# Creepy slimy coffee cup
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-slimy-coffee-cup/843755
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [November 21, 2019, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-slimy-coffee-cup/843755 "2019-11-21T04:03:01Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)
#### Post date: [November 21, 2019, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-slimy-coffee-cup/843755/1 "2019-11-21T04:03:01Z")
My guy has a couple of coffee mugs he takes to work each morning that look somewhat like this - [https://www.ebay.com/itm/Travel-Coffee-Mug-Cup-Stainless-Steel-Thermal-Insulated-Large-To-Go-Portable-/401751458498](https://www.ebay.com/itm/Travel-Coffee-Mug-Cup-Stainless-Steel-Thermal-Insulated-Large-To-Go-Portable-/401751458498)
Knowing me I didn’t get the linkie right.
Anyway, the other day I dropped one. And the lid fell apart never to be used again. But the really creepy thing is that between the 2 pieces that slide together to close or open the top to allow drinking, was slime and icky stuff.
So I have 3 more of them. Discard, or is there anyway to get them clean?? I have been soaking them in bleach water.
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### Author:  [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)
#### Post date: [November 21, 2019, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-slimy-coffee-cup/843755/2 "2019-11-21T07:33:49Z")
I saw your link fine. Is there a way to take apart w/o breaking? I’ve thrown away those kinda mugs cause the smell wouldn’t come out. Soaking a oughta do something. Good luck.
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### Author:  [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)
#### Post date: [November 21, 2019, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-slimy-coffee-cup/843755/3 "2019-11-21T08:18:18Z")
he let mildew get in there … but i learned years ago never clean a coffee cup less ya had permission… that way you didnt destroy the “character” my grandpas black cpffee cup started out as white im told but you didnt clean it unless he asked ya to and that wasnt very often …
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### Author:  [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)
#### Post date: [November 21, 2019, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-slimy-coffee-cup/843755/4 "2019-11-21T14:01:30Z")
I am sure there is a way to clean it, but I just wanted to say your thread title reminded me of the song “Great green gobs of greasy, grimy gopher guts…”😛
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### Author:  [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)
#### Post date: [November 21, 2019, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-slimy-coffee-cup/843755/5 "2019-11-21T15:03:53Z")
I have a cup with a slidey thing, and that comes off for cleaning. If you look at the underside, you can see how you can push the two sides together to pop it out.
I also find a lot of grunge gets up in the underside rim.
StG
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### Author:  [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)
#### Post date: [November 21, 2019, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-slimy-coffee-cup/843755/6 "2019-11-21T15:08:33Z")
I have a similar insulated cup with a lid and had the same issue. I don’t drink coffee, all that was ever in it was ice water, but it had that same slime in the same place. I assume it’s just a matter of not taking it all apart, washing it well and letting it dry, at least a few times a week.
IIRC, a few years back a ton of these cups were either recalled or they got very popular very quickly and there was some news stories about mold showing up under the lids.