Food News and Trends

Stanley Settles the Debate: This Is the Best Way To Clean Your Insulated Tumblers

Prevent mold with these tips.

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Published on January 18, 2024

Stanley Cup with lid on a colorful background — Photo:
Stanley

Stanleys are everywhere right now. The insulated drink cups known to keep warm beverages warm or cold drinks cold for hours on end are popular with students, athletes, tweens, teens, and busy adults. Jennifer Garner, Olivia Rodrigo, and Adele have all been seen toting a Stanley tumbler around.

Sales, especially at Target, have exploded recently—with new releases selling out as quickly as they are announced. But the real news here is that fans of the drink tumblers are posting on TikTok about how there are spaces for hidden mold and bacteria.

TikTok user, Skylar Ray Rose, posted a “Stanley hack” video that went viral talking about how she typically removes the lid and straw to clean her tumbler. The twist? She learned the top section of her lid has other detachable pieces that can also be removed. And once she took it all apart, it was filled with black mold. “This is so gross,” she says. It sure is!

What Are Those Black Spots in My Stanley?

Black mold is a type of fungus that can grow in or on areas where there is moisture and/or humidity. It can affect anyone with allergies or sensitivities to it, with symptoms like sneezing, coughing, and more. Let this be a PSA to clean your cups—Stanley or otherwise.

TikToker Nicole Kramer shared the inside of her Stanley cup, which shows the same black spots. “I’ve been drinking out of that all weekend and all this morning during my workout,” she says in the video. Kramer also wrote in the caption: “I use my Stanley on a daily basis and it’s so easy to forget the last time you washed it when you never stop using it.”

Both mold and bacteria can grow on moist surfaces and tiny dark spots are the start of it spreading in a container. What can you do to keep your reliable cup clean and free of unwanted gunk?

How to Clean Your Stanley Cup, According to the Pros

The 111-year-old Stanley brand cups are built strong to withstand a lot of use but as the company points out on its site, “As cool as our products are, they don’t clean themselves. Things can still get a little funky." You can’t just keep your favorite drink in the tumbler and leave it there indefinitely.

Clean After Each Use With Non-Abrasive Cleaners and Sponges

Get rid of the remainder of any hot or cold drink when you have finished and clean your Stanley cup out thoroughly before your next use. The brand says to clean your Stanley cup in between with gentle dish soap and a dish rag, soft sponge, or small brush.

Always use products like cleaners or sponges marked as “non-abrasive” to maintain the quality of the cup.

The cups are dishwasher safe but the company points out that hand washing is the best bet to keep the finish or paint on the cup looking its best.

Do Not Use Bleach

Avoid harsh chemicals like bleach or chlorine which can degrade some of the sealing parts on the products. This can lead to leaks and harm the ability to keep liquids hot.

Are Stanley Cups Dishwasher Safe?

First "consult your care and use or base artwork" to double-check. If yes, you should separate all the pieces to clean the entire cup thoroughly. This is where that gunky residue can hide!

Detach the different parts of your tumbler. This includes the components on the lid. Put all the pieces in the top rack of the dishwasher. If you spot any black residue in the cup, an extra scrub before putting it in the dishwasher should give it a thorough clean.

A Helpful Stanley Cleaning Hack

Try a cleaning tip from the brand's site to get your Stanley ready for another day as your trusty sidekick. Use this mixture to shake up inside your tumbler as part of your cleaning routine. Rinsing with vinegar will help get rid of dirt, film, stains, and bacteria. The uncooked grains of rice will help loosen any particles from residue left behind in the cup.

What You’ll Need: