Insulated mugs offer excellent thermal properties and are essential items for both home and travel. We use them to hold water, milk, coffee, and more, but over time, the mug inevitably develops an unpleasant odor, especially around the lid. Sometimes, when you open the mug, the smell from the lid is so bad that you don't even want to drink the water. This is because the silicone seal has a certain adsorption property, and the lid, being directly above, naturally absorbs more of the odor from the liquid inside. So, what are some simple methods to help us remove these unpleasant smells? Below, the editor introduces several convenient and practical solutions.
Wash the cup, fill it with half a cup of boiling water, then add a spoon of salt. Cover the cup and shake until the salt dissolves. Let it sit for half an hour, then invert the cup with the lid facing down for another half hour. Wash it clean.
2. Seek out a tea with a stronger flavor, fill it up, and let it sit for an hour.
3. Place lemon or orange slices in a clean cup, cover and gently shake to let the scent fully diffuse. Let it sit for two to three hours; the cup will be refreshed upon uncovering. A faint fruit fragrance will greet you as the lid is lifted.
4. Remove the seal from the cup lid (it's fine if it doesn't come off), and use toothpaste to scrub every nook and cranny. Rinse clean.
Here, our editor recommends placing clean cup lids, seals, and cups under the sun to dry, which also serves as a sterilization process. If numerous methods fail to eliminate the odor, it may be due to the inherent quality issue of the silicone seal on the cup lid.
