30 minutes, and then rinse it thoroughly.

(Photo: Health Embassy)

Use lemon

Lemons contain a lot of acid, so they are often used to eliminate odors and bacteria. To remove the odor from the thermos, follow these steps:

– Clean the thermos thoroughly with warm water.

– Cut the lemons in half, squeeze out the juice, dilute it with warm water, and then soak the thermos for 1 hour.

– Pour out the mixture and rinse the thermos with clean water.

Use baking soda

Combining baking soda with other ingredients such as vinegar, eggshells or simply with water helps to effectively clean the odor in the thermos. You can choose one of the following methods:

– Pour 1/2 tablespoon of white vinegar into the thermos, add 1 tablespoon of baking soda, pour warm water, tighten the lid, soak for about 20 minutes. Then, use a brush to clean the inside of the thermos and rinse it thoroughly. If there is still an odor, repeat the steps. The combination of vinegar, baking soda, and warm water will create a foaming reaction. Therefore, do not fill the thermos to the brim with water.

The combination of vinegar and baking soda effectively cleans the odor of the thermos. (Photo: Day Tripper)

– Put 1 – 2 teaspoons of baking soda into the thermos, then add warm water, cover it again, soak for about 30 minutes, then rinse the thermos with warm water. If the thermos still has an odor, repeat the steps.

– Crush a few cooked eggshells, put them into the thermos, add a little water and baking soda, cover it, and shake it vigorously. Pour out the mixture and rinse the thermos with clean water.

Use dishwashing liquid

First, rinse the thermos thoroughly, then create soapy water with dishwashing liquid and sea foam, and use it to wash the thermos like washing dishes every day. Finally, rinse the thermos with clean water and let it dry.

Dishwashing liquid helps to quickly clean the odor of the thermos. (Photo: Better Homes & Gardens)

Use activated charcoal

Activated charcoal is famous for its excellent odor absorption. For the thermos, you can do the following:

– Put a small amount of activated charcoal into warm water and then pour it into the thermos.

– Cover it and leave it for a day, the odor will automatically disappear.

If you don’t need to use the thermos for a long time, you can also put a little activated charcoal in a small bag and place it in the thermos to prevent it from producing a bad odor.

Properly store the thermos

In storing the thermos, you should note:

– Avoid impact or excessive force on the thermos, which can cause dents and reduce the gap between the two metal layers, reducing the heat retention ability.

– Do not continuously change the temperature inside the thermos as this will cause the material of the thermos to expand and contract suddenly, reducing its lifespan and affecting its quality. If you have been storing cold water in the thermos and want to switch to hot water, wait for about 10-15 minutes.

– Clean the thermos immediately after use, open the lid, and place it in a dry, airy place until the thermos is completely dry.

Source: VTC