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The market for insulated travel mugs is booming as consumers are looking for environmentally friendly ways to get their coffee in the morning. One brand stands out among the pack for its variety of insulated tumblers in every shape and size: Yeti.
The Yeti brand positions itself as a rugged alternative to mass-market products that arent truly built to handle the rough and tumble nature of the great outdoors. Yeti has a claim on its site asserting that, “Yeti represents the yardstick by which all other outdoor products are measured.”
And yet. Thousands of people query Google every month wondering the same thing: are Yetis dishwasher safe? So much so that Yeti actually has a page to address that issue.
It would stand to reason that cups meant to survive the wilds of this planet would also be able to survive a dishwasher, right?
Well, here at Reviewed, we know dishwashers, and we test their cleaning prowess daily in our labs. Our thinking is, while the environmental hazards of camping, hiking, or fishing can be harsh, they also dont put you into contact with the intense environment created by a heavy cycle specifically designed to scour surfaces. Sure, your mug may get some rock scrapes or claw marks, but its not getting dissolved by chemicals and heat. So are Yetis truly dishwasher safe? We’re going to find out for you.
When it comes to vacuum-insulated cups, the majority currently available are not dishwasher safe. You could shell out a lot of money for an expensive insulated cup only to have it come out of the dishwasher warped or leaking. No one has time to hand-wash a bunch of cups every day.
Here’s how we tested
To test if these Yeti cups are dishwasher safe, we ran them through 10 normal cycles and checked them for damage or wear and tear.
We ran each cup and lid through 10 back-to-back normal cycles on a KitchenAid KDPM804KBS dishwasher with ProDry enabled.
Three of the four Yeti test cups came out looking like the photo below: basically no difference in condition before and after experiencing the 10 dishwasher cycles.
The top row shows the exterior and interior before any washes. The bottom row is after 10 washes. If youre squinting to spot the differences, there really arent any. No damage here.
However, the Yeti wine tumbler did show wear and tear after 10 cycles, with some minor damage to its stainless steel interior.
We examined the dishwasher after our test runs, specifically the tines the wine tumbler was placed upon, but we didnt find anything out of the ordinary. Below you can see, from left to right, the interior before washing, after five washes, and after 10 washes. You can see that the damage does seem to get worse over time.
From left to right, these s show the interior of the wine tumbler before any washing, after five washes, and after 10 washes. You can see that blackened ring around the inside get worse over time.
The take-away: Are Yetis dishwasher safe?
Overall, yes. Our tests show that the Yeti family of products is, for the most part, dishwasher safe. We only saw problems with the wine tumbler, which were minor, but still pretty noticeable. So, maybe give that one a pass.
Yeti has issued recalls in the past—their 20 oz travel mug with Stronghold lid would come apart under certain conditions—and its possible theyll issue a recall on these wine tumblers, too, if the problem is more widespread.
We did reach out to contact Yeti with our findings, but we have not yet received a response.
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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.
Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.
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Why are Yeti cups not dishwasher safe?
FAQ
Can insulated tumblers go in the dishwasher?
Why are stainless steel tumblers not dishwasher safe?
Can I put my metal tumbler in the dishwasher?
What happens if you put a non dishwasher safe tumbler in the dishwasher?
Can you put insulated tumblers in a dishwasher?
Because of the way your insulated tumblers are engineered to keep cold liquids cold and hot liquids hot, the airspace between the layers of these cups that creates that insulation can be problematic in the dishwasher ( The Spruce ). Place it on the bottom rack, and you may find the seal breaking, allowing water to fill in that space.
Can a dishwasher affect a tumbler?
The dishwasher can definitely compromise the job your tumbler is supposed to perform. Because of the way your insulated tumblers are engineered to keep cold liquids cold and hot liquids hot, the airspace between the layers of these cups that creates that insulation can be problematic in the dishwasher ( The Spruce ).
Which insulated cups go in the dishwasher?
Here are the nine best-insulated cups that can go in your dishwasher: 1. Bubba Straw Envy Tumbler (Best Value for Money): Do you have a tight budget? Here’s one you should consider. The Bubba Straw Envy Tumbler is one of the best value-for-money tumblers safe on dishwashers. The cup features a spill-proof lid, including a large plastic straw.
Can you put plastic tumblers in the dishwasher?
And think again if you plan on putting your favorite plastic or metal tumblers in the dishwasher. In fact, you may want to think twice. The dishwasher can definitely compromise the job your tumbler is supposed to perform.