If you're reading this post, you've most likely already gotten rid of your old plastic water bottle and replaced it with a fresh stainless steel or glass water bottle.
Congratulations to you!
Now you can avoid unnecessary chemicals in your drinking water! And if you haven't made the switch yet, you can find several different models to choose from in our growing selection of water bottles!
But how do you take care of your reusable water bottle in the best way? Does your trusty companion and faithful friend get the love it deserves and needs? 😉
Sometimes glass and stainless steel water bottles can develop a musty and unpleasant odor, especially if you've used it for some strongly scented drink or if you've forgotten it with liquid inside for an extended period.
1. Daily cleaning of water bottle & cap
If you use your water bottle daily, it should also be washed out daily. This applies even if you only drink water, as saliva, dust, and other dirt can create a breeding ground for bacteria, and we don't want that in our clean drinking water.
Here we help you step by step to take care of your water bottle in the very best way!
For daily cleaning you need:
Warm water
Eco-friendly dish soap
Dish brush, bottle brush and possibly straw cleaning brush
Do this:
Avoid submerging the entire water bottle in dishwater. It's best to wash the water bottle by pouring warm water + an eco-friendly dish soap directly into the bottle.
Put the cap on the bottle and shake it thoroughly a few times until the dish soap has formed bubbles.
Then clean it with a dish brush or bottle brush that fits the bottle neck.
Then rinse out the bottle with water until it's clean of dish soap.
Remember to wash both the inside and outside of the bottle and then dry it or let it air dry on the dish rack.
Also wash the cap/lid with warm water and dish soap. Take apart the parts and wash each part separately. Any straws should be cleaned with a straw cleaning brush.
Note! Stainless steel water bottles that are painted with color should usually not be washed in the dishwasher as the paint can be damaged by the harsh treatment from the heat and strong detergent.
Insulated stainless steel water bottles should also not be washed in the dishwasher as water can penetrate into joints and such.
We advise you to avoid washing your stainless steel water bottle in the dishwasher unless you know with certainty that it will survive the treatment.Glass water bottles can usually be safely washed in the dishwasher.
A light blue water bottle with silver bottom and beige cap stands on a sand dune with some vegetation and a blurred beach in the background.
2. Deep cleaning of water bottle & cap
Sometimes your water bottle may need a thorough cleaning if it has, for example, developed a musty odor or been forgotten while filled with coffee or another drink that can give off odors.
Vinegar is a fantastic natural cleaning agent that can remove certain types of bacteria. The vinegar cleaning method doesn't kill all bacteria, but it's a great way to clean a reusable water bottle that needs a deeper cleaning.
Just like vinegar, baking soda is also a household favorite for those who want to clean naturally.
Below are two natural and simple recipes for deep cleaning water bottles.
For the Vinegar trick you need:
Warm water
Eco-friendly dish soap
Vinegar
Do this:
First wash the bottle as usual with warm water and dish soap.
Then fill the bottle with 1/5 part vinegar and 4/5 parts warm water (you can increase the proportion of vinegar depending on how dirty the bottle is).
Shake the bottle a few times and then let it stand with the mixture inside overnight.
Rinse it out in the morning and wash it as usual if you think it smells like vinegar.
For the Baking Soda trick you need:
Baking soda
Warm water
Do this:
Pour 2-3 tablespoons of baking soda into your water bottle and fill it up with warm water.
Put on the cap and shake the bottle a few times before letting it stand with the mixture for a few hours.
Then rinse out the bottle with warm water.
Deep cleaning the cap:
When deep cleaning caps and lids, it's especially important to take apart all parts of the lid/cap and wash them by hand with a dish brush and dish soap.
Many parts can also be washed in the dishwasher on the top rack, which is very convenient and ensures they get thoroughly clean - check if your specific water bottle parts can be machine washed.
A hand holds the cap of a light blue water bottle.
3. How to store your water bottle
The water bottle should be stored in a dry and clean space with the cap to the side so the bottle can air out.
If you know you tend to put the cap on the bottle when storing it, it's very important that all parts have dried thoroughly before you put it away in a cupboard.
Otherwise there's a risk that the bottle will develop an unpleasant odor or that bacteria will form.
How do you wash your bottle?
Now we hope you've gotten some good tips so you can reduce both the plastic and bacteria in your water.
Do you have even more tips on how to keep bottles clean? Share them in a comment so we can all learn from each other.
Good luck!
Three Klean Kanteen bottles in different colors - light blue, camouflage and yellow - stand on a sandy beach with grass in the foreground and a blurred background of water.
