If you pour hot water into a plastic cup, does it make the cup shrink? Or am I going crazy?

[ixi10]

I made tea in a plastic cup and left it next to me unattended for a couple of minutes. I just went to pick it up and I swear the cup shrunk a few inches. Is that suppose to happen? Or am I going crazy? Anyone know?

This is completely normal and expected

You're crazy

[Anonymous]

The cup doesn't shrink, but the plastic gets thin and if it's really hot it can melt it. Usually if you make hot tea for example in a plastic cup the cup feels really weak and easy to squeeze.

Random fact, if you put neat eucalyptus oil in a styrofoam cup it melts right through it xD I was suprised when this happened, it's really strong stuff

[Opinion Owner]

Thanks for MH :)

[SadWalkingAwaySong]

How come clothes shrink in hot water then?

[Opinion Owner]

I think it's because the clothes companies stretch the clothes and the hot water "fixes" them

[jacquesvol]

I don't think plastic will really shrink. If the drink is really hot, it may end up with a different form, I think. There are many different kind of plastics but I never read, heard about or was a shrinking type. I suppose you did see it got a different form and mistook it for shrinking. Not crazy, just an error or an optical illusion.

[ljs148]

don't put hot beverages into plastic containers. the plastic will melt right away and dissolve into your drink. it's really terrible for you.

[dreamingincake]

Plastic shrinks and kind of caves in and shrivels up when it starts to melt.

[dreamingincake]

Thanks for MHG

[gaurav83]

It can happen. Depends upon the quality of plastic. Usually it does not happen. I dont think that water could be that hot that it'd shrink a cup. Cups are made to withstand that much hot water. In theory u r right, but u won't see it everyday.

[icantwait]

It can happen depending on the quality of the material. You're not crazy. Though normally it will look a bit deformed if that happens.

[Prof_Don]

Party style Solo cups aren't meant for hot beverages... they end up breaking down due to the temperature.

This is Precisely why styrofoam is used for disposable hot beverage cups.

So no you're not crazy! :-P