How do you clean measuring cups?

You clean measuring cups by washing them in warm soapy water, or in the dishwasher if the material is dishwasher safe, and drying them well. For most dry and liquid measuring cups, that is all it takes, but you should pay attention to sticky or greasy residues (from honey, syrup, oil, peanut butter and the like), which need hot soapy water and a little scrubbing to remove fully, and to the measurement markings and any corners or spouts, getting into them so residue does not build up and the markings stay clean and readable. Match the method to the material, plastic, stainless steel, glass and silicone are each easy to clean but have small differences, and always dry the cups (especially metal) to prevent spots or rust. So cleaning measuring cups is simple: wash, clear any sticky or greasy residue, get into the markings and corners, and dry. Our Best Measuring Cups compares five of them.

The basic method

For everyday cleaning, measuring cups wash like any similar kitchenware. After use, rinse off the contents, then wash the cup in warm soapy water with a sponge or cloth, covering the inside, outside, handle and rim, and rinse it. Many measuring cups, particularly stainless steel and sturdy plastic and glass, are also dishwasher safe, so you can simply put them in the dishwasher, which is convenient for a set, though a quick rinse first helps if anything sticky was measured. This basic wash handles ordinary dry ingredients (flour, sugar) and non-greasy liquids easily, as they rinse away readily.

So most of the time, cleaning a measuring cup is just a normal wash and dry. The reason the question has more to it is that measuring cups often contact sticky, greasy or fine-powder ingredients and have markings and shapes that need attention, which the next sections cover. But the foundation is simple, warm soapy water by hand or a dishwasher cycle if the cup allows, followed by drying, keeps measuring cups clean for regular use, and only certain residues or details call for a bit more care.

Dealing with sticky and greasy residue

The trickier part of cleaning measuring cups is sticky and greasy ingredients, which cling and do not rinse off easily. Honey, syrup, molasses, peanut butter, oil, butter and similar leave a film or sticky residue that needs hot soapy water and some scrubbing, the heat helps dissolve and loosen sticky and greasy residues, so wash these with hot water and detergent, working a sponge or brush over the surface until it no longer feels sticky or greasy. For stubborn sticky residue, soaking the cup in hot soapy water for a few minutes first loosens it, making it easy to wash off.

A useful tip for the future is that lightly oiling a measuring cup before measuring honey or syrup makes the sticky ingredient slide out cleanly and the cup much easier to wash, but when cleaning after the fact, hot soapy water and a little effort do the job. Make sure no greasy film is left, as it can go rancid or attract dust, so rinse thoroughly after washing greasy residue. So while dry ingredients wash off in seconds, sticky and greasy ones are the residues to focus on, and hot soapy water (with a soak if needed) removes them, which is the main real cleaning task for measuring cups.

Markings, corners and material care

Pay attention to the measurement markings and the cup’s shape when cleaning. Markings (printed, embossed or engraved lines and numbers) should be kept clean so they stay readable, residue or grease over them can make them hard to see, so wash over them, and for engraved or raised markings a brush helps clear residue from the grooves. Likewise get into any corners, the base edges, the spout of a liquid measuring jug, and around the handle, where residue and water can collect, so nothing builds up. A small brush is handy for these details.

Material affects care a little. Stainless steel cups should be dried to avoid water spots and any rust at seams; glass cups clean easily and resist staining but handle carefully; plastic cups are light and easy to wash but can stain or hold odors from strong ingredients (a baking-soda paste or a vinegar soak can remove stains and smells) and scratch if scrubbed with harsh abrasives; silicone cups are easy to clean but can retain grease, so wash well in hot water. For any material, avoid harsh abrasives that could scratch or wear markings. So cleaning the markings and corners and respecting the material keep the cups accurate-looking, hygienic and in good condition.

Drying and keeping them clean

Dry measuring cups after washing, since water left on them can cause spots (on metal and glass) or, over long periods, corrosion at metal seams, and damp cups stored stacked can stay wet, so dry them with a towel or let them air dry fully before storing or nesting them. Make sure no residue or moisture is trapped where cups nest together. Drying also keeps them ready to use and prevents any musty smell.

To keep measuring cups easy to clean, wash them reasonably soon after use so residues (especially sticky and greasy ones) do not harden on, rinse sticky or powdery ingredients promptly, and oil the cup before measuring honey or syrup to make cleanup trivial. Clean the markings and corners each time so nothing builds up, and treat stains or odors in plastic as they arise. So the full answer is that cleaning measuring cups is straightforward, wash in warm soapy water (or the dishwasher if the material allows), use hot water and a little scrubbing or a soak for sticky and greasy residue, get into the markings and corners, and dry well. Done this way, measuring cups stay clean, readable, hygienic and accurate for years.

The short answer

Clean measuring cups by washing them in warm soapy water, or in the dishwasher if the material is dishwasher safe, and drying them well. For ordinary dry ingredients and non-greasy liquids that is all it takes, since they rinse off easily. The main thing to focus on is sticky and greasy residue, from honey, syrup, oil, peanut butter and the like, which clings and needs hot soapy water and a little scrubbing, or a short soak in hot soapy water first, to remove fully (and oiling the cup before measuring honey or syrup makes future cleanup much easier). Also get into the measurement markings and any corners, spouts or around the handle so residue does not build up and the markings stay clean and readable, using a small brush for grooves if needed. Match the care to the material, dry stainless steel to avoid spots and rust, treat stains or odors in plastic with baking soda or vinegar, and avoid harsh abrasives that wear markings, and always dry the cups before storing or nesting them. Done this way, measuring cups stay clean, accurate-looking and hygienic.