It’s a small detail that we barely notice, but it’s intriguing: that thin groove under our IKEA mugs, so discreet that it could almost be mistaken for a manufacturing defect. And yet, it hides a design trick that’s as clever as it is useful in everyday life. So, is it a marketing ploy, an aesthetic concern, or a genuine utility? Hold on tight, the truth might surprise you…
A strange groove… or a real domestic mystery?
You may have turned your IKEA mug upside down, intrigued by that little circular notch on the bottom . Some think it’s for better stacking. Others see it as a way for the liquid to cool faster, or even as a better grip for sliding it across the table. In short, theories are rife… but few are right.
So why does that little gutter look like it was carved into the base of our mugs? The answer is more practical than you might think .
An innovation designed for… your dishwasher!
The veil was lifted by an IKEA employee himself: this famous notch is neither decorative nor superfluous. It was created to solve a very common problem that we have all experienced: water stagnating under cups after a dishwasher cycle . Do you know what we mean? That little bit of water that prevents you from putting away your dishes without having to wipe them…
Thanks to this groove , water drains naturally when the cup is placed upside down, just like in a standard dishwasher. The result: faster drying, less humidity in the cupboards , and dishes that are actually ready to be put away. Simple, right? And yet, you had to think of it!
