The thermos flask is no longer just for campers; the trendy Stanley Cup has become extremely popular in a short time. Handy for staying hydrated all day long, but keep in mind that fungi and bacteria feel very much at home in reusable drinking bottles. It is therefore important to clean these regularly. Cleaning expert Zamarra explains the best way to do this.
Bacterial focus
The straw and lid in particular are places where microorganisms can easily grow because they come into direct contact with your mouth and the liquids in the cup. Your oral cavity houses oral flora, a combination of at least 700 species of bacteria and possibly also fungi.
Such a thermos cup is equipped with a special rubber seal to properly seal the lid. The moisture in the cup can eventually cause black mold to develop in the rubber. If you ingest this fungus, it can cause all kinds of physical complaints such as sore throat, coughing fits, nausea and irritated eyes.
Daily cleaning
To prevent excessive growth of bacteria and fungi, it is important not to keep drinks in the drinking cup for too long. Water can also spoil. Empty the cup every evening and wash it in warm water with some washing-up liquid. To avoid soapy taste, it is useful to use an unscented dishwashing liquid. Do not use aggressive cleaning agents such as bleach, as these can also leave a bad taste.
Allow the cup to dry completely and always store it without the lid. This gives bacteria less opportunity to grow.
Disassemble regularly
Such a quick wash is not enough to prevent bacteria and mold formation. If you use the cup regularly, it is advisable to clean it intensively regularly. Do this at least once a week, even if you don’t use the cup that often.
For an intensive cleaning, loosen all parts of the cup: the lid, the straw and the sealing rubber. There are also cups without a straw but with a lid that clicks open for easy sipping. Also remove all parts from this.
Bath with baking soda
Make a bath of water with a tablespoon of baking soda or a good dash of cleaning vinegar and let all parts soak in it for an hour. Both baking soda and vinegar are effective against microorganisms. However, do not use them at the same time, otherwise the two substances will cancel each other out.
After soaking, you can carefully clean all parts with a soft toothbrush. Concentrate on the rubber sealing ring, the spout protector and (if included) the straw as moisture can easily remain in these. Dirt can accumulate especially on the inside of the straw. Use a special thin brush for straws to loosen the dirt.
Greasy milk residue
If you like to take coffee with milk in your cup, soak the parts in water with perfume-free dishwashing liquid. This dishwashing liquid is designed to effectively remove milk residue, grease and odors from baby bottles. Due to its composition, it is also very suitable for removing the greasy barista milk residues from your latte.
Still mold?
Despite all your cleaning, do you still have mold in the thermos cup? Then spray hydrogen peroxide 3%, available at the drugstore, on the parts. This disinfectant tackles mold effectively. Allow the hydrogen peroxide to work for 10 minutes and brush away the mold with a soft toothbrush. Then wash all parts thoroughly with water and dishwashing liquid and dry.
Bad odor
Some drinks can leave a strong odor and even taste in a thermos cup. Even if you have left the cup closed for a while with liquid in it, it can start to smell quite musty.
You can remedy this by filling the cup with hot water and a tablespoon of baking soda. Let the cup soak for at least a few hours, preferably overnight, and then rinse it. If you don’t have it at home, you can also use crystal soda (cleaning soda). Crystal soda is not edible like baking soda, so rinse the bottle thoroughly with clean water at least twice.
