How to wash moldy cups? The most popular cleaning methods on the Internet revealed
Recently, the topic of "cleaning moldy cups" has soared on social platforms, with many netizens sharing their mold removal experiences. This article will combine the popular discussions on the Internet in the past 10 days to sort out scientific and effective cleaning methods, and attach data comparison for reference.
1. Why do cups become moldy?

According to netizen feedback statistics, the main causes of mold are as follows:
| Reason type | Proportion | Typical cases |
|---|---|---|
| Long term wet storage | 43% | Forgot to empty the sports bottle |
| Incomplete cleaning | 32% | Tea stains remain on the bottom of the cup |
| Sealed environment breeds | 18% | Thermos cup with lid |
| Material is easy to absorb | 7% | silicone folding cup |
2. Actual comparison of 5 popular cleaning methods
We collected the top 5 methods with the most likes on Douyin, Xiaohongshu and other platforms for effect evaluation:
| method | support rate | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baking soda + white vinegar | 38% | Natural and harmless | Need to soak for 2 hours |
| bleach dilution | 25% | Quick sterilization | Strong irritation |
| Wash in boiling water | 18% | Physical disinfection | Not suitable for plastic cups |
| Citric acid soak | 12% | Remove odor | higher cost |
| Special cleaning tablets | 7% | Convenient and fast | Chemical residue risk |
3. Cleaning guide by material (with operating steps)
1. Glass/ceramic mug
① Use a toothbrush to remove mildew on the surface
② Mix baking soda and white vinegar 1:1 to form a paste
③ Apply to the moldy area and let it sit for 30 minutes
④ Rinse with nano sponge
2. Plastic/silicone cup
① Soak in 50℃ warm water for 10 minutes to soften mildew spots
② Mix edible alkali + salt for scrubbing
③Ultraviolet disinfection cabinet for sterilization (if no sunlight exposure is available)
3. Stainless steel thermos cup
① Use a special cup brush to clean the threads
② 1 vitamin C effervescent tablet + soak in warm water
③ Boil edible alkaline water to rinse the inner container
4. Some effective tips tested by netizens
•Rice cleaning method:Shake a handful of uncooked rice with warm water and use friction to remove mold
•Toothpaste pretreatment:Apply mint toothpaste to the moldy area and let it sit for 15 minutes
•Beer Soaking:Expired beer contains enzymes that can break down mold
5. 3 Keys to Preventing Mold
1.Dry thoroughly:Dry upside down/use dryer
2.Regular disinfection:Rinse with hot water above 60℃ every week
3.Proper storage:Open the lid and place it in a ventilated place
Things to note:
• It is recommended to replace cups that are deeply moldy
• After cleaning, rinse several times until there is no chemical residue
• Avoid using strong detergents on children’s tableware
Through the above methods, 90% of netizens reported that the problem of moldy cups can be effectively solved. If your cup is severely moldy, it is recommended to try a combination of methods to deal with it. Keeping cups clean and dry is the fundamental way to prevent mold growth!
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