These mobile drinking devices are used to carry a variety of hot and cold beverages. After much use, a range of the offensive odors can develop within these drinking devices.
Fortunately, there remain several solutions for neutralizing built-up drink related odors within any thermos and return it to normal. By following some simple household solutions, you can be sure that your thermos will be smelling fresh again.
Preliminary Deodorizing Steps for Thermos
1 Deodorize with Heat
As a guiding principle, you will need to deodorize your thermos at the same temperature in which the odor was created. If your thermos carries the stench of build-up coffee, you will need to treat the inside with water at the same temperature as your coffee is created. When the inside of the thermos is heated the interior walls expand and alway for deodorizing solutions to get at the previously embedded odorous residues. In short, you will always want to deodorize your thermos with heated water.
2 Work On Crud Build-Up
After much use, beverage build-up within the thermos can develop and create an unpleasant odor. This is something that you will want to keep in check by continually scrubbing the interior walls to remove. If the build-up is particularly resistant, you may want to consider soaking the thermos in hot water and scrubbing it with the rough side of a sponge.
3 Try a Detergent Soak First
Before trying the home remedies outlined below, you may find that hot dish detergent soak is all that is required to clean the thermos and remove it’s odor. Draw a bath of hot water on one side of the sink and measure 2-3 teaspoons of dish detergent to be mixed within this solution. Place the thermos with the bath and provide 1-2 hours for it to soak within the mixture. Once this time has passed, rinse thermos out, do a smell test and place it back within use.
Alternative Household Deodorizing Suggestions
1 Mix in Baking Soda
This household ingredient works wonders at absorbing difficult odors from household items. Fill the thermos with one part baking soda and ten part hot water. Once the thermos has been entirely filled seal the lid and allow for the thermos to sit for 3-4 hours. The hot water will go to work in expanding the interior wall while the baking soda cleans and draws in the odors. After 2-3 hours have passed, pour out the contents, and rinse out the thermos for future use.
2 White Vinegar
This household acid is fantastic at cutting through odorous residues that have built up with time. White vinegar is low cost and will help in neutralizing the pervasive stench of nearly any thermos. Mix one part white vinegar with five parts hot water and seal the lid of the thermos for 2-3 hours. After this waiting period, return to pour out the contents and rinse out the white vinegar. Please note that it is normal for the thermos to smell of vinegar until it has completely dried out.
3 Apple Cider Vinegar
Similar to white vinegar, apple cider vinegar works by applying it’s natural acid to eliminate unwanted odors within the thermos. Though both forms of vinegar yield a similar result, apple cider vinegar is significantly more expensive than white vinegar. To apply this solution, fill the thermos up with one part apple cider vinegar and ten parts hot water. Proceed to seal the lid of the thermos and provide a long waiting time of 5-6 hours for the apple cider vinegar to produce it’s results. Once this time has passed, pour the contents out and rinse the thermos out.
4 Vodka
This party drink works well doubling as a deodorant. The alcohol within the solution cuts through smelly organics and leaves no scent behind. Pour one shot of vodka and add within the thermos. Follow this by filling ing the remaining space of the thermos with hot water and sealing the lid. Allow for the mixture the sit for 3-4 hours before removing the lid and pouring out the contents. Before placing back within use, rinse out and dry the thermos.
5 Activated Charcoal
If all else has failed and you have plenty of time on your hands, you can use activated charcoal to absorb the remain odor from your thermos. Begin by smashing a single briquette of activated charcoal into a powdery substance. Proceed by pouring the contents within the thermos and filling the remaining space with hot water before sealing the lid. Once sealed, provide 2-3 days for the activated charcoal to absorb any remaining smells from the interior of the thermos. Once this period of time has passed, pour out the contents and give the interior of the thermos a detergent soap wash. It is recommended that you proceed at your own risk with this solution, as it could lead to some discoloration within the interior of the thermos.
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