There's nothing worse than opening up your to-go coffee cup, ready to enjoy a delicious (and healthy) sip, only to find your beverage at room temperature. A thermos allows for hot or cold retention, keeping the contents inside as close to the original temperature as possible. They're also meant for taking on the go and can stay secure whether you're just heading to the office with cold water or going on a camping excursion with healthy soup.

Maintaining your thermos is a bit different than you may be used to with your typical reusable bottle or container. While many thermoses claim to be dishwasher-safe if placed on the top rack, when in doubt, hand-washing is the way to go so the insulation does not get damaged. But don't worry, there are a few simple tips and tricks you can follow to keep your thermos in top shape for years to come. Read on for everything you need to know about how to clean a thermos.

Related: 15 Simple Ways to Clean Up Your Kitchen

A thermos uses vacuum-insulated technology to keep hot contents hot and cold contents cold. The bottle-within-a-bottle design has a vacuum between the two walls, which allows whatever you put inside to stay at the same temperature longer.

The design doesn't conduct heat, and also prevents condensation from forming outside. It stays room temperature/cool to the touch, even when something inside is icy cold or piping hot. Thermoses are widely available from different brands, in varying capacities and colors.

Here are three popular methods to get your thermos clean of coffee and soup stains, and even to remove lingering odors.

The combination of vinegar and baking soda is a tried-and-true cleaning hack for common kitchen problems.

You might be familiar with the cleaning power of denture tablets if you wear a retainer or dentures. They're also an effective way to clean your thermos!

As we mentioned, many thermos manufacturers suggest hand-washing your thermos, even if it is labeled as a dishwasher-safe product. You risk damaging the vacuum seal which allows for insulation by placing it in the dishwasher, defeating the purpose of having a thermos.

Now that we've covered a few tips for cleaning your thermos, there are also a few things you should NOT do while cleaning it.

Thermoses are designed to be used with liquids, so this isn't the place to shove any old leftovers. Think soups and stews, coffee and tea, or even milk and juice. Here's our best tip to maximize the insulating abilities of your thermos for cold and hot contents, respectively.

Don't forget, once you've opened your thermos to enjoy your contents, anything not enjoyed should be tossed to prevent harmful bacteria from growing.

Even with proper care and cleaning, not every item in your kitchen will last forever, including a thermos. If you find that it's not keeping the contents insulated any longer, whether hot or cold, it's probably time to say goodbye. Also, look out for any chips or cracks on the interior of your thermos—use that flashlight on your phone if you have to. If the inside of your thermos is damaged in any way, it's time to replace the thermos.

Thermoses are a useful tool to have on hand year-round. To make sure they remain clean as whistles, use one of the recommended cleaning methods: vinegar and baking soda, denture tabs, or ice and salt.

Heading out on a camping adventure? Not without some tasty recipes that will keep you feeling full! Take a look at these 24 Healthy Camping Recipes.