How to Clean Your Yeti Tumbler & Why It Could Be Harmful To Your Health (VIDEO)
If you own a yeti or any variation of a travel tumbler there may be something extremely harmful lurking under the lid.
DISGUSTING DISCOVERY
Angel here and last Friday during our show Chad asked me if I would fill his Yeti cup up with water. Being the amazingly fantastic co-host I am I sweetly said "yes" and headed off to the kitchen. To my surprised as I opened the lid, I noticed a blackish-brown film right below the rim of the cup where the top slides in. I thought at first it was a stain but as I looked closer I realized it was something else. I grabbed a paper towel and wiped it. Then I turned over the lid and almost threw up.
WHAT'S UNDER YOUR LID?
I panicked for a quick second, thinking he had been drinking out of this cup for who knows how long. I waited to tell him because we had guests in the studio and didn't want them to see what he had been drinking. After they left I told him I had to show him something and when I opened the paper towel I had cleaned his cup with he said "ew gross, what is that?" I proceeded to explain to him what I had found while getting him water and then asked him if he ever cleaned his cup. His response, "No".
WHY YOU SHOULD CLEAN YOUR CUP
This is where being a mom came in handy. When my kiddos were growing up I learned fast if I left milk in a sippy cup overnight the aftermath was awful. I can't even begin to tell you how many cup casualties we've had in our home due to not washing on time. Even if you only drink water (like Chad) you still have to thoroughly clean your lids and cups. Since the lids are designed to fit snug inside the cup the mold can set up because moisture gets trapped in between the rubber piece causing bacteria to form. Over time the mold grows and most likely is taking a trip down your throat with every drink of water, coffee, or whatever is in your cup.
HOW TO CLEAN YOUR CUP
So now that I have either totally freaked or grossed you out let me offer a solution. Yeti cups are expensive and you don't need to just throw them away. Here are some suggestions for cleaning your travel mug:
- Take a toothbrush and baking soda with warm water
- Sprinkle baking soda on the lid and wet toothbrush and scrub
- Let it sit for 15 minutes and then wash with hot water.
- Make sure to take the rubber piece on the lid apart and allow the entire cup to dry
You can also put your Yeti in the dishwasher. Chad told me you are not supposed to wash them in the dishwasher so I went to Yeti.com and here is what they had to say about the care of your Yeti;
YETI Tumblers can handle the wild. But can you put a YETI in the dishwasher, too? You bet. Legendary YETI durability doesn't stop inside your dishwasher; thanks to rugged 18/8 stainless steel construction, your YETI cup is safe and sound. And because each YETI cup is BPA-free, there's an extra emphasis on "safe." Of course, you can always clean your YETI cup with hot, soapy water, too, just be sure to dry it well. And here's an extra tip to prolong the life of your YETI cup: before it goes in the dishwasher, remove the rubber lid gasket to prevent any grime build up in the lid. Then throw it in the silverware basket.
The same goes for your kid's cups. I used to soak them in hot water with a drop of dish soap and a dash of white vinegar. It always did the trick.
Now, this is proof I care about Chad and his well-being. I could have easily just let him drink mold right?!