How to Clean Your Tumbler with BKF

How to Clean Your Tumbler with BKF
How to clean your tumbler is about more than making your tumbler look shiny and new. It's more than removing tannins and mineral build-up to make your coffee taste better. It's about keeping you from getting sick. Mold can grow in the lid of tumblers. Ingesting mold isn't healthy. It can make you sick. Very sick. It can also be a breeding ground for all sorts of bacteria. "In October 2018, Dr. Beau Pierce, a sports chiropractor based in Santa Maria, California, posted a now-viral video titled "A Yeti Style Cup Almost Killed My Patient." In the video, he explains how one of his patients mentioned how he was struggling to beat an ongoing sickness. After asking a series of questions, Dr. Beau noticed his patient's tumbler sitting on the counter and, upon taking a closer look, discovered mold hidden underneath the lid." --  Good Housekeeping "Mycotoxins are poisonous substances produced by fungi or mold. They can be toxic for humans when they are eaten, absorbed into the skin, or inhaled. A small amount of mycotoxin can be damaging to human or animal health and even cause death." -- WebMD You might think cleaning your tumbler and lid in the dishwasher would eliminate the mold, but you'd be wrong. Mold is often unaffected by the soap and heat of a dishwasher. Most manufacturers of tumblers recommend daily hand washing.

Bleach Kills Mold and Bacteria. Why Not Use Bleach?

Household bleach can be dangerous and destructive when used on beverage containers. Bleach residue is harmful to humans and can cause damage to tumblers of all types. "Household bleach contains sodium hypochlorite, which is a powerful oxidizing agent that will strip chromium oxide from stainless steel. Once chromium oxide has been stripped from stainless steel, hypochlorite can transfer monoatomic oxygen to the metal, forming iron oxide - otherwise known as rust." -- Arctic Tumblers Care Many cleaners contain bleach, so be careful and read labels carefully before using any cleaning product on food containers. All Bar Keepers Friends products are 100% bleach free.

How to Deep Clean Your Tumbler with BKF 

Did you know BKF Coffee Maker Cleaner can be used to clean your tumbler? It only takes a few minutes to deep clean your coffee tumbler with BKF Coffee Maker Cleaner.
  1. Place the tumbler in the sink
  2. Add 1 oz. of BKF Coffee Maker Cleaner for every 8 oz. of warm water as needed to fill the tumbler
  3. Allow the solution to soak for a few minutes. If your tumbler's been under the seat of your car for a week, you can soak it up to 30 minutes
  4. Empty the mixture. It's safe to pour it down the drain. All BKF products are biodegradable.
  5. Wipe the tumbler clean with a damp sponge, non-scratch scrub pad, or soft-bristled brush
  6. Rinse thoroughly and wipe dry with a soft cloth or paper towel
Another advantage of using the BKF Coffee Maker cleaner on your tumbler is that it's designed to remove oils, tannins, and build-up on a coffee maker, all of which spoil the taste of your coffee. It does the same for your tumbler, keeping your coffee tasting fresh.

Cleaning Your Tumbler Lid 

The key to cleaning your tumbler lid is to take the lid apart. We recommend going to the tumbler manufacturer's website for instructions on taking the lid apart. Once the lid is apart, place the lid parts in a small container, add 1 ounce of BKF coffee maker cleaner to 8 ounces of warm water and then let it sit for a few minutes. You may find a small soft brush, such as a toothbrush, helpful to clean all the parts of the lid. Wipe the parts clean, rinse, and dry. Repeat as needed until all signs of oils, mold, tannins, and bacteria are removed.

Quick Daily Cleaning of Your Tumbler

My go-to for quick daily cleaning of almost anything, including tumblers, is BKF MORE Spray + Foam. When you set it to foam, it will stay on the horizontal surfaces of your tumbler. All you do is foam it on, let it sit a minute, and wipe it off. Be sure to thoroughly rinse it and wipe it dry with a soft cloth or paper towel before using it. For stainless steel tumblers, you can also use BKF Stainless Steel Cleaner. Using a tumbler is smart. It's a green alternative to disposable plastic cups. It can keep your coffee warm or cold beverages cool for hours. It fits perfectly in your vehicle cup holder, the lid never comes off pouring hot coffee in your lap while staining your white top, and they just look great! Be sure to keep your tumbler clean and safe from mold, and it will last for years. Bonus: Here's a video on cleaning a homemade matte finished mug with the original Bar Keepers Friend Powder Cleanser. Video -- Matte tumbler tutorial using Bar Keepers Friend. About the Author  Randy Clark is a speaker, coach, and author. He publishes a weekly blog at Randy Clark Leadership.com. Randy is passionate about social media, leadership development, and flower gardening. He’s a beer geek, and on weekends (after COVID-19), he can be found fronting the Rock & Roll band Under the Radar. He’s the proud father of two educators; he has four amazing grandchildren and a wife who dedicates her time to helping others. Randy is the author of the Amazon bestseller The New Manager’s Workbook: A crash course in effective management.