How to Clean the Inside of a Thermal Carafe

Open your thermal carafe. Empty any contents into the sink. Pour a little water into the carafe, swirl it around and dump the water down the drain. If liquid was left in the carafe for days, pour equal parts vinegar and water into the carafe after you've emptied it and allow to soak for 30 minutes. Swirl the mixture around and pour it down the drain.

Sprinkle 1/2 tsp. or so of table salt into the carafe, adding more if the carafe has visible stains inside. Sprinkle a little more salt onto a damp sponge or dishcloth and scrub inside the carafe, using the salt as an abrasive. Add a little water, swirl the salt mixture around and dump it down the drain.

Pour 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/2 cup water into the carafe if it still appears stained inside. Wait 30 minutes and dump out most of the liquid. Sprinkle more salt onto your sponge and scrub inside the carafe again. Use a plastic scrub pad if the stains are difficult to remove. Rinse the carafe at least twice and allow to dry on a dish-drying rack.