This time of year I find myself (wanting) to tote around an isulated “coffee” cup with coffee, tea or hot cider. Problem? How to keep the push button lid clean and not “smelly”!!!
I’ve washed by hand, streamed hot water through, put in the dishwasher, shook endlessly to get the liquid out, etc. - still gets a funny smell to it.
Who’s got a solution for me??? 
I put it in the kitchen sink and spray the top of it with bleach based cleaner and let it sit over night. the next morning the gunk is gone, I work the closer back and forth and I rinse it off and I’m good to go.
The newer Contigos have a lid that’s been redesigned to make it easier to clean. Some lids just keep liquid trapped and in that case there’s not much you can about it. But you might try soaking it in a bleach solution for a bit.
Yeah, it’s the inside that seems uneffective! Thought about taking a hair dryer to it!
I’d be cautious about soaking plastic in bleach or washing it in the dishwasher. We had to throw away some plastic coffee go-cups because we couldn’t get the detergent smell out. It was really unappetizing to smell it while drinking the coffee.
People often use too high of a bleach concentration for sanitizing utensils or other plastic surfaces. You need a tablespoon or two of bleach per gallon of water, where it is common to see people use as much as a cup.
Try baking soda
I’d throw it out and get a new one. Seriously, wouldn’t want to be drinking the smelly bacteria liquid trapped in there, OR bleach trapped in there.
The cleaner I use has .3% bleach. No smell. Works fine. Kills the germs and helps the gunk decompose. You have to rinse it off of course.
Here’s the Contigo with the improved lid I mentioned. We have one but I don’t use it much so I can’t comment on how it holds up long term. Although I’m a huge coffee snob I’m not really big on bringing my own with me in the car.
This is not the case of a smelly old cup. I feel like all the reusable tops I have used do this after just a few uses. It’s not a guck problem that you can see - just a bit of smell and taste when using it - like damp yuck. Even if I have flushed with hot water, dried out for days, etc.
This has a 2-piece lid. You unscrew the top and then sip through a hole in the lid. No place for liquid to get stuck. I use it for coffee, not tea. Only thing is, it only holds 12 oz which may not be enough for some.
Thanks for the suggestions. I have it soaking right now in some soapy water for overnight and then I’ll rinse well. Maybe I should just start using disposable!
I hate to spend too much on a cup because it’s one of those things that gets forgotten someplace, one of the kids “borrow” it - that kind of stuff. And, I’ll admit, I do like whatever I use to look cute and not like it came out of a construction workers lunchbox!!!
I use travel mugs that only have a small slit to drink from, and another tiny hole on the other side. I could never figure out how to deal with the issue you have. One of mine is stainless, with a very hard plastic lid (I just realized I’ve had it since about 1998, and used it most every day I was home until just last year). I have a newer one I use when I need the microwave. It’s a Lillie Pulitzer ceramic with a flimsy soft plastic lid (It counts as cuter).
Soaking it in a vinegar and water solution is another possibility, you don’t want it too strong (maybe a couple of tablespoons in a pint of water).
White vinegar works as well as bleach for removing gunk and disinfecting. Plus, it’s an actual food, unlike bleach, so it won’t harm you if you get it in your mouth. I also use a bottle brush to work in the crevices.
Ok, the vinegar idea is worth trying as well.
How do those ceramic cups with the rubberish lids work??? Do they keep the liquid hot?
I’d say the ceramic with flimsy lid doesn’t do as good a job as the insulated travel mugs, for example, but I generally drink my lattes within maybe 30 minutes, so I don’t need the insulation.
Quick googling if OxiClean can be used for this purpose suggests it can. It gets rid of coffee stains that accumulate in the mug and cause the rancid taste. I bet soaking the lid in it should help. Much less nasty than bleach and does not stink.
Great tip BB - thank you!!! I take care to choose my travel mugs for “style” so I’d like them to not make me turn my nose up!!!