You've decided to treat yourself to something nice and picked out a Yeti rambler cup. It might have cost you over forty dollars, but you've heard they keep things ice cold (or piping hot) for an insanely long amount of time. You've also heard that these ramblers are extremely durable. But you're hesitant to place it in with the rest of your dishes in the dishwasher. "Is this dishwasher safe?" you wonder. We've checked with what Yeti has to say about this.
Yeti maintains that their cups are dishwasher safe. Using information provided by Yeti on their official website, we've learned that Yeti brand avows that their cups, lids, and seals are durable enough to survive the cycles of your dishwasher time and time again.
But what if you don't have a dishwasher? Or what if you need to clean your Yeti cup in a hurry, and don't have time to wait for the dishwasher to run a cycle? We've thoroughly researched Yeti rambler cups and their parts so that these concerns can be addressed. In addition, we've discovered how to best clean Yeti ramblers, if it's safe to place other insulated travel cups in a dishwasher, and what might make your Yeti lid appear cloudy. For the answers to these questions and more, continue reading.
How To Wash A Yeti Cup
While Yeti clearly states that any Yeti rambler is totally safe in your dishwasher, knowing how to properly clean one by hand can be quite useful. What if you don't have a dishwasher, or what if the dishwasher you have isn't removing stubborn stains from your rambler? We're happy to provide these instructions on how to clean your Yeti rambler by hand.
Cleaning the mug
This is the easiest part. Yeti mugs can be washed by hand in your kitchen sink with your favorite brand of dish soap and some hot water. Use a sponge or a dish wand to thoroughly scrub the inside of the rambler, then do the same on the outside. Rinse it off. Then let it air dry on your dish rack.
How to wash the lid and its parts
There are multiple lid types for various styles of Yeti cups. We'll focus on the slide-top lid for this post. There are three parts to the lid: the lid itself, the gasket, and the slider top. The gasket and slider-top should be removed first. This should be done by hand and is very easy.
You can either place these pieces in your dishwasher's utensil holder, or you can use a sponge, hot water, and dish soap to finish the job by hand. If cleaning by hand, allow to air dry completely before reassembling your Yeti's lid.
Should you have a different lid on your Yeti and would like to know how to safely disassemble, clean, and reassemble it, you can visit Yeti's official site.
Click here to see this Yeti rambler on Amazon.
Removing coffee and tea stains
Sometimes the dishwasher just won't do the job, and sometimes there isn't enough elbow grease in the world to do it yourself. For the most stubborn coffee and tea stains, Yeti makes a special cleaning tablet that can be utilized in these cases. Fill your rambler cup with warm water, pop in one tablet, and wait five minutes. Pour out the solution, then wash in a dishwasher or thoroughly hand wash prior to use. Yeti recommends using two tablets for any cup larger than 30 ounces.
How do you clean the rubber seal on a Yeti cup?
Yeti's durable rubber seal can be safely removed from any Yeti cup for washing. As we stated earlier in this post, these are totally dishwasher safe. But if you need to wash it by hand, be sure to use hot, soapy dishwater for the job. And be sure to air dry the seal completely before you reattach it to your Yeti.
Can insulated travel cups go in the dishwasher?
Whether or not you can safely place an insulated travel cup into a dishwasher will vary by brand. Stainless steel ones are usually fine, as are ones made of really thick plastic. Generally, it's the lids and seals you have to worry about in your dishwasher. If it doesn't say "dishwasher safe" on it, you might not want to risk cleaning them in this manner.
But handwashing them is quick and easy. Should you decide to chance it and place them in your dishwasher anyway, the most damage it will do is lessen the life of your travel cup. Your dishwasher will not be harmed by it.
Click here to see this travel mug on Amazon.
Why is my Yeti lid cloudy?
Yeti lids that are clear or translucent plastic can sometimes get a cloudy appearance after you've had them a while. This is most likely due to excessive exposure to direct sunlight. The sun's ultraviolet rays do a lot of damage to our skin, and they aren't necessarily doing plastic any favors, either.
While the Yeti brand is super durable, most plastics shouldn't be left outside in the sun. Yeti has been known to replace these lids that cloud so long as you meet the conditions of their limited warranty.
How do you get mold out of a Yeti cup?
You wash your Yeti after every use in your dishwasher, so you are confident that it's as sanitary to use as possible. But one day you're looking at the lid, and see some black smudges near the seals. Horrified, you gently peel the rubber seal away from the lid. Underneath it, and now all over your fingers, are spores of black mold. How did this happen?
Mold thrives in dark, damp areas. This makes the spot behind your Yeti seals and inside the other lid pieces the perfect breeding ground for it. Mold isn't just gross; it can make a person pretty sick if they're exposed to it over time. Some people even have allergic reactions to it. So how do you clean this mold from your Yeti?
Immediately separate the pieces of the lid and soak them in a small container filled with warm water and a Yeti cleaning tablet. After five minutes, dump the solution, and then thoroughly hand wash the lid and its pieces with hot water and dish soap. Using an old toothbrush to get into hard to reach crevices will help. Repeat if necessary. Allow to air dry, then reassemble.
The best way to avoid the growth of mold is to take preventative measures. If you choose to wash your Yeti with the dishwasher, be sure that you regularly hand wash all of the pieces that the jets from your dishwasher cannot reach. It takes a little more time to separate the lid from its pieces, but that time is worth it to prevent the buildup of mold.
Does Yeti have a lifetime warranty?
Currently, no products offered by Yeti carry a lifetime warranty. Yeti does stand by their products, however, and offers three- or five-year limited warranties on their multiple offerings. The rambler cup in particular carries a five-year limited warranty.
What does a limited warranty mean exactly? These types of warranties are conditional, and will only be honored if all of the stated conditions are met. Manufacturers do this so that consumers don't abuse the product (or use it in a way that it wasn't intended to be used) and then request a refund or a replacement. Yeti has set forth the following conditions for their warranty:
- The Yeti must have been purchased from an authorized Yeti dealer or retailer
- You must have proof of purchase with the date clearly visible
- The product must be returned to Yeti
- You must have only used the Yeti product in the way it was intended to be used and maintained it according to the manufacturer's instructions
Should all of the above conditions be met, Yeti claims to have a replacement at your door within twenty-one days of Yeti receiving your defective or worn-out product.
Can you wash your Ozark Trail Tumbler in the dishwasher?
The primary retailer of the Ozark Trail Tumbler, Wal-Mart, lists a great deal of product information about these less expensive alternatives to Yeti on their website. However, they don't make any mention as to how safe it is in a dishwasher. A general rule to follow is not to put anything in your dishwasher that doesn't expressly state somewhere that it's dishwasher safe.
While several sources suggested that any stainless steel or heavy plastic cup can be safely cleaned in a dishwasher, most sources we've researched recommended against it. Consumer testimonials online have claimed that multiple runs through the dishwasher led to the vacuum seals being damaged, as well as the lids.
To be on the safe side, we recommend that you wash your Ozark Trail tumbler by hand with dish soap and hot water, and let it air dry.
Click here to see these Ozark Trail tumblers on Amazon.
In Closing
Remember that Yeti claims that their cup is dishwasher safe, and they will back this product with a five-year limited warranty. And now you also know what other cups and tumblers are dishwasher safe and which ones you should wash by hand. As with any product you buy, if you follow the guidelines set by the manufacturer, you'll greatly extend the useful life.
For further reading, you might find the following posts informative:
Are Plastic Food Containers Dishwasher Safe?
How to Remove Food Smells And Stains From Plastic Containers?
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