{"id":3701,"date":"2026-11-10T02:58:46","date_gmt":"2026-11-09T18:58:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ps-epsmachine.com\/blog\/?p=3701"},"modified":"2026-11-10T02:58:46","modified_gmt":"2026-11-09T18:58:46","slug":"how-to-clean-drinkware-with-a-crack-410c-6d529e","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.ps-epsmachine.com\/blog\/2026\/11\/10\/how-to-clean-drinkware-with-a-crack-410c-6d529e\/","title":{"rendered":"How to clean drinkware with a crack?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hey folks, let\u2019s cut to the chase\u2014if you\u2019re reading this, you\u2019ve probably stared at your favorite water bottle, coffee tumbler, or even that fancy glass mug and thought, \u201cWait, is that tiny crack actually safe to clean? Or should I just toss it?\u201d Drinkware<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

As a drinkware supplier, I get this question all<\/em> the time. Not just from customers, but from caf\u00e9 owners, office managers, and even other small brands in the space. Most people think \u201ccrack = trash\u201d immediately, but that\u2019s not always the case\u2014if the crack\u2019s small, clean, and in the right spot, you can salvage it without putting anyone\u2019s health at risk. Today I\u2019m breaking down what to actually do, what to skip, and how to make sure that chipped, cracked piece doesn\u2019t turn into a germ farm or a safety hazard.<\/p>\n

First, let\u2019s get one thing straight: not all cracks are created equal. I\u2019ve seen everything from a hairline stress crack along the base of a stainless steel tumbler to a jagged split near the rim of a glass travel mug. The first rule here is stop using it for drinking<\/em> if the crack is in a spot that touches your mouth. Sharp edges = cut risk, duh. But if the crack is somewhere hidden\u2014like the bottom of a tumbler you only set on a desk, not hold up to sip from\u2014we can work with that.<\/p>\n

Wait, why do cracks even make drinkware gross, anyway? Let\u2019s get science real quick, no boring textbook stuff. A crack isn\u2019t just a line\u2014especially if it\u2019s tiny. It\u2019s a microscopic crevice that regular hand washing (with a sponge and dish soap) can never reach. Germs like E. coli, mold, or even bacteria that cause bad breath can burrow into there, multiply, and never come out. Even dishwashers? The high pressure and heat might clean the top, but a crack will hold onto gunk like a stain on a tee shirt. That\u2019s the big no-no\u2014if you don\u2019t get that gunk out, you\u2019re drinking it, and nobody wants that.<\/p>\n

So step one is assess the crack. Grab a bright flashlight (your phone\u2019s works) and look at it. Is it:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Less than a millimeter wide? (Hairline, not a gap you can fit a pin into)<\/li>\n
  2. On the bottom, side, or outer surface (not touching lips when drinking)<\/li>\n
  3. In stainless steel, ceramic, or tempered glass? (Regular glass cracks too easy to save)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    If yes to all, let\u2019s move forward. If it\u2019s a big crack, or a crack on the rim, or even a plastic drinkware crack? Toss it. No exceptions. Plastics warp and crack super easily, and their porous nature means a crack will soak up bacteria way faster than metal or glass.<\/p>\n

    Now, for the cleaning process\u2014this is the part where a lot of people mess up. They just pour a little soap and scrub, but that\u2019s not enough. We need a deep clean that gets into<\/em> the crack, not just on the surface.<\/p>\n

    First, what you\u2019ll need (I stock this stuff at the warehouse, so I know it\u2019s easy to grab):<\/p>\n