Using Tumblers and Reusables the Right Way

Reusables only help if you keep using them

Tumblers, tote bags and reusable straws are meant to replace disposables, but making one takes more material and energy than making a single disposable item. To actually benefit the environment, they have to be used many times over a long period. If giveaway tumblers and bags keep piling up in a drawer, they have only added the burden of making new things. How many uses it takes to break even depends on the material, what it is compared with and how it is washed, so there is no single number. What is clear is that it is better to use what you have until it wears out and to put off buying more until you truly need it.

How to wash a tumbler every day

A tumbler's lid gets dirtier than its body. Drinks linger in the sipping hole, the opening mechanism and around the rubber gasket, which leads to odors and stains. After each day of use, wash it in this order.

• Rinse with water as soon as possible after finishing, especially after milk or sweet drinks
• Remove every detachable part of the lid along with the rubber gasket
• Scrub the inside, the rim and the grooves of the lid with dish soap and a soft brush
• Rub both sides of the gasket by hand and brush the groove it sits in
• Rinse thoroughly with clean water so no soap is left behind

Drying matters as much as washing

Even a clean tumbler gets musty inside if you close the lid while it is still wet, and odor or mold can follow. After washing, stand the body upside down to drain, and lay the lid and gasket out separately to dry completely somewhere with good airflow. Reassemble only once everything is fully dry, and leaving the lid slightly open in storage helps keep moisture from building up. Narrow items like reusable straws trap water easily, so dry them standing up. For anything you carry in a bag, the most effective habit is to take it out, wash it and dry it as soon as you get home.

When odors and stains appear

Regular coffee or tea leaves brown stains inside, and a tumbler that held milk tends to keep a smell. A common fix is to soak it for a while in warm water with baking soda, scrub with a soft brush and rinse well. For white mineral buildup, some people use water with citric acid. Chlorine bleach can damage stainless steel or leave a smell in the gasket, so check the manual before using it. Do not mix different cleaners; rinse thoroughly after one before using another. Steel wool and harsh abrasives scratch the surface, which actually makes grime cling more easily.

What not to put in it, and the dishwasher

What a tumbler can safely hold varies by product, so read the manual when you first use it. In general, carbonated drinks need care because sealing them builds pressure that can pop the lid or cause leaks. Hot drinks that have been sealed can also spurt out when opened, so keep your face away and open slowly. Leaving acidic drinks or dairy in it for long periods also causes odors and spoilage. Only use a dishwasher if the product is marked as dishwasher-safe. Vacuum insulation and exterior coatings can be damaged by the high heat of a wash cycle.

Tote bags and cloth pouches

Tote bags get carried around but easily forgotten when it comes to washing. Liquid from raw meat or fish packaging, vegetables with soil on them and leaky containers can all contaminate the inside. When carrying raw foods, put them in a separate bag first or set aside one bag just for raw items to reduce cross-contamination with other food. Wash cloth bags regularly according to their care label, and wipe water-resistant ones inside and out with a damp cloth before letting them dry. After use, do not fold them straight away; shake them out and let them dry before putting them away.

Straws, food containers and beeswax wraps

You cannot easily see inside a reusable straw, so scrub it with a straw brush every time. When choosing one, keep in mind that a straw too thin for a brush or with an interior you cannot see is hard to keep clean. Plastic food containers absorb grease and color easily, and grime collects in scratches as they build up. Check the markings on both the container and the lid to see whether each is microwave-safe. Beeswax wraps are sensitive to heat, and hot water can melt the coating, so wash them gently in cold water with mild soap. For high-risk foods such as raw meat, a container that is easy to wash is a safer choice than a beeswax wrap.

When to replace and how to discard

Reusables do not last forever. Cracks or many deep scratches, gaskets that have stretched or hardened and now leak, and smells that remain after washing and drying are all signs it is time to replace. If you can buy parts such as gaskets separately, replacing just the part and keeping the body is the least wasteful option. A tumbler that no longer keeps drinks hot can still serve for cold water or as an indoor cup. When you finally throw one out, it is often a mix of metal, plastic and silicone, so check your local government's recycling guidance. If you eat food you suspect was contaminated and have persistent stomach pain or diarrhea, seek medical care.