By Stanley

When you have a reputation for being the “Toughest of the Tough,” people put you through the paces. It kinda puts a target on your back. But at Stanley, we don’t mind getting a little brash that way. We make cool stuff, what can we say?

At Stanley, every product we make is designed with this in mind. We make bottles, mugs, lunchboxes, cook sets, flasks, growlers, coolers, and more - all based on the classic, time-tested yet state-of-the-art designs that were blowing your granddad’s mind before you were a glint in his eye.

More than just sturdy, our products are made for real life. Whether it’s getting tossed around on the work site, popped open and passed around at the campsite, or just sipped from leisurely on your commute to work, these are the constant companions: The best friends that never let you down, are always there with hot coffee or a cold brew when you need it, and never forget to text when they’re having a party. 

That said, as cool as our products are, they don’t clean themselves. Things can still get a little funky if you don’t take care of your little buddy. I mean, who wants to taste yesterday’s skunky old creamer as you’re downing hot coffee from your Classic Vacuum Insulated Bottle in the morning? Or get a whiff of that chicken soup your mom made when you were home for the holidays every time you crack open your Master Vacuum Food Jar. That ish is nasty.

Wanna spare yourself the public ridicule and scorn that comes from being the owner of a Certified Nasty Stanley product? Here’s what you need to know about keeping your Stanley clean as a whistle and ready for action:

Before Your First Use
Stanley’s are technically good to go straight off the shelf, but it still pays to wash all the parts of your new Stanley product thoroughly before you fill ’er up for the first time. Think of it this way: Everyone loves that “new car” smell, but it’s not always the most appetizing taste, y’know?

Clean Out Between Each Use And Don’t Keep Food Past Its Prime
This should be a no brainer, but you’d be surprised. Since quite a few of our products are known for their industry-leading superior thermal retention technology (translation from science-speak: they keep whatever’s in it real cold or real hot for a real long time), people sometimes think that you can just throw your favorite food or drink in one of our products and leave it there indefinitely. Newsflash: Stuff still goes bad, even if it’s tightly sealed. Check the specs on your specific Stanley product and avoid keeping food or drink past its recommended lifespan. Once you’ve had enough, dump the remainder and clean your Stanley out thoroughly before your next use.

Clean With Non-Abrasive Cleaners And Sponges
A good Stanley product should feel like a member of the family, and you wouldn’t scrub your poor grandpa down with steel wool would you? Jeeze, we hope not (for a variety of reasons). A dishrag, soft sponge or small brush for hard to reach places should do the trick, paired with a gentle dish soap. Keep it natural and crunchy, man.

How To Clean The “Hard To Reach” Stanley Products (Master Flask, Classic Flask, And Thermoses) 
Some of our products are a little trickier to clean, but don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. To keep your Stanley sparkling, use simple, use this simple cleaning concoction and routine:

You’ll need:

¼ cup uncooked rice

3oz distilled white vinegar

Instructions:

Pour ¼ cup of uncooked rice into flask.

Fill flask with 3oz of distilled white vinegar.

Seal flask.

Shake vigorously for 1 minute.

Let sit for 5-10 minutes.*

Shake vigorously again for 1-2 minutes.

Empty flask. Bonus points for composting the rice.

Rinse thoroughly with warm water.

Leave open until dry.

Whatever You Do, Don’t Use Bleach
We’re hardcore, but not that hardcore. Even though most Stanley products are designed to take a lickin’, harsh chemicals like bleach or chlorine could degrade some of the sealing parts on some products. Bad news for things like leaks and keeping things hot.

First consult your care & use or base artwork, but many Stanleys are dishwasher safe. If your product is dishwasher safe, and if you’re not feeling ambitious, simply separate the different parts of your Stanley and pop it in the dishwasher. It’s that easy. Sure, if your Stanley has a narrow opening or you want to keep the finish or paint looking its best, hand-washing is still your best bet, but sometimes it’s nice to know you can let the dishwasher do the heavy lifting.

That’s it, folks. Nothing too tricky. That’s because our goal is to make sure that our Stanley products are built strong, built simple, and built for life. 

Bottom’s up.