Advice On Cleaning A Hip Flask.

[barhell]

I have in my posession a Dalvey Flask with the telescopic cup that sits in the reverse.
It's a lovely thing and i would like to use it (originally my Dad's) but while attempting to rinse clean with a view to filling it dispensed quite a lot of black gunk.

So any ideas on what to do?

Secondly i have a new hip flask and wondered best ways to clean and store between uses to avoid similar problems?

Barhell

[Mr Tattie Heid]

For the new one, I'd say simply rinse thoroughly with hot water, and store open so it will dry out completely.

For the black gunk--maybe fill with cheap vodka, let soak, repeat as necessary?

[Jimmy321]

Use sterilising powder with hot water leave for at least an hour then rinse with cold water, this should lift off all dirt.

[Yello to Mello]

I always clean mine like MrTH suggests (the new one). I forgot mine at a Christmas party last week so I text those instructions to the host the next day. At least there was still a dram or 2 left there for him.

I heard those old flasks are a pain to clean.

[jonbob]

I don't know if it would work but some of the products used for cleaning home brew bottles might be worth trying

[barhell]

Best tip i've found so far after finding many while searching (Vinegar, Bicarbonate of soda and various others all of which i've tried) was uncooked rice which if you add to the flask with some water and then shake it acts as a scourer, i had to rinse and repeat about 6 times but it seems to be getting there now.

Next i will give it a fill with some cheap vodka (nod to Mr TH) just to leave for 24 hours or so to see if anything else comes out in the mix.

Here's hoping it's fixed as it's a nice memento which i'd like to get some use from.

If there are still problems i'll start from the top of the replies and work down in order.

[Lucas]

Avoid chlorine-based bleach!

[Pete Smoke]

Best tip i've found so far after finding many while searching (Vinegar, Bicarbonate of soda and various others all of which i've tried) was uncooked rice which if you add to the flask with some water and then shake it acts as a scourer, i had to rinse and repeat about 6 times but it seems to be getting there now.

I was going to suggest sugar or coarse sand/grit for the same reason.

[Willie JJ]

Avoid chlorine-based bleach!

Although it might be preferable to vodka.

[C57]

Avoid chlorine-based bleach!

Although it might be preferable to vodka.

Or Loch Dhu

[MacDeffe]

I am not 100% convinced metal hip flasks are healthy. I'd rather use something in glass

I haven't used mine in years

Steffen

[lbacha]

Yeah I agree with Steffen I have left some whisky in mine for a week or so and it turned black. I would feel alot safer if they lined the flasks like they do some of the metal water bottles out there (SIGG comes to mind) If the scotch turned almost pitch black in a week I garuntee it is corroding the metal almost instantly and as a result releasing chemicals into the schotch. While these may not hurt you I'm not sure i want to take the chance.

Len

[barhell]

I suppose you could just take a 20 cl glass bottle with you but i suppose a hip flask just looks more refined rather than streeet drinker chic. On the christmas whisky thread C57 recieved a rather nice Grants triple glass flask set maybe this is the way to go.

[Mr Tattie Heid]

I've seen it said around that you shouldn't leave whisky in a flask for more than 24 hours.

[The Craw]

As I've harped on about for ages, both here and elsewhere, and as being a typical stingy Scot I have many flasks, ranging from a few Dalveys (I also have the one with the telescopic cup which is may favourite and I use it as my special occasion sporran flask) to small stainless steel ones you can often find.

From my experience whisky will only keep at its best in pewter for a day or two max (I would guess the fact that it's a more permeable metal will have some influence on the spirit) whereas in stainless steel the whisky will keep fine for many, many days, again from experience, or indeed moreso forgetting to empty it. I only use blends and relatively low-priced malts in my flasks.

As for cleaning them, just boiling water should do and if not a wee bit of Bicarbonate of Soda should eradicate any residue. The important part after cleaning them is to remember to dry them out properly for a day or two before replacing the lid.

[MacDeffe]

well, isn't this similar to : "everybody" knows screw caps are better than corks, but thats what used for aestethical reasons

Deffe

[C57]

My Dalvey (Stainless Steel) always accumulated that black gunk and made the whisky taste poor after a very short time.

My Talisker (pewter) seems fine for 2 or 3 days.

But my favourite is a flask, rather large I admit, that came with Cognac in it and when finished, I kept it for whisky. Yes it's at least twice the size of a proper hip flask, but it's glass, with a plastic-lined cap that seals perfectly and comes in a soft kid leather pouch. No effect on the whisky at all.

[Pete Smoke]

That weird black gunk ( tarnish ) even forms in solid silver flasks, silver is not harmful and has no tarnish or patina risks ( is is a carbonate? ). So i'm not certain of the reason for it. Sterling silver also has copper. I shall do some research, but from what i can remember a tarnish protects the metal beneath, but verdigris is definitely toxic and soluble in alcohol ( not that that is particularly relevant here ).

[JamesC]

I use a ceramic hip flask, same as the one shown below. I guess the downside is that its fragile and the cork doesnt look like it would seal well, however ive had no problems so far. I just love the simple look of it..

[Pete Smoke]

That weird black gunk ( tarnish ) even forms in solid silver flasks, silver is not harmful and has no tarnish or patina risks ( is is a carbonate? ).

I mistakenly assumed silver didn't tarnish ( like gold ) but it does - with sulphur and moisture of all things, so does copper.

[C57]

That weird black gunk ( tarnish ) even forms in solid silver flasks, silver is not harmful and has no tarnish or patina risks ( is is a carbonate? ).

I mistakenly assumed silver didn't tarnish ( like gold ) but it does - with sulphur and moisture of all things, so does copper.

Silver tarnishes badly - that blackness that silver gets.

[Pete Smoke]

Silly me. The black patina on silver is a reation with sulphur compounds in the air resulting in tarnish, or Silver Sulphide, actual corrosion. Steffen mentioned upthread that he doubted that metal flasks were safe, so i was keen to work out silver, as it is used as a water disinfectant/anti-bacterial treatment and considered safe. It seems that this is somewhat disputed. The black gunk found inside silver flasks is silver sulphide, and is toxic to marine life etc, but argyria in humans is considered to not damage health, but only to be a cosmetic condition, and is rare and extreme. So i feel that silver hip flasks, are safe if kept clean and relatively free of the black stuff, i.e dried properly when not in use as the tarnish needs moisture.

[ColSanders]

Hmmm... thought I'd posted a reply to this but guess I was wrong...

For cleaning silver, copper and the like in the kitchen world we usually use a mixture of vinegar and kosher salt. The acetic acid from the vinegar will help pull away the gunk while the kosher salt will act as a minor abbrasive. Make a thin paste out of it and put it in, give it a couple good shakes, rinse thoroughly with water... if you're worried about further oxidation drop in some isopropyl alcohol and turn upside down. The water will evaporate with the alcohol...

Tis what we use for a few gizmos and gadgets where I work at least...

[C57]

My Dalvey (Stainless Steel) always accumulated that black gunk and made the whisky taste poor after a very short time.

My Talisker (pewter) seems fine for 2 or 3 days.

But my favourite is a flask, rather large I admit, that came with Cognac in it and when finished, I kept it for whisky. Yes it's at least twice the size of a proper hip flask, but it's glass, with a plastic-lined cap that seals perfectly and comes in a soft kid leather pouch. No effect on the whisky at all.

CRW_8578.jpg (65.5 KiB) Viewed 4717 times

[Uisgehound]

Nick, I've got to say THAT is an awesome flask! Well done!