Cleaning Flasks

[mikey4444]

I use a flask most weekends, for tea, and never coffee. But is there something I can use to give the inside a really good clean, without leaving a taint ?

I have used boiling water, fairy liquid (other washing-up liquids are available) and one of those bottle brushes, but it still looks a bit brown inside.

The flasks are stainless steel.

[Old_Geezer]

bleach ?
something mildly acidic ?

[naomi24]

//To remove difficult stains fill your flask with hot water, add one teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda. DO NOT put stopper on product while using this cleaning method. Soaking overnight produces excellent results. Always rinse before re-use.//

http://www.thermos.co.uk/UK_careuse_stainless_steel_vacuum_flask.aspx


A tip from me. Fill your flask with boiling water, and take your teabags and milk separately. Make tea as and when required. No staining, fresher tea.

[Patsy33]

Put boiling water and some bicarbonate of soda in it. Let it stand for a few hours then use your bottle brush again. Swill a few times with cold clear water.

[bhg481]

We always do as Naomi does ie, take hot water in the flask and make the drink as you need it. The stains in the flask will be the tannin from the tea - in your flask instead of in your cup (unless you're a milk-first person). It also means I can have coffee and my wife can have tea. Of course, you need an extra flask for the milk.

[mikey4444]

Thanks everybody....I will give your suggestions a go !

[Jackdaw33]

You can't make tea with hot water, unless you are a philistine. The water MUST be boiling.

[bhg481]

We're Philistines.

[Buenchico]

My mother always used Steradent tablets and I've since encountered many others who swear by that method.

[naomi24]

We're not Philistines - we take instant coffee - and we take the milk in a spill-proof plastic container - one of those with the clips around the edge.

[Buenchico]

JD33:
I read an article (in one of the Sunday glossies, I think) featuring one of the big London hotels (Ritz? Savoy?) where they charge an arm and a leg for afternoon tea. Their chef insisted on checking the temperature of the water that was poured into every pot and demanded that it be only 90C and most definitely NOT boiling!

(Yes, I was surprised too!)

[Sipowicz]

Throw your teeth in and kill two birds with one stone!

[Psybbo]

And for teapots, Chris

[robsmom]

Try Milton, the baby bottle steriliser.

[Old_Geezer]

Yet Chris, but he was a chef, not a brewer ;-)

[mastercraft]

I'm sure that flask tea tastes better when the flask has a good tannin stain.

[Quizproquo]

Chuck half a dishwasher tablet in there and boiling water . Put it on something absorbent, it will overflow. Give it a good rinse and a scrub with the brush and it will be as good as new. And dead easy, no hard scrubbing.