If your water bottle isn’t cleaned after every trip, moisture, spittle and other organic residue can create a real paradise for bacteria. But don’t worry, the right way to clean a water bottle is neither sorcery nor does it take very long. So read on for some quick tips and tricks to keep a clean water bottle.
Basic cleaning of a water bottle
After using a water bottle, it must be cleaned promptly. But simply rinsing it with water quickly, as may be seen when it’s the lazy housemate’s turn to do the washing up, is not enough. So to make sure that the bottle isn’t just clean but spotless as the famous detergent motto promises, you have two options. Number one: good old-fashioned rinsing by hand, which I prefer. Really attack any contaminants with warm water, an appropriate detergent and a sponge or a brush.
Make sure you thoroughly scrub the inside of the bottle. Even if the bottle seems clean, washing it is really important because some residue can’t be seen with the naked eye. If possible, disassemble the lid, leave the parts to soak in soapy water and then also clean them with a washing-up brush.
Personally, I’d like to use a cheap toothbrush to thoroughly clean the lid, or in cases of lids that are really hard to clean – such as those of CamelBak bottles – I opt for disposable pipe cleaners. Once you’ve cleaned any contamination, thoroughly rinse everything with warm water so your drink doesn’t taste of detergent on your next adventure. Properly dry the lid and bottle with a clean cloth and you’re done.
Putting a water bottle in the dishwasher – is that possible?
Option two is the seemingly less complicated cleaning in a dishwasher. Make sure you have a close look at the water bottle manufacturer’s instructions first. Many water bottles aren’t suitable for cleaning in the dishwasher and, in the worst case scenario, can even be damaged in the machine.
If your bottle is suitable for the dishwasher, a few details must be considered. Even if the bottle should be quite happy in the dishwasher according to the manufacturer: if the bottle opening is too small, not enough water will get into the bottle and it will therefore not be cleaned properly. There’s also a chance that the water bottle is suitable for the dishwasher but the lid might not be. So please refer to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Of course, a dishwasher is an admittedly practical helper in the household. But there is a chance that this technical accessory won’t be able to get rid of all contamination without a trace.
Tip: Place the bottle in the dish rack at an angle so water and detergent can easily get into the bottle from below while allowing sufficient water movement at the same time. After the cycle, you should check whether all residue has been removed. A dishwasher may be very practical for pots and plates but something more demanding, such as water bottles, may pose a greater challenge. And this challenge is residual contamination which may cause the development of bacteria or mould, in sensitive areas like the lid or the upper edge of the bottle in particular.
As previously mentioned, I prefer washing my bottle by hand so it rarely goes into the dishwasher. Having to check the bottle after the mechanical cycle and possibly even clean parts of it again are reasons that I trust in the manual version to begin with. Plus, repeated cycles in the dishwasher can affect the look of the water bottle. Colours may fade, print could disappear and shiny material might become matte.
A clean water bottle – correctly cleaning a highly contaminated water bottle
In cases of significant contamination, such as mould or what is known as bio film (a transparent layer of slime consisting of micro-organisms like algae or bacteria), we have to be a bit more inventive.
This kind of contamination is not just gross and, in some cases harmful. It also tends to keep coming back if it’s not cleaned fully and properly. But don’t despair! Even the most seemingly hopeless case can be saved.
Major contamination
First remove any remaining drinks residue and clean the bottle, including the lid, with detergent and warm water. Brush away everything that doesn’t belong.
If there is major contamination that you can’t reach with the water bottle cleaning brush, add a little rice or coarse salt to the bottle. Then add some water and detergent, close the lid and shake it vigorously for a while. This will loosen contamination but may scratch the inside of plastic bottles.
If the lid is in such a state even after intense cleaning that you don’t want to go near it with your mouth, common manufacturers, such as Nalgene or Contigo will offer replacement lids to buy.
Everything you can’t see
To make sure the bottle is free from bacteria and micro-organisms, you can either use special cleaning tabs provided by popular manufacturers or conventional denture cleanser from a pharmacy. To maximise the effect, add hot but not boiling water to the bottle.
At 80 °C, the majority of micro-organisms will be killed so check the manufacturer’s instructions whether your bottle can withstand such temperatures. Put the tab into the water and leave it to take effect for about half an hour. Put the lid in a bowl with hot water and a second tab.
Instead of the tabs, you can also opt for some vinegar essence or one to two sachets of baking soda to put into the water. Both home remedies have an anti-septic effect and can even get rid of mould spores. But watch out: if the vinegar solution is too strong, it can attack plastic bottles. Never combine chemical cleaning tabs with vinegar or baking soda because this causes undesirable and sometimes highly toxic reactions! Also avoid heavy-duty stuff from your cleaning cabinet, such as chlorine cleaner. After all, you do want to be able to drink from your bottle again.
So as you see, it’s quite easy to clean a water bottle. With a little background knowledge, you can turn even the muckiest bottle into a clean bottle in no time. And if you thoroughly clean your water bottle at regular intervals, you will be safe from the dreaded Montezuma’s revenge.
