Gross but True: 10 Reasons Why Your Tumbler Might Kill You

On average, office workers use three paper cups per day. Approximately 600 million cups are consumed in coffee shops per year, which equates to the amount of paper that could be produced by planting 260,000 trees. Paper cups are difficult to recycle, and plastic also barely decomposes in nature or takes hundreds of years to do so. It is now more essential than ever to use tumblers instead of paper cups to reduce environmental pollution and our health.

 

Cleaning with Vinegar

Fill the tumbler with warm water and vinegar in a 10:1 ratio and leave it for about 30 minutes. Then, shake the tumbler and rinse it with water. In particular, stainless steel tumblers can rust when used, but vinegar removes the rusted part and sterilizes the inside of the tumbler.

 

Cleaning with Eggshells

First, crush the eggshells finely. Then, put them in the tumbler with warm water and shake. If you shake enough, the finely crushed eggshells will clean the dirt and debris. The white membrane inside the eggshell dissolves the dirt, helping to keep the tumbler clean.

 

If Left at Room Temperature, Massive Bacterial Growth

The coffee or beverage in the tumbler is usually consumed slowly, which can create an environment conducive to bacterial growth. If you take a sip from the tumbler and store it at room temperature for about 3 hours, approximately 30,000 bacteria will breed. These formed bacteria are not easily removed just by rinsing with water, so scrubbing them clean with a brush is advised.

 

If Used for a Long Time, Increased Risk of Heavy Metal Exposure

If you use a tumbler for too long, rust forms and scratches, causing heavy metals to come out of the corroded inner surface of the tumbler. This can affect our brains and expose us to various complications. In extreme cases, using a tumbler for a long time or using a product of poor quality can cause heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and chromium to leach out, causing liver and kidney damage, cerebral degeneration, and other conditions.

 

Do Not Use Public Sponges

In the office, there may be cases where a public sponge is used to wash a personal tumbler. However, using a sponge that is not well-managed and used by many people can quickly breed bacteria. If you wash with a bacteria-rich sponge, the bacteria can remain in the cup and inhabit it for about 3 days. Also, If you have to use a sponge alone, it is best to use it and dry it well. If it is difficult to use a sponge, one of the management methods is to mix baking soda with hot water and soak it.

 

How to Remove the Smell of Tumbler’s Rubber Packing

Most of the odor from the tumbler comes from the rubber packing. In this case, put the rubber packing in a pot, pour water mixed with baking soda, and boil it once. The point is to remove the contamination carefully with a toothbrush or cotton swab! Use a toothpick to remove the rubber packing and soak it in vinegar or rice water. If the rubber packing is severely contaminated or damaged, or if you can buy a separate one, it is better to replace it with a new one.

 

7 or More Checks? It’s Time to Replace Your Tumbler!

• You have been using the same tumbler for over 3 years
• The whole family is using one tumbler / You store dairy products in it for long hours more than 3 times a week
• You tend to store beverages in the tumbler and drink them after more than 5 hours
• You can see dirt or smell something from the tumbler
• You have never used a separate cleaner
• You are cleaning the tumbler in the dishwasher
• After cleaning the tumbler, you tend to close the lid without completely drying it
• You do not disassemble components such as silicone packing when cleaning
• If 7 to 9 of these apply to you, it would be good to replace your tumbler

 

How to Manage Your Tumbler regularly

Usually, it is best not to keep a beverage in the tumbler for more than two days. Used tumblers should not be left unattended and should be cleaned immediately. Juices or milk, which contain a lot of sugar or fat, can cause spoilage or odor, and beverages containing salt can corrode the interior, so it is better not to contain them. Also, be careful not to shake the tumbler after putting hot water or carbonated drinks in it, and be extra cautious if it is a one-touch tumbler.

 

How to Choose a Tumbler

Tumblers are typically made of stainless steel or plastic. Stainless steel is fine for hot beverages but has the disadvantage of being heavy. On the other hand, plastic is light and easy to carry, but there are concerns about endocrine disruptors when containing hot drinks. It is also challenging to use for a long time, so if you consider health, it is better to use a relatively safe stainless steel tumbler.

 

Various Types of Tumblers

One-touch tumblers are a type that opens the cap when you press a button, making them suitable for carrying around. However, they have the disadvantage of being heavy. Straw tumblers allow you to drink beverages directly from the mouth with a silicone straw, making them convenient. You can drink comfortably without spilling your drink, but they are less portable. Concord tumblers have excellent heat and cold retention but are heavy and not completely sealed, making them unsuitable for carrying in a bag. Cold cups are ideal for cold beverages and are suitable for use as a water bottle or cup. They are light and easy to carry.

By. Shin Young Jeon