Cleaning a hip flask

lipidicman

Is this the place to post about cleaning?

I have a hip flask that I havent used for about 10 years and want to make sure it is hygenic inside (it has been empty and closed I think). I cant see the inside and a bottle brush is not much use

The outside is leather so I cant soak it - I plan to use boiling water to sterilise it, but does anyone have any better ideas to ensure it is fresh like new?

Thanks in advance

apprentice_tycoon

get a handfull of uncooked rice and hot soapy water, swish the rice around, it acts as an scourer and that should clean it, no need to serilise it as the boiling water might just crack the glass

Queenie

1 tsp of bicarbonate of soda add the hot water and leave to soak overnight. Rinse well.

When storing it, add 1 tsp of sugar to the dry flask.

lipidicman

That was quick, thanks

To explain, this is a hip flask for whisky/brandy. It is not an insulated flask, so it is metal rather than glass.

The opening is very small, so I will need a funnel. I am worried that rice in water will swell and I will never get it out! The baking soda sounds a good idea.

What does the sugar do during storage Queenie?

Austin_Allegro

I have a silver plate hip flask that belonged to my grandfather, so I don't think it's been used since he was killed in 1944. I've tried bicarb and a bottle brush, but however much I scrub the brush comes out black! I've also tried the salt water and tinfoil method of silver polishing, and that didn't seem to do much either.

Queenie

lipidicman wrote:

That was quick, thanks

To explain, this is a hip flask for whisky/brandy. It is not an insulated flask, so it is metal rather than glass.

The opening is very small, so I will need a funnel. I am worried that rice in water will swell and I will never get it out! The baking soda sounds a good idea.

What does the sugar do during storage Queenie?

Funnel - use a piping bag or a washing up liquid bottle inverted

Sugar ... will prevent stale from developing inside, keeps it smelling fresh

apprentice_tycoon

lipidicman wrote:

That was quick, thanks

To explain, this is a hip flask for whisky/brandy. It is not an insulated flask, so it is metal rather than glass.

The opening is very small, so I will need a funnel. I am worried that rice in water will swell and I will never get it out

Please don't worry about the rice swelling, you only need to give it a quick swish in a small amount of soapy water to clean glass, it works very well on decanters etc where you have a small neck and wide body where a brush would be useless.
But since it's a metal flask clarity isn't a problem so go with the bicarb, if you don't have a wash-up bottle or piping bag handy to make a funnel, a piece of paper held into a funnel with a paper clip would do.

lipidicman

Thanks to all!

Ok bicarb it is, but how much do I use and where do I buy it cheaply - I have seen 'bicarb for eating' in the chemist but this seems expensive (£1 for 200g I think in savers?) - is there a cheaper source - what should I pay?

spendaholic

lipidicman wrote:

Ok bicarb it is, but how much do I use and where do I buy it cheaply -

Queenie wrote:

1 tsp of bicarbonate of soda add the hot water and leave to soak overnight. Rinse well.

You can get it from the baking part of a supermarket.

lipidicman

Oops, didnt see that queenie gave me the quantities!

I couldnt find it in my supermarket, but I'll try the big Tesco. Any ideas on the price as I might go back to 'savers'?

Galtizz

44p for a pot full from from Tescos and Asda, 49p Somerfield, 89p :eek: from my local co-op late, not sure about Waitrose and Lidl don't sell it (not sure if it's 100g or 200g but they all only sell one size) about 3 or 4 inches tall, looks like this:



and will be in the home baking isle of most supermarkets with the fancy icing and the vanilla essence etc.