Why You Shouldn’t Put Travel Mugs In The Dishwasher – Tasting Table

Insulated travel mugs are absurdly versatile for something that is essentially designed to keep liquid separate from its environment as much as possible. They'll keep your drink hot. They'll keep your drink cold. They can be fashion statements. They can help the planet. But they can't go in your dishwasher.

The reason for this, according to Monsieur Coffee, is that the high water pressure and extreme heat cycles can damage their precious vacuum seal and if the seal is damaged, your favorite travel mug will lose its insulating properties.

Insulated mugs are built with a small chamber inside of a larger chamber that is separated by a small empty gap. The outer and inner chambers are sealed together after all of the air has been vacuumed out of this gap. Having this vacuum next to your coffee or tea keeps it at the same temperature because there are no particles there to conduct the heat away from your drink. This is how your coffee will stay the same temperature in a properly sealed mug even when walking in a blizzard.

However, putting your mug in a dishwasher can damage that seal, allow air into that vacuum, and make it less effective. It's best to simply scrub the interior of your favorite mug down with some warm water and a light dish detergent instead before letting it dry completely.

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Why You Shouldn't Put Travel Mugs In The Dishwasher - Tasting Table