Many office workers carry a thermos cup everywhere they go. Even though they clean it daily, after a few months, the thermos cup starts to develop a strange, sour smell. Various cleaning methods may be tried, but the odor persists. Dr. Jiang Zhigang, the attending physician in the Nephrology Department of National Taiwan University Hospital and the Secretary General of the Toxicology Society, points out that if thermos cups or bottles are used incorrectly, they may not achieve the intended health and environmental benefits and could even harm your health.
Here are six correct ways to use thermos cups and eco-friendly lunch boxes:
- Avoid containing milk, tea, coffee, carbonated drinks, etc. These drinks can easily leave residues on the inner walls of the thermos cup, which can develop odors over time and even promote bacterial growth.
- Use fewer leftovers, and store freshly cooked dishes directly. Leftovers can spoil easily, especially in a warm environment, accelerating bacterial growth and affecting health.
- Avoid storing overly hot food or drinks to prevent burns. The design of thermos cups is to maintain temperature, but storing excessively hot drinks can cause burns.
Eco-friendly lunch boxes should contain fewer leftovers.
Image provided by Flickr.
- Discard and replace if the bottle body is damaged or the heat-resistant rubber is deformed. If the thermos cup's body is damaged or the heat-resistant rubber deforms during use, it affects the insulation performance and may release harmful substances. Immediate replacement is recommended.
- Rinse with hot water, do not use detergents. Detergents may leave residues in the cup and react with hot drinks, producing harmful substances. Rinsing with hot water is the safest cleaning method.
- Use a long-handled brush designed for cleaning baby bottles, avoid using steel brushes. Steel brushes can scratch the inner walls of the thermos cup, creating places for bacteria to breed. A long-handled brush can effectively clean the bottom and edges of the cup, maintaining hygiene.
Thermos bottles should avoid containing milk, tea, coffee, carbonated drinks, etc.
Image provided by Pxhere.
Correctly using thermos cups and lunch boxes not only achieves the intended health and environmental benefits but also ensures our health. Please pay attention to these usage methods in daily life, making thermos cups and lunch boxes reliable companions.
