Cleaning reusable bottles

[8 Bit WWBG]

For the love of all that is holy how do I purge the lingering essence of coffee or tea from a stainless thermal mug!  I have tried baking soda, vinegar, soap, soaking, harsher stuff, and even bleach!  I think I brillo'd it and it always comes back!

Has anyone tried any of those tablets or cleaners meant for these types of bottles?  I never want to fork out for one unless I'm sure it will work.

I am also not sure whether the problem is the stainless inside, or the plastic lid.  If the latter, I may be outta luck.

[Deleted]

Jan 15, 2014 21:13:36 GMT -5 8 Bit WWBG said:

For the love of all that is holy how do I purge the lingering essence of coffee or tea from a stainless thermal mug!  I have tried baking soda, vinegar, soap, soaking, harsher stuff, and even bleach!  I think I brillo'd it and it always comes back!

Has anyone tried any of those tablets or cleaners meant for these types of bottles?  I never want to fork out for one unless I'm sure it will work.

I am also not sure whether the problem is the stainless inside, or the plastic lid.  If the latter, I may be outta luck.

I'm thinking it's the plastic lid thingy because stainless is pretty much non-porous and probably won't hold the stank.  

[8 Bit WWBG]

I should try storing the lid and container separately to see...  I always assumed there were traces of oils or something in the stainless part.

[Sam_2.0]

The lid could have little bits of coffee or tea stuck in the crevices. Could you try soaking the lid or boiling it?

[cronewitch]

I use bleach on most things. To clean a bottle that you can't get a brush in use popcorn. Take a couple dozen popcorn and put in the bottle with a little liquid then cap and shake. You can use beans or lentils but popcorn is less smooth so scrubs better.

[Peace Of Mind]

I've heard denture cleaning tablets will work.  I've never tried it but read it here once that somebody did and it worked.  Have you tried a magic eraser on it?  A little comet or baking soda and the magic eraser may do it if you don't want to buy the denture tablets.   

[Peace77]

Can it go in the dishwasher?

[Pants]

WWBG, like you, I've tried most things. Finally I accepted that I will never get it out and now have a designated coffee travel mug, tea travel mug, etc.

[yogiii]

Soak in oxiclean, it's the only thing that works

[Sam_2.0]

Jan 16, 2014 9:25:40 GMT -5 Pants said:

WWBG, like you, I've tried most things. Finally I accepted that I will never get it out and now have a designated coffee travel mug, tea travel mug, etc.

Honestly, this seems so much better than putting bleach in a cup you intend to drink out of again.

[tskeeter]

I have a similar issue with my coffee cup at work.  Thermal, stainless interior, plastic exterior.  There is something about the type of stainless that was used, or the relatively rough surface of the stainless that causes coffee residue to accumulate on the inside of the cup.  It takes something pretty abrasive to clean it up.  Even then, I don't think it's really all that clean.  Must be time to junk this cup and get something decent.

[grits]

Try soaking it a long time in a hot solution of water, and powdered dishwasher detergent.  Fill it up, and just let it sit. I used to soak the pans my dad used for cleaning fish. It took the smell right out.

[Sam_2.0]

Shoot, my grandpa would flip out if he heard how you all scour out coffee mugs He only lets me rinse his...maybe. Only if I promise not to use soap. The only time I really wash out my coffee mug is if I had a cappuccino/other drink in there and forgot about it. But since I started drinking my coffee black a few months ago those times are pretty rare.

[Deleted]

You might try filling it with Coke.

[8 Bit WWBG]

...:::"The lid could have little bits of coffee or tea stuck in the crevices. Could you try soaking the lid or boiling it?":::...

Sam_2.0 this is an excellent idea.  The lid itself doesn't seem to have as much smell, or crevices.  But I suspect the plastic part that the lid screws on to may very well have absorbed some bad stuff.  I've got water boiling and I'll let you know.

...:::"WWBG, like you, I've tried most things. Finally I accepted that I will never get it out and now have a designated coffee travel mug, tea travel mug, etc.":::...

I have 3 mugs designated thus:  One is for coffee/teas with milk.  One is for non-milk tea.  And one is only water, period.

The trick with popcorn (I've used salt, but rice, or whatever is the same principle) has worked well for scrubbing residue out of the "non-milk tea" mug.  I'd still like to get them all clean though.

@lonewolf if the above doesn't work, I'll try coke next.  When you say coke, do you mean Coke only, or will any of the dark sodas work?

[Deleted]

When you say coke, do you mean Coke only, or will any of the dark sodas work?
here

WWBG. I don't know. I've only heard that Coke works for things like this. 

[tloonya]

Jan 17, 2014 14:55:57 GMT -5 @lonewolf said:

When you say coke, do you mean Coke only, or will any of the dark sodas work?
here

WWBG. I don't know. I've only heard that Coke works for things like this. 

Coke.

[Anne_in_VA]

WWBG - let me know if you're able to get the smell out. I have a stainless travel mug that DH used for coffee a few times without me knowing and now I can't get the smell or taste out.  I only drink tea with milk and can't stand the taste of coffee so I won't use that mug now. Even if I don't put the lid on, my tea still tasted like coffee.

I've tried just about everything suggested except the Oxy-Clean.  Maybe I'll try that next.

[InsertCoolName]

I will now forever see your name and think Tator.

That's all. I've nothing for the issue at hand.

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

I've also heard that denture tablets work - but I haven't tested that theory.

I'm guessing it's not the stainless steel thermos, but the lid/cap.

My best suggestion would be to make a paste of water/baking soda - scrub the lid all around and especially inside the screw-in grooves with the baking soda paste - an old toothbrush to use as a mini-scrub-brush would work best.

Then completely rinse, and scrub again with clean toothbrush & rinse. Let air dry completely. You may also have a "mildew taste" if you've sealed the thermos when it's still moist inside. Make sure it's completely dry inside if you're not going to use it for a few days.

[yogiii]

Jan 17, 2014 22:20:48 GMT -5 Anne_in_VA said:

WWBG - let me know if you're able to get the smell out. I have a stainless travel mug that DH used for coffee a few times without me knowing and now I can't get the smell or taste out.  I only drink tea with milk and can't stand the taste of coffee so I won't use that mug now. Even if I don't put the lid on, my tea still tasted like coffee.

I've tried just about everything suggested except the Oxy-Clean.  Maybe I'll try that next.

It works.  I like oxiclean free the best.

[NoNamePerson]

Jan 16, 2014 20:28:03 GMT -5 grits said:

Try soaking it a long time in a hot solution of water, and powdered dishwasher detergent.  Fill it up, and just let it sit. I used to soak the pans my dad used for cleaning fish. It took the smell right out.

I do the same thing to clean my tea pot from time to time. Not a coffee drinker so can't say it will work on coffee stink.