RTIC tumblers are a cheaper alternative to Yeti tumblers and they seem to work just as well. They can keep drinks cold or hot for hours at a time but when it comes to cleaning them can you put RTIC tumblers in the dishwasher?
Are RTIC tumbler cups dishwasher safe? If not why? And what might happen to them if you put them in the dishwasher?
RTIC tumbler cups are NOT dishwasher safe. RTIC state it on their website, amazon listings and on their printed material. The dishwasher can break the vacuum seal of the cup. The plastic lid IS dishwasher safe and can be placed on the top rack.
All RTIC Drinkware is dishwasher safe. We recommend placing lids and straws in the top rack only. For specific instructions, please check the inside of your Drinkware packaging.
How Do You Know RTIC Tumblers Aren’t Dishwasher Safe?
RTIC tumblers state directly on their website, on their Amazon listings and in their printed care instructions:
In fact basically every brand of double walled vacuum sealed cups like the RTIC say the same thing and advise you against putting them in the dishwasher.
There is one exception to this rule, Yeti tumblers are dishwasher safe. This is potentially because the product is more durable and built stronger, but more likely its just that Yeti has done the testing and considered it worth the risk to let people put their cups in the dishwasher while still covering them under warranty.
Apparently back in 2015/2016 RTIC had advertised their tumblers as being dishwasher safe. There is this Reddit post where a user claims that they bought and RTIC and when they did it said it was dishwasher safe. They state:
I ordered a couple of the half-price RTIC ones. They were advertised as dishwasher safe when I ordered them, but are no longer. I asked their customer service about it and they said, “We have noticed that the cups are losing their vacuum seal so we advise to just hand wash.”
Is Dishwasher Damage Covered Under RTIC’s Warranty?
RTIC Tumblers actually only come with a pitiful 90-day warranty. You can see this on their warranty page.
Compare this to Yetis 5-year warranty or Ozark Trails lifetime warranty and its not very long at all.
But does the warranty cover loss of vacuum seal when the tumbler cup is placed in the dishwasher?
RTIC clearly state:
failure to follow recommended care and use instructions will not be covered by the warranty
If you place your RTIC tumbler in the dishwasher then you are going against the care instructions which clearly state “Do NOT place in the dishwasher”. This means you are voiding your warranty if you do so.
However, itll be difficult for the company to know whether or not you have put it in the dishwasher if you dont actually tell them.
But even still, the warranty is so short by the time you place it in the dishwasher your warranty is likely to have expired and you have no way or getting a replacement from the company.
Even if it does happen during the warranty period RTIC make you pay for the return shipping costs, which is likely going to be more than the cup is worth.
Youd be better off just buying a new cup and throwing the old one out or recycling it.
Is the Stanley Tumbler Dishwasher Safe?
FAQ
Can you put RTIC cups in the dishwasher?
Is RTIC stainless steel dishwasher safe?
How do you clean an RTIC?
What is the difference between Yeti and RTIC cups?
Are RTIC tumblers dishwasher safe?
According to the manufacturer, RTIC tumblers are NOT dishwasher safe. Since the dishwasher can destroy the vacuum seal of the cup, RTIC tumblers are hand wash only. The lids, however, are dishwasher safe, but should be placed on the top rack only. In addition to frequent hand washing, your RTIC tumblers should also be occasionally deep cleaned.
Can I put my RTIC in the dishwasher?
If you have an older model electric range, you may not be able to put your Rtic in the dishwasher. This is because the dishwasher uses a higher voltage 120 volts than what the Rtic needs. In order to prevent damage to your appliance, we recommend washing your Rtic by hand.
What happens if you put a Cup in a dishwasher?
In addition, the dishwasher’s heat can cause cracks in the walls, allowing hot water in between them, where it gets trapped and sloshes around in an annoying fashion, broadcasting the cup’s untimely ruin with every step you take. Not to mention, depending on its composition, the plastic may simply flatten or warp.
Are insulated cups dishwasher-safe?
But this shouldn’t be anything close to a regular occurrence if you hope to keep your insulated vessel in good use, even if you don’t see the phrase “hand wash only” marked on the cup. The only insulated cups that should be treated as dishwasher-safe are the ones that are labeled as such.