Let’s revisit that dreaded moldy Sippy Cup story in the news…
Sippy Cups and cups with straws are convenient and great for preventing spills, but are difficult to get clean.
Recently, Mayborn USA recalled more than 3 million of their popular Sippy Cups due to over 3,000 reports of mold in the removable valves of the cups. Some 68 of these reports were from parents of children experiencing various mold exposure symptoms, including, but not limited to vomiting and diarrhea.
I remember vividly when my children, who are now 8 and 6, were small and we were using these types of no-spill cups. I had my own concerns about their cleanliness and therefore safety; due to the fact that liquid and moisture does tend to get trapped in the straws and valves that only have a one-way airflow. I would obsess over whether or not I was getting them clean enough, or drying them out completely between uses.
Since I am crazy anti-mold Mama, I decided to figure out how to totally dismantle the cups, so that they could be properly cleaned and sanitized. But, now that I this new article proving the dangers of mold left to fester in these sorts of cups have come to light, I realize that creating an anti-mold rinse for dishwashers is needed. My hope is that using this rinse in a high-heat environment, like the dishwasher will kill any existing mold and prevent future mold growth from occurring.
So…..without further ado, here it is! When you see how easy this is, your head just might explode.
Tools:
- Dishwasher with a “high-heat” or “sanitize” setting.
- Optional Tool: Ec3 Ready-to-Use Mold Spray
- Glass shot glass or porcelain ramekin (Note: Must be glass or porcelain, because the weight of the cup or ramekin in important. Plastic will NOT work here.)
- EC3 Mold Solution Concentrate, OR CitriDrops Dietary Supplement and white distilled vinegar, OR white distilled vinegar and lemon juice. (Note: I would go with the EC3 or the Citridrops and vinegar BEFORE the vinegar and baking soda, because the science doesn’t exist to back up its mold-killing capabilities like the other products—vinegar alone only kills 80% of mold.)
Making DIY Anti-Mold Dishwasher Rinse:
- The first step, especially when cleaning water bottles, anything with a straw or sippy cups is to take the bottles or cups apart.
All cups are dismantled and ready to wash.
- EC3 Ready-to-Use Spray or EC3 Mold Solution is great and ridiculously easy to use. Please do not be scared to use it. It is safe and all natural with various citrus seed extracts as the active ingredient, which has proven, potent, anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties. If you are using the EC3 spray, mist the inside of the cups or dishes you are washing and the straws and tops of the cups. I like to lay all of the pieces out on a dish towel and to do this. Allow them to air dry.
As you can see on the bottle, the spray is safe to have around your children and pets.
I like to mist all of my plastic cups and straws with the EC3 spray prior to putting them in the dishwasher to make sure that any moisture present in the little nooks and crannies will not produce mold.
- Place all of the straws or small tops and pieces safely inside the container in the bottom of the dishwasher designed to hold utensils. Do not crowd the pieces into one section, but rather separate them into multiple sections, so that the rinse can wash over each piece during the wash cycle. This is especially important when the dishwasher is in the heated, drying stage. Crowded pieces will not come dry, and trapped moisture can lead to mold.
I like to place one piece per section, if the size of my dish load will allow.
- Take your shot glass or ramekin and set it on the counter. If using the EC3 Mold Solution, fill the ramekin or glass just shy of the top with it. If using the vinegar and CitriDrops, fill the cup with vinegar and add 20 drops of CitriDrops . If using the vinegar and lemon juice, fill the glass or ramekin almost to the top with vinegar and add 1 tsp. lemon juice.
- When your dishwasher is loaded and ready to go, place your normal dishwashing detergent in the detergent dispenser and close it as usual.
- Carefully place your anti-mold solution cup upright in the bottom tray of the dishwasher with your other dishes. Be careful not to spill it. The weight of the glass or ramekin comes into play here, because it will keep the cup upright until the solution overflows with the water washing your dishes and rinses over everything. A plastic cup will just tip over and spill, before the rinse cycle.
The EC3 Mold Solution Concentrate is in the bottom of the dishwasher ready to do its thing.
- Set your dishwasher to the “sanitize” or normal wash with “high-heat setting.” Push start, and let it run. As the dishwasher runs, the mold solution will rinse out of the cup and over your dishes. Once it rinses over them, it will also be heated onto your dishes as they dry, further killing any mold or bacteria and helping to take care of any spots. It truly works wonders and makes your dishes sparkle.
I set my dishwasher to the Sani-Rinse, Highest Heat Dry setting.
- Once the cycle is complete, remove your dishes. If there are any pieces of sippy cups or tops to water bottles, or straws that haven’t dried out completely, either dry them with a dishtowel or leave them out to dry. DO NOT reassemble your cups or water bottles, if the pieces are still wet. This will cause them to mold.
Now you have beautiful, mold and bacteria-free dishes! Yay!
Do you worry about mold and bacteria lingering on your “clean” dishes? Will you try this in your dishwasher?
