Just realized my insulated mug wasn't keeping coffee hot because of how I was cleaning it

I used a $40 YETI rambler for like 6 months and wondered why my coffee went cold in an hour. Turns out running it through the dishwasher wrecked the vacuum seal, even though the manual says hand wash only. I picked up a cheap Ozark Trail mug at Walmart for $10 and hand washed it, now my coffee is hot for 3 hours. Has anyone else had a fancy mug fail because of cleaning?

3 comments

3 Comments

james_kim21d ago

Actually hot water alone won't wreck the vacuum seal, that's usually from harsh dishwasher detergent.

the_jason21d ago

$40 lesson learned, sounds like @james_kim was right about the detergent.

the_angela15d ago

Totally agree with @james_kim on this one. Dishwasher detergent is harsh, it eats away at the gaskets and even the double-wall welds over time. I learned this the hard way with a Hydro Flask bottle. Hand washing with a mild soap is all you need, but I also rinse it out right after use to keep coffee oils from building up. That buildup makes the vacuum seal less effective too, because it messes with the seal on the lid. @james_kim is spot on about the detergent being the real culprit. Just a simple scrub with a sponge and some dish soap keeps my mugs working for years.