How to Clean Your Stanley Cup to Avoid Mold

Nov 03, 2024

A brand expert provides tips on the best ways to clean the popular tumblers

skysayingthings/ TikTok

You should be as obsessed with cleaning your Stanley Cup as you are with drinking from it.

Over the past few months, several TikTok creators have gone viral for sharing the hidden mold in their Stanley cups, be it in the lid or in the actual body of the tumbler.

Skylar Ray Rose (@skysayingthings) discovered pesky mold in her tumbler’s lid in October — and went viral for a post that got nearly 1 million likes. As she squeezed the small compartment lid, specks of black peppered the top. “I literally have mold,” she screamed. “This is so gross.”

Another creator, Nicole Kramer (@nicokekramer_), revealed mold in the body of her cup. “Never underestimate how often you need to clean your Stanley cup,” she said at the start of the TikTok video, which showcased spores inside the vessel. “I’ve had the worst sore throat. No idea why. Look inside my cup this morning…you don’t even want to see the straw."

Luckily, it’s not hard to keep your own Stanley Cup from becoming dirty. Kyle Casteel, Senior Hydration Product Manager at Stanley, shared expert tips with PEOPLE on how to properly wash your beloved tumbler. For starters, Casteel says you shouldn’t put off cleaning it.

“Ideally, your Stanley Quencher or other favorite Stanley should be washed after each use. Keep your Stanley clean both inside and out for sanitary sipping!” he says.

According to the brand expert, the easiest way to clean your Stanley is by putting it in the dishwasher. While most of the company’s products, including the popular Quencher, are dishwasher safe, check the bottom to make sure it is, he adds.

If you prefer to wash it by hand, Casteel provides quick and gentle techniques.

“You can also hand wash your Stanley with warm water and mild detergent, and dry with a clean towel or let your product air dry,” he says. “If your product needs a deeper clean, use a mixture of one-part baking soda and one-part warm water, and soak for up to an hour. Then clean with mild detergent once the solution is rinsed out.”

Nicole Kramer

Casteel also shares a step-by-step tutorial on how to deep clean a Stanley Quencher piece by piece.

Start by separating all the parts, including the lid, straw and the tab from the lid itself (where people like Skylar have found mold). Casteel says to clean each part individually with soap and a sponge. For the straw, he says to use a narrow brush.

“Continue to use the soap and sponge to clean the interior and exterior of the tumbler, as well as the lid, tab and detachable piece designed for splash resistance,” he adds. “Rinse all products with warm water. Use a clean towel to dry or let product air dry.”

Since all Stanley products are made from stainless steel, Casteel recommends using non-abrasive cleaners and sponges.