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It’s important to clean and sanitize your stainless steel water bottle regularly to kill germs and keep your water tasting fresh. To clean your bottle every day, just fill it with warm, soapy water, and scrub the inside with a brush or sponge. If your bottle has an odor or needs a deeper cleaning, you can use baking soda, vinegar, or hydrogen peroxide to sanitize it and eliminate bacteria. Keep reading to learn how to clean and maintain your stainless steel water bottle.
This article is based on an interview with our house cleaning professional, Raymond Chiu. Check out the full interview here.
Cleaning Your Water Bottle Regularly
Wash your stainless steel water bottle every day with warm water and 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of dish soap. Use a sponge or bottle brush to scrub the walls or place a sponge with the soap solution inside the bottle, replace the cap, and shake vigorously. Rinse with clean water and allow it to air dry.
Steps
Cleaning Your Stainless Steel Water Bottle Daily
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Scrub your bottle with warm water and 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of dish soap. Use a sponge or bottle brush to scrub the walls and bottom of your water bottle.[1] You can also place a sponge or cloth inside with the soap solution, replace the cap, and shake the bottle vigorously for a few seconds.[2]- If your water bottle has a screw-on top, be sure to scrub the threading that winds around the mouth of the bottle with a soapy sponge.[3]
Rinse the bottle with clean water and allow it to air dry upside-down. Fill and empty the bottle several times with warm water until no soap comes out. Flip the bottle upside-down and place it in a dish rack or on a towel to dry.[4]- Cleaning your water bottle daily can help get rid of any odors and eliminate bacterial growth.[5]
Deep Cleaning Your Stainless Steel Water Bottle
Download Article- Use baking soda to deodorize your bottle. Add 1 teaspoon (6 g) of baking soda and fill with warm water. Allow the mixture to soak for about 15 minutes, then rinse with clean water and allow the bottle to air dry. Baking soda is a nonabrasive natural cleaner that’s effective for removing mildew, bacteria, stains, and odors, which can make it the perfect DIY cleaner to use on your water bottle.[6]
- For extra deodorizing power, add 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) bleach to your baking soda mixture. Allow it to sit overnight, then rinse it out and allow it to air dry.[7]
- Aim to deep clean your water bottle at least once a month.
- Remove mildew and bacteria with vinegar. Pour 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of distilled white vinegar and fill with water. Close the cap and shake the bottle, then let it sit for 10 minutes or overnight. Pour the mixture out and use a brush or sponge to scrub the inside with dish soap and warm water. Take the lid off, rinse the bottle, and turn it upside-down to air dry.[8]
- Vinegar is a natural cleaner that cuts through mildew, bacteria, and grime.[9] Make sure to use distilled white vinegar so no vinegary smell stays in your bottle after you’re done.
- If your water bottle is bigger or if you think it needs an even deeper clean, fill it halfway with distilled white vinegar and the rest with water.[10]
- 3Disinfect your bottle with hydrogen peroxide. Add 1⁄4 cup (0.059 L) 3% hydrogen peroxide to the bottle and shake it. Replace the cap before you give the bottle a good shake. Empty the bottle and rinse with warm water to remove any lingering hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is a disinfectant that kills germs, bacteria, fungi, and viruses, making it ideal for cleaning and sterilizing.[11]
- Alternatively, use Milton sterilizing fluid. Pour 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) into the bottom of your water bottle and fill it with warm water. Leave it for 15 minutes, then empty it and it’s ready to use![12]
Use the dishwasher for an easy option. If your water bottle is labeled as “dishwasher safe,” place it upside down on the top rack with the lid off.[13] Place any detachable parts, like the lid or straw, in the dishwasher as well. Add dishwasher detergent, close the dishwasher, and run a regular cycle.[14]- Add dishwasher detergent, close the dishwasher, and run a regular cycle.
- Usually, you can find a “dishwasher safe” on the bottom of your bottle. If your bottle is painted or insulated, it might not be dishwasher-safe.
Expert Q&A
- QuestionHow do I clean the cap of my water bottle?
Raymond ChiuRaymond Chiu is the Director of Operations for MaidSailors.com, a residential and commercial cleaning service based in New York City that provides home and office cleaning services at affordable prices. He has a Bachelors in Business Administration and Management from Baruch College.
House Cleaning ProfessionalTo clean the cap of a stainless steel water bottle, first rinse the cap and use a brush to loosen as many stains as possible. Next, soak the cap in vinegar for 30 minutes and rinse thoroughly. It is important to clean this regularly, depending on how often you use the bottle. - QuestionHow to clean underneath and around the gasket of the lid?
Ecoway Drinking-VesselsCommunity AnswerSeparate the gasket from the lid, use a soft brush and tap water. These things can clean it completely.
Tips
- Try not to put stainless steel water bottles that are vacuum-insulated in a freezer or over a flame—the steel could contract or expand, running the bottle’s ability to insulate liquids.[20]Thanks
- Try to clean your water bottle at the end of each day.[21] Aim to give your bottle a deep clean at least once a month.Thanks
References
- ↑ https://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/cleaning/how-to-clean-water-bottle
- ↑ https://www.ahealthiermichigan.org/2014/09/15/the-right-way-to-care-for-your-reusable-water-bottle/
- ↑ https://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/cleaning/how-to-clean-water-bottle
- ↑ https://www.ahealthiermichigan.org/stories/food-and-recipes/the-right-way-to-care-for-your-reusable-water-bottle
- ↑ https://doh.health.tas.gov.au/healthykids/blog/how_to_clean_water_bottles
- ↑ https://www.southernliving.com/things-to-clean-with-baking-soda-7098169
- ↑ https://www.ahealthiermichigan.org/2014/09/15/the-right-way-to-care-for-your-reusable-water-bottle/
- ↑ https://doh.health.tas.gov.au/healthykids/blog/how_to_clean_water_bottles
- ↑ https://www.bhg.com/homekeeping/house-cleaning/tips/cleaning-with-vinegar/
- ↑ https://www.bhg.com/homekeeping/house-cleaning/tips/how-to-clean-water-bottles/
- ↑ https://www.housedigest.com/1460036/hydrogen-peroxide-clean-metal-water-bottle/
- ↑ https://www.miltonbaby.com.au/sites/default/files/pdf/MILTON%20STERILISING%20FLUID%20INSTRUCTIONS.pdf
- ↑ https://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/cleaning/how-to-clean-water-bottle
- ↑ https://www.ahealthiermichigan.org/2014/09/15/the-right-way-to-care-for-your-reusable-water-bottle/
- ↑ Raymond Chiu. House Cleaning Professional. Expert Interview. 15 October 2019.
- ↑ https://www.nsf.org/blog/consumer/reliable-scientific-tips-cleaning-with-vinegar
- ↑ https://www.today.com/home/how-clean-reusable-straws-according-cleaning-expert-t217245
- ↑ https://bssa.org.uk/bssa_articles/selection-of-stainless-steels-for-the-food-processing-industries/
- ↑ https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/content/dam/portal/dou/Specs-Drawings/Standard_Specifications.pdf
- ↑ https://www.outsideonline.com/2125966/how-properly-clean-your-water-bottles-and-reservoirs
- ↑ https://healthyheels.org/2012/04/10/how-often-do-you-clean-your-water-bottle/
About This Article
To clean a stainless steel water bottle, first fill the bottle halfway with a mixture of warm water and soap. Next, apply the cap and shake the bottle for a few seconds, then empty it out. After the bottle is empty, wash it with warm water to remove any remaining soap. After you’ve rinsed your bottle, place it upside down in your dish rack to dry. If you can’t get inside your bottle to clean it, use a bottle brush, which is a long, thin brush, to get into the corners. Remember to carefully clean any ridges around the mouth of your bottle with a sponge, since this is where debris can gather. For tips on how to choose a good stainless steel water bottle, keep reading!
Reader Success Stories
"I have a 58 oz stainless steel water bottle that I did not know how to clean effectively. I have had it for over a year and was only able to clean it superficially. I was washing the bottle about once a week or every two weeks; I am so glad I found this."..." more
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