WEBVTT - How Often Should You Wash Your Coffee Mug?

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome to brain Stuff production of I Heart Radio. Hey

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<v Speaker 1>brain Stuff Lauren vog Obam Here. People love their coffee,

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<v Speaker 1>but most don't extend their profound affection to its trusty receptacle,

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<v Speaker 1>the coffee cup. Office workers are often guilty of such neglect,

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<v Speaker 1>merely rinsing and reusing their mug day after day, or worse,

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<v Speaker 1>just dumping out the old coffee and filling their cup

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<v Speaker 1>up with new brew. While it seems that the mug

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<v Speaker 1>would be just fine with such treatment, after all, hot

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<v Speaker 1>water kills germs and you're the only person who uses

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<v Speaker 1>your mug, thank you very much, the truth is perhaps

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<v Speaker 1>more eye opening than the beverages inherent caffeine. A mostly

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<v Speaker 1>empty mug, left to its own devices, can quickly grow

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<v Speaker 1>its own microbiome. Of course, most bacteria are harmless, but

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<v Speaker 1>there are those that aren't. We spoke by email with

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<v Speaker 1>Melissa Maker, host of the YouTube channel clean my Space.

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<v Speaker 1>She said all sorts of germs in bacteria can live

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<v Speaker 1>on and in your cup, especially if you are in

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<v Speaker 1>a shared space. Cold and flu germs tend to travel

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<v Speaker 1>and can easily land honor in your cup. Plus germs

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<v Speaker 1>from your mouth and hands will also transfer to your cup.

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<v Speaker 1>The warmer and damper the environment, the more pleasing for

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<v Speaker 1>bacteria to fester. Indeed, the laundry list of possibilities is daunting.

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<v Speaker 1>We also spoke via email with Dr Terry D. Connell,

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<v Speaker 1>professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Buffalo.

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<v Speaker 1>They said strep staff and any number of resident or

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<v Speaker 1>transient oral bacteria, which may include potential pathogens, may reside

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<v Speaker 1>in unwashed cups, and of course, if someone else should

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<v Speaker 1>drink from one's cup, bacteria from their mouths can be

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<v Speaker 1>transferred into it. Office environments are particularly conducive to the

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<v Speaker 1>spread of bacteria. Dr Childs Gerba, a professor of microbiology

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<v Speaker 1>at the University of Arizona, published research findings back in

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<v Speaker 1>the Continue to Rock Our Worlds Today. His team assessed

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<v Speaker 1>bacteria found in office coffee cups and coffee preparation areas,

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<v Speaker 1>and they discovered that fort of cups tested or contaminated

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<v Speaker 1>with coliform bacteria otherwise known as vehicle bacteria. And most

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<v Speaker 1>of the time these bacteria are not harmful to people,

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<v Speaker 1>but they certainly can be, especially to those with weakened

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<v Speaker 1>or compromised immune systems. The kicker Dr Gerba's team found

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<v Speaker 1>that a small office cup washer sort of like a

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<v Speaker 1>mini dishwasher was all it took to eradicate these and

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<v Speaker 1>other types of bacteria. The problem is most people think

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<v Speaker 1>of simple rinse and wipe is enough to keep germs

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<v Speaker 1>at bay. However, this approach is definitely not enough to

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<v Speaker 1>tackle such formidable opponents. Dr Connell said bacteria can adhere

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<v Speaker 1>to the surface of the cup. Washing with soap is

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<v Speaker 1>essential to remove those bacteria. That's why public health officials

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<v Speaker 1>in England put out a plea back in January for

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<v Speaker 1>reusable cup users to thoroughly wash receptacles after every single

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<v Speaker 1>drink to prevent the spread of illness. This was in

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<v Speaker 1>response to a spike in reusable cup use since the

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<v Speaker 1>nation started in posing a so called latte tax on

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<v Speaker 1>disposable cups. Proper cleaning grows even more critical if the

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<v Speaker 1>coffee in question has been doctored with cream or sugar.

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<v Speaker 1>Dr Connell explained both of those substances contain nutrients for

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<v Speaker 1>bacterial growth. While water washing will remove most of the sugar,

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<v Speaker 1>the oils and proteins in milk or cream require the

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<v Speaker 1>use of soap to remove. Soap is what's known as

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<v Speaker 1>a surfactant. Molecule of soap can grab hold of oily

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<v Speaker 1>particles at one end and molecules of water at its

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<v Speaker 1>other end, thus helping dissolve and rinse away even stubborn grime.

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<v Speaker 1>So here are the easy steps to lessen the germs

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<v Speaker 1>in your coffee mug. Wash your cup with soap and

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<v Speaker 1>water after every use. Wash with a paper towel rather

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<v Speaker 1>than a shared sponge. Dry the cup with a paper towel.

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<v Speaker 1>And if your cup has a lid, remember to wash

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<v Speaker 1>that too. Today's episode was written by Aliyahit and produced

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<v Speaker 1>by Tyler. Playing brain Stuff is a production of I

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