Measure Liquids without Contaminating the Measure

Nighttime cold medicines come with a handy dosage measuring cup. It would be simple to pour the recommended dosage into the little cup and drink from it. But, a couple of people in a house often have a cold at the same time. Who wants to drink after another from a sticky, dirty measuring device? Just as you are recovering from your headcold, you are suddenly re-infected by the germs of others on the measuring cup. 

Here is a simple solution that can be used with nighttime cold medicines and other fluids, like transmission oil.

You will need some paper cups, juice glasses, or old soft drink cans; a marking pen, a scissors, and water.

Step 1 First, the cold medicine

Fill the little measuring cup for the cold medicine with water to the recommended dosage. For an adult that is 30ml. The 30ml line is at the shoulder on the cup about 3mm below the top of the cup. Be as precise as you can.

Comments

[xmedic]

Or you could just wash the measuring cup that came with the medicine... :-)

On the other hand, I can certainly see the advantage to having a small measuring container for automotive fluids since you don't want to put them in measuring cups that will then be used for food.

[Phil B]

I might just wash the measuring cup out as you suggest if I were the only one using it, but others in the family will be using it, too. If I use a juice glass, it can be sanitized in the dishwasher. I cannot do that with the little plastic measuring cup.

[pfred2]

If you are in contact with a group of people who all have the same cold odds are it is the same bug so what is the difference? Plus whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger so you might as well just go with it.

My cold remedy I invented on a camping trip I got sick on. Brew up some hot tea, then put some Jack Daniels and honey in it. Drink enough of those and it'll make you feel better! Of course the sicker you are the more Whiskey you put in. Purely for medicinal purposes of course.

[rimar2000]

Phil, I do the following: the first time I use the plastic measure and drink the medicine directly from it, remembering (or trying it) the amount in my mouth. Subsequents time, I drink the medicine directly from the bottle.

As you say, that sticky dirt left in the plastic measure is horrible, and if you wash it each time, you are wasting medicine.

With oil, years ago I don't deal. I took the car periodically to do maintenance will.

[crapflinger]

that's why i just drink straight out of the bottle (transmission fluid, not cold medicine)

[Phil B]

You are a man of steel!

[ehudwill]

I have done this before with sugar for my morning tea and with medicine. Great idea to make it an instructable.

[Phil B]

Thank you.