Reusable water bottles are a great eco friendly alternative to single-use plastic water bottles. But because the water bottle is being used over and over again it needs to be cleaned every day to remove odours and bacteria build up. Here are a few tips on how to clean your stainless steel bottle.
Cleaning water bottles
To clean your reusable water bottle, you can use vinegar, baking powder, bleach, or simple washing up liquid and water. Depending on the type of water bottle, you may also be able to put it in the dishwasher. For a simple routine clean, rinse the bottle with hot water. Apply washing up liquid to a washing up brush and clean the inside of the bottle thoroughly. Then rinse the bottle until the soapy residue has completely gone and let the bottle dry.
If you’re not sure that your bottle is germ-free then you can do a deep clean. The safest and least abrasive method to deep clean your bottle is to use distilled white vinegar or baking powder. Both baking powder and white vinegar are natural cleaning ingredients. They are mild abrasives which kill bacteria and cause odours to neutralise.
To clean your reusable water bottle using distilled white vinegar first rinse your bottle with water. Then fill your bottle one-fifth of the way with white vinegar and the rest with water. Let the mixture sit in your bottle for 10 minutes. Rinse the bottle thoroughly with hot water until the odour of vinegar has gone completely. Then let the bottle air dry.
If you don’t like the smell of vinegar, a similar procedure can be followed using baking powder. First mix together baking soda and water until you get a paste consistency. Apply the paste to the inside of your reusable water bottle with a cleaning brush. Let the paste sit on the inside wall of the bottle for 15 minutes. Then rinse the reusable bottle with hot water until the baking soda paste is completely removed from the bottle and let the bottle dry.
If your reusable water bottle is particularly dirty, cleaning with chlorine bleach can remove those tough stains and foul odours. But using bleach to clean your water bottle is not recommended on a regular basis. First, prepare a solution of 1 teaspoon of household bleach to 4.5 litres of water in a sink. Allow the solution to sit in the water bottle for up to 15 minutes. Rinse the bottle with hot water until the odour of bleach is gone completely. Then let the bottle air dry.
It is hard to notice if a reusable water bottle is dirty until you smell a foul odour. But a bad odour isn’t the first sign of a dirty water bottle. The moist environment of your water bottle can be a breeding ground for germs, which you then swallow along with your water. So, it’s good to get in the habit of cleaning your reusable water bottle every day. Following the simple steps above will enable you to remove all stains, odours and pesky bacteria.
How Do You Clean a Stainless Steel Water Bottle
Stainless steel water bottles are becoming popular and that’s a good thing. For one, drinking from stainless steel water bottles is far safer than drinking from a plastic bottle. Also, using reusable water bottles for your hydration needs is good for our environment.
Keeping your stainless steel water bottles clean is important because it could be a host of bacteria and germs. They require a little special care because of the material they are made from. Stainless steel is coated to protect it from rusting and provide a shiny finish.
Over time, this coating can wear off in spots exposing the steel beneath. Once this happens, the stainless steel will start to rust if it comes into contact with liquids. Cleaning your stainless steel bottle can prolong its life as well as keep it looking brand new!
The first thing you need to do before cleaning your stainless steel water bottle is reading the care instructions that came along with it. You might be tempted to just toss it into your dishwashing machine and let your machine do all the cleaning for you.
Keep in mind that not all stainless steel water bottles are created equal. Sure, some of them are dishwasher safe but there are many that are not especially the ones with colourful paint finish.
Using your dishwasher to clean these stainless steel water bottles and against the manufacturer’s instructions will damage your water bottle. So heed your manufacturer’s advice to avoid any headaches and prevent damage on your water bottle.
The simplest and most basic way to clean a stainless steel water bottle is cleaning it by hand. Start by removing the cap or lid. This could vary from the brand and type of stainless steel water bottle you bought. Some water bottles are so easy to remove like those with a screw on lid. The next thing to do is fill it with soapy water and let it soak for 10-15 minutes.
This step is particularly important if you are using a water bottle for beverages other than water. For instance, if you are using your stainless steel water bottle for coffee, sediments and gunk could form at the bottom of your water bottle. Soaking it for a few minutes could help soften any build up and would make cleaning your water bottle easy and simple.
After soaking for 10-15 minutes, put the lid back on and give your stainless steel water bottle a vigorous shake then pour the contents. If there is still residue inside your water bottle, use a cleaning brush or a sponge and scrub gently. Make sure that no residue is left inside before rinsing.
While waiting for your drink bottle to soak, you can start cleaning its lid or cap. Depending on the type, you might need to disassemble it. If your water bottle’s cap or lid has too many parts that need dissablembling and you don’t know how to do it, you can either ask for help from your manufacturer’s support team or watch some videos online. Scrub the lid and cap and make sure they are clean. Remember this is where you put your mouth so they need to be clean.
Once everything is all clean – the stainless water bottle and its lid, turn them upside down and put them in your dish rack to dry.
