Thermos flask advice!

[FredaFox]

Hi, my mum has mobility issues so now makes herself a flask to drink rather than struggle to walk to the kitchen several times a day
Can anybody advise the best way to clean flasks? She has Brown build up inside, I've tried bicarbonate which is ok but doesn't fully bring it back to its original shiny stainless still state
Also when I've emptied her flasks when cold sometimes a brown lump comes out, this morning she told me she hadn't had a drink in the night (she likes a drink when she wakes which is frequent) as it tasted funyy, i just emptied it and the tea was a very watery subsistence and again a brown congealed lump dropped out, I can only assume it's the milk but her milk isn't off?
Any advice fearfully received!!

Denture tablets. Soak overnight then wash out with soapy water.

Yes that - mum swore by denture tablets for cleaning things!

Oooh thanks, she has some of those

Or Milton should work too. Is it tea or coffee in the flask?

Sorry just saw it was tea. She's not left a tea bag in it has she?

No she makes it in a jug first then pours it in
I just cant work out this lump, the milk is fine, it's happened a few times when the flask is cold, the again on the inside must be contributing
Hopefully a good clean with denture tablets/ Milton will help

I used to clean mine with a bottle brush. But I reckon a denture tablet would do the trick too and then rinse well.

I use Astonish cupclean in my flasks, no aftertaste.

But I would seriously consider investing in a One Cup hot water Dispenser. Mine's tefal. She can have a decent hot cup of tea any time, any size cup. Let's be honest, tea in a thermos tastes yuk after a couple of hours.

Right bottle brush ordered

@CaffeineInfusion I've been trying to suggest something like this to her, she's being stubborn on it but I'll try again thanks for recommending, I don't know anyone with anything similar

I was wrong. My one up is breville. The type you can refill with cold water from the top without having to remove a cannister.

Mine is next to my bed. Wake up and push a button.👍

I use a cup insert and tea leaves.

I hate old tea!!

My gran used to have a teasmade at the side of the bed. A flask of cold milk to go with it and she'd be sorted

Stupid question but have you run it through a dishwasher. If it can be.

Heat the milk before its put in the flask. It's slightly curdling with the boiling water.

Don't run it through the dishwasher you can mess with the vacuum especially contigos.

Yy to the bottle brush. Hot water and bicarb should be fine

Definitely sounds like a teasmaid situation!

Would she consider having a flask of hot water, and making her tea with that - you could get a smaller flask for the milk to keep it cold then set her up with a tray with teabags etc. So she makes a fresh cup each time.

I can't stand the smell/taste of mouldy milk you get on flasks, so I have one reserved for only hot water so it never smells.

Lots of great ideas! Thank you

She isn’t keen on having the one cup things in her living room but her mobility is really bad due to her neurological disorder and walks with a Walker (top half of body is fine) I think it’s a good solution

She lives alone but I spent lockdown with her and now I’m trying to spend more time at my own home so want to make life easier for her when’s she’s on her own

Freda Fox. Early Xmas present of a Hot Water Dispenser.

Second the bottle brush idea. Also wide necked (food) flasks used for drinks.

As far as not liking the idea of “kitchen” gadgets in the living room, would she feel better if it was with other items on a drinks’ trolley? That’s what we did.

Agree with denture tabs - great for stained china and net curtains too.

What about a tassimo or Nespresso? I use my spare bedroom as an office and I have a tassimo in there. It doesn't feel like you are using a kettle. I have a jug of water with a lid to top it up.

I use the coffee pods but you can use them to heat water, you just need to buy a disk for about £7.

Could she not have a second kettle etc. in the room she spends her time in, and just bring a jug of water? On a tray like they do in hotel rooms.

What flasks need is airing between uses so I'd suggest she has 2 or even 3 flasks she rotates daily, one in use, one soaking and one drying/airing.

These are all fantastic ideas thank you