How to Clean Your Tumbler [Complete Guide]

Picture it: you have a favorite tumbler or water bottle that you love to use, but gunk has now built up around the lid, the straw, the cup—it’s everywhere. Now what?

Drinking from a dirty tumbler is never a good idea. But it can be a challenge to determine how to clean your tumbler and all of its parts.

Fortunately, if you’re using a stainless steel tumbler, you’re less likely to get bacteria buildup. But tumblers still accumulate germs and need to be cleaned regularly. Here, we’ll break down all the steps you should take to clean your favorite tumbler so you can start using it again!

Table of Contents

• How to Clean a Stainless Steel Tumbler

• How to Clean the Tumbler Lid

• How to Clean the Tumbler Straw

• How to Deep Clean Your Tumbler

• Tumbler Cleaning Don’ts

• General Tumbler Care Instructions

How to Clean a Stainless Steel Tumbler

You can enjoy a good tumbler for years if you provide it with the proper care. BrüMate’s stainless steel tumblers are sturdy and expertly crafted, but they still need to be washed occasionally. There are several ways to clean your tumbler, so you can choose which method works best for you.

Let’s break down the various steps you should take to give your tumbler the best possible clean.

1. Take apart all pieces

Whether you hand-wash or dishwash, you should start by separating the lid from the tumbler. If there are other pieces, as with the BrüMate Era, you’ll need to take those apart too.

The important thing is that the pieces are separated so that each part of the tumbler is exposed to water and soap.

2. Open and close all parts when rinsing

By the same principle, you’ll also need to open and close all the parts when it’s time to rinse. Gunk likes to collect around openings where it’s harder to clean, so be sure to give these areas some extra attention.

If you choose to dishwash your tumbler, make sure water is able to reach the openings of the lid by leaving it open during the wash.

3. Use a bottle-cleaning brush

Why not make life easier for yourself? A bottle-cleaning brush will dramatically improve your deep cleaning skills and make sure that every nook and cranny of your tumbler gets properly scrubbed.

The BrüMate Bottle and Tumbler Cleaning Bundle has everything you need to keep your drinkware ready to use. The bundle features a BrüBrush with two cleaning heads and 20 all-natural VooBrü cleaning tablets.

4. Scrub with dish soap/detergent

Now that you have all the right tools to get started, it’s time to scrub your tumbler and lid. Use mild dish soap and wash the tumbler pieces in the sink. Be sure to rinse well!

5. Allow to dry completely

When the dishwasher cycle is finished or you’re done rinsing, let your stainless steel tumbler and its parts dry completely. A wet tumbler will be more likely to grow bacteria.

Looking for a dishwasher-safe tumbler? Check these out!

How to Clean the Tumbler Lid

Tumbler lids are an easy place for gunk to build up and for bacteria to grow. They may require a little more attention than the rest of your tumbler, and that’s a-okay!

For the best results, let the lid soak in warm, soapy water for around 10 minutes to loosen up anything that may be on it. After you’ve let it soak, give it a good scrub and a rinse. Let dry and enjoy!

How to Clean the Tumbler Straw

Narrow spaces are always the hardest to clean, so straws can be especially difficult to rid of grime. Wash with water and dish soap, making sure that the water is getting through the whole straw.

If this isn’t sufficient, use a straw brush! All BrüMate straws come with a straw cleaning brush and a pouch to keep them in.

How to Deep Clean Your Tumbler

Sometimes a standard wash isn’t enough. Maybe you left your tumbler in the hot car with liquid still in it, or it simply hasn’t been cleaned in a while. Even if you keep your tumbler in tip-top shape, it’s a good idea to give it a deep clean every other month.

Use Baking Soda and Vinegar

A tried-and-true method for deep cleaning is washing with baking soda and vinegar. Add a tablespoon of baking soda and a splash of vinegar to the bottom of the tumbler. When the mixture starts to bubble, set it aside for a moment until the bubbling settles down.

Once the foaming stops, close your tumbler with the lid and shake to coat the inside with the cleaning mixture. You can then pour the baking soda and vinegar out and give the tumbler and lid a good rinse.

Opt for Mild Detergent & Avoid Harsh Chemicals

After you’ve rinsed, take the pieces of your tumbler apart and give it a standard clean with dish soap and water as laid out in the section above.

Wash the bottle and lid with warm water and mild detergent regularly to remove any buildup. Do not use bleach or abrasive cleaners, as they can damage the bottle components and leave harmful residues.

Try Tumbler Cleaning Tablets

Another great way to deep clean your tumblers is with the VooBrü cleaning tablets. These tablets remove the toughest stains from your stainless steel tumblers with our patent-pending formula.

Use these tablets to help your tumbler look as good as new!

Tumbler Cleaning Don’ts

While we've given you several examples of how you should clean, there are a few common cleaning methods that are not suitable for cleaning tumblers.

• Do not use bleach: Bleach breaks down the chromium oxide inside your stainless steel tumbler. Chromium oxide is what makes the steel stainless, and without it, your tumbler will rust over time.

• Do not use a metal brush or steel wool: Abrasive metals will create scratches in your tumbler that will attract contaminants that are difficult to clean out. Instead, stick to the BrüMate scrub brush!

• Do not microwave your tumbler: BrüMate tumblers are made of stainless steel, which should never be put in the microwave. Metals will deflect microwaves back at the microwave itself, doing serious damage to your appliance.

General Tumbler Care Instructions

Want to know one of the best ways to keep your tumbler clean? It’s pretty simple: take care of it as much as possible in the first place!

To help, we asked our team for their best tumbler care instructions. Here are our key tips:

• Rinse after each use: Rinse the bottle with warm water immediately after use, especially if it contains anything other than water.

• Empty bottles promptly: Avoid letting drinks sit in the bottle for extended periods to prevent mold and bacterial growth.

• Store with lid off: When not in use, store the bottle with the lid off to allow air circulation and prevent odors.

• Limit sugary drinks: Sugary beverages can leave residue; don't leave them in the bottle for too long.

• Avoid extreme temperatures: Don't leave bottles outside overnight or in hot environments, as extreme heat can affect the bottle's material and promote odor.

• Check for damage: Regularly inspect the bottle and lid for cracks or damage, as these can harbor bacteria and odors.

Find Your Next Favorite Stainless Steel Tumbler With BrüMate

With this step-by-step guide, you should have everything you need to keep your tumbler clean to give yourself the best drinking experience possible. Try these cleaning tips with our wide selection of BrüMate tumblers.

Looking for a new tumbler? We’ve got you covered. Check out some of our favorites right here.