Oct. 20, 2011 -- False, a styrofoam cup cannot capture heat as well as a thermos container. Many people carry around hot beverages without taking notice to the container they're holding.

How to use a Styrofoam cup to protect your pipes First, be sure to poke a hole in the bottom of the cup. Use some kind of cord, like a rubber band, through that hole.

In 2013, McDonald's stopped using Styrofoam cups to serve its hot beverages, and in recent years, the company has only used Styrofoam cups for its iced tea —as opposed to all its cold beverages.

Now, nearly a decade after the company promised the styrofoam cup was on the way out, Dunkin’ Donuts appears ready to leave behind the cold cup for good, replacing it with double-walled paper.

The answer is yes. Any Styrofoam cup can protect your pipes during a freeze. Experts at Texas A&M University-Central Texas say Styrofoam is a great insulator.