Did you know I have three Stanley cups that I rotate and clean during the week?
Yesterday, I realized that one of my cups was not holding ice as long as it should. It’s barely three months old, so I know that cup isn’t old.
A Stanley cup can hold ice for up to 11 hours, but mine was for only 3 hours. I realized that the problem was not my Stanley Cup. It was me.
I was not putting enough ice or activating it as I should.
So, after doing my research, I found three reasons that can cause my Stanley Tumbler not to hold ice.
- I did not activate it.
- The Outside Temp.
- Not adding cold water before the ice.
Bonus: It could be a fake.
Did You Activate It?
Comment if you didn’t see this part.
My day consists of adding room-temperature water to my cup and filling it half with ice.
I didn’t know I had to activate the cup before using it. The instructions are in the manual.
Sometimes, a newly purchased Stanley Cup might not perform at its peak right away.
You should do a simple activation process. Wash the cup, fill it with cold water, and let it sit for 5 minutes.
Discard the water, then fill it with ice and water. This process may help prime the insulation. Now, I keep my tumbler in the fridge overnight, which is considered my “activation” process.
Your Outside Temperature
The outside temp of your cup plays a huge role in how long your Stanley keeps ice frozen.
Naturally, it’ll perform better in a cooler environment. If you’re out in the blazing sun, expect that ice to melt faster than usual.
The warm air will rapidly raise the internal temperature, causing your cup to not hold ice.
It happens. Been out all day with your Stanley cup in your hand.
The best thing you can do is to keep your external temperature cool. Lucky for people who work in AC- right?
Not Adding Cold Water Or Not Enough Ice
While Stanley cups are perfect at keeping things cold, they perform best when you pre-chill them.
Before adding ice, fill your cup with cold water and let it sit for about 5 minutes. It lowers the internal temperature of the cup, giving your ice a head start.
You can also add both cold water and ice to your Stanley. This is sometimes my go-to when I want to keep my ice longer.
Bottom line
Guys, you should not skip the Stanley Cup “activation” process. The company recommends it.
Also, fill your tumbler with ice and add cold water. It’s a game-changer. In worst cases, your cup may not hold ice as it should because it could be a fake.
If you purchase your cup from an Instagram or Facebook shop, there is a high chance your Stanley is a fake. Therefore, it does not have the installation properties of a real Stanley.