We all know reusable cups and straws are the way to go. The hardest part, however, is making sure that what we drink is in fact to clean. Even though most popular tumblers are dishwasher safe, that doesn’t mean your dishwasher cleans them safely and effectively.
In fact, many travel mugs have removable seals to trap heat or cold – and if not properly cleaned and dried, these seals also trap moisture. Mold, which is a type of fungus, thrives in damp, dark areas. Yes, that means that with every sip of coffee you’re probably also drinking mold if your lid hasn’t been properly cleaned.
After hearing that it makes people sick, Veronica Lucas took a closer look at her travel mug and discovered tons of mold hiding under the removable lid seal. She shared photos on Facebook and the post went viral with 16,000 likes and over 2,000 comments.
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Veronica is not alone. In October 2018, Dr. Beau Pierce, a sports chiropractor based in Santa Maria, Calif., posted a now-viral video titled “Yeti-style mug almost killed my patient.” In the video, he talks about how one of his patients mentioned he was having trouble overcoming an ongoing illness. After asking a series of questions, Dr. Beau noticed his patient’s cup sitting on the counter and upon closer inspection discovered mold hiding under the lid.
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It’s a bit extreme to say that a goblet was murder his patient, but the link between a moldy eyelid and the disease is very likely. Consuming mold in any degree is not good for your health. “Some molds cause allergic reactions and respiratory problems. And some molds, under the right conditions, produce ‘mycotoxins,’ toxic substances that can make you sick,” according to the USDA.
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While the YETI name is widespread, it’s a common problem with all cups that have removable seals, regardless of brand. YETI, however, responded to GoodHousekeeping.com with the following statement:
At YETI, we take the safety of our customers very seriously and encourage customers to follow all product usage instructions, including proper cleaning of Rambler covers. For thorough cleaning, we recommend removing the lid gasket and the MagSlider, both of which should be washed and dried separately before reinstalling. Learn more about how to clean YETI Rambler products here.
On their FAQ page, YETI explains that just sticking it in the dishwasher won’t necessarily do the dirty work: “And here’s an extra tip to extend the life of your YETI Mug: before it goes dishwasher safe, remove the rubber seal from the lid. to prevent any buildup of dirt in the lid. Then throw it in the cutlery basket. So there. The solution has always been right in front of our eyes.
To prevent mildew, Carolyn Forte, director of the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Appliance and Cleaning Product Laboratories, recommends scrubbing any areas the dishwasher can’t reach. “To get rid of all the residue and the resulting mold, you need to completely disassemble the tumbler and scrub all the parts by hand in hot, soapy water to make sure they’re clean,” he explains. she. “These thermal mugs and carafes have removable seals for a reason.”
His best advice: put it in the dishwasher before washing it by hand. “While the dishwasher is great, it can’t do everything, and it can’t clean under these seals. In fact, water from the dishwasher can actually get trapped there, causing the growth mold.” No thanks!
To be clear: we are do not telling you to completely ditch your cups. This is simply a friendly reminder to deep clean your reusable on-the-go cups.
Buy these travel mugs (and don’t forget to wash them under the lid)
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