How can I keep my cups from sliding?

January 21, 2020 6:35 AM

I thought silicone would work, but it doesn't stick

Is there a way to adhere a little silicone to the bottom of cups?

Instead of purchasing their assigned saucers, I decided to instead by small matching appetizer plates to use as saucers for my various cups. This solved several problems for me. Without the standard circular imprint that actual cup saucers have, I could place the cup anywhere on the plate not just the center. I have the option of placing the cup anywhere on the tiny plate. I can put it to one side so that I can fit a few cookies or the spoon on the other. It also allows me to use the same saucers for my various sized cups, mugs and small bowls because I'm not limited by the size of the imprint. And I don't have to worry about my spoon falling into the imprint and landing my cup on top of it anymore.

However the lack of imprint has the one problem it's meant to avoid- sliding. Overall it's not that big of a deal. But I thought I could just stick a thin piece of silicone placemat on the bottom of my cups so they would stay put. (silicone does well in the dishwasher so I thought I'd just stick a little silicone on the bottom of each cup to give it a little grip. BUt I couldn't get it it stick.

Any ideas of what else might work?

posted by fantasticness to Home & Garden (14 answers total)

Maybe a bit of silicone bathtub caulking?
posted by nouvelle-personne at 6:39 AM on January 21, 2020

Response by poster: That keeps things from slipping? I thought that stuff was as hard and slippery as my porcelain.
posted by fantasticness at 6:51 AM on January 21, 2020

I'd try sugru for this.
posted by spindrifter at 6:57 AM on January 21, 2020 [5 favorites]

Paper doily?
posted by DoubleLune at 7:03 AM on January 21, 2020 [2 favorites]

Here you go. Use a minimum of 3 per cup. They are only .079" thick, but if they are too thick, use a good sharp paring knife or razor to shave them even thinner. (Watch your fingers.)
posted by beagle at 7:09 AM on January 21, 2020 [2 favorites]

Silicone bathtub caulk kind of feels like rubber. It’s kinda gummy and mouldable til it cures, and it comes out of a tube.

Some types of tube will need a $15 metal “gun” to help press out an even bead of silicone if you’re trying to actually caulk a joint, but to just dab it on cups, you can probably make it work without the gun.

Note that once the tube is open, the caulk won’t last long, it will dry up within a day or so, so I would expect to pretty much do the whole project in one go.
posted by nouvelle-personne at 7:25 AM on January 21, 2020 [1 favorite]

Silicone caulk is soft and rubbery, and just might work. For any sort of pre-formed elastomer like silicone placemat or rubber feet, the problem with putting it in the dishwasher is likely to be the adhesive used to attach it.
posted by jon1270 at 7:25 AM on January 21, 2020 [1 favorite]

There is a product called "shoe goo" which is a thick rubber paste remains quite flexible and 'tacky' after it is dried, I would add a couple dots of shoe goo to the bottom of things you don't want sliding around.
posted by AzraelBrown at 7:42 AM on January 21, 2020 [3 favorites]

Create or buy a set of washable silicon doilies. You could cut simple ones out of placemats or silpat baking liners, or buy a set. Less work than trying to modify all your cups, and no risk of adhesive/bond failing over time.
posted by drlith at 7:58 AM on January 21, 2020 [5 favorites]

Yeah, I agree with the doily option. You don't need to glue anything to the bottom of the cups/bowls/etc, that's just creating more problems. Buy some silicon doilies or buy some super grippy drawer liner and cut them into small/med/large sizes for different cups and bowls, and just set it on the saucer before you set your cup down
posted by FirstMateKate at 8:18 AM on January 21, 2020

When I do this, put a cup of tea and cookies on a small plate, I put a square of paper towel under the cup. Keeps it from sliding enormously. This is a common trick in restaurants for cup of soup type things. Doily or paper napkin under the bowl. Crackers on the side.
posted by amanda at 8:19 AM on January 21, 2020 [2 favorites]

I predict that any silicone caulk you use would come loose in the dishwasher. It might then cause problems in the machine’s food grinder. I had a tiny sliver of wine glass that messed mine up and that’s way more grindable than silicone.
posted by HotToddy at 8:34 AM on January 21, 2020 [1 favorite]

If the silicone placemat is a little damp, it should suction down just fine. Just a drop of water on the plate and cup should be sufficient.
posted by tchemgrrl at 8:59 AM on January 21, 2020

I have some of these.

I didn't get them from walmart, I got them from the chinese supermarket near my house, but they look pretty much exactly the same. They work great!

it would be really hard to get any kind of adhesive to stick to both silicone and ceramic (both pretty non-porous surfaces) that will also last in the dishwasher (most glues are really sensitive to heat degradation), so I think having a doily of some kind might be your best solution. I put mine in the dishwasher if it gets stuff on it.
posted by euphoria066 at 10:13 AM on January 21, 2020 [3 favorites]