You may have heard a thousand times that drinking water plays a key role in your health. And by that we mean fresh bottled water and not soda or alcohol. To stay hydrated 24/7, we recommend (especially on those late summer days that are still hot) that you always have a bottle of water on hand. There are countless variants on the market: made of plastic, glass or stainless steel. The choice is yours! Like everything else, the drinking bottle also needs proper care. Here we explain everything about how to clean water bottle to prevent mold and musty smell.
How often do you clean your water bottle?
Proper care of your drinking bottle is actually more important than you think. A dirty bottle is not only uncomfortable or sometimes dirty, it can also be harmful to your health. The moisture in the bottle is an ideal environment for bacteria, fungi and mold. In some cases, they form a biofilm of microorganisms and mucus that can cause inflammation and stomach problems. To avoid this, specialists recommend washing your drinking bottle every day.
Avoid harsh detergents when rinsing the bottle
@future_stories How many of you use a reusable drinking bottle? 🌱💜 #futurestories #reusable #drinking bottle #germs #bacteria #clean #sustainable ♬ Lazy Sunday – Official Sound Studio
If you use your water bottle (we’re talking about reusable drinking bottles!) every day, you should also rinse it every day. Fill the bottle with hot water, add a few drops of dish soap and rub the bottle thoroughly with a bottle brush. If you don’t have one, you can use the following trick: put the water in the bottle with the dish soap, close it with the lid and shake well for a few seconds. Then rinse the bottle well and let it dry completely. You should also wash the lid and the screw cap regularly, because bacteria and limescale are also stored there.
If not washed regularly, bottles start to smell
One tip: Avoid reusing single-use drinking bottles. First of all, these are harmful to the environment. Only a small part of this is fully recycled, while most PET bottles (as well as bags and dishes) are thrown into the water. Second, these bottles are made of plastic that is contaminated with chemicals. When single-use bottles are refilled (especially when containing acidic beverages such as cola or energy drinks) and shaken, microparticles become dislodged. They get into the body and are stored clean. Acetaldehyde, a chemical that can cause cancer, is used in the manufacture of single-use bottles.
Make sure that not every drinking bottle can go in the dishwasher
How do you clean the inside of a bottle?
In most cases you will not need any special tools. Separate the mouthpiece from the bottle and immerse both in hot water for about 5 minutes. Then wash the bottle with dish soap and bottle brush. Rinse thoroughly and allow parts to air dry. When cleaning, be sure to consider the materials your bottle is made of. If the water is too hot, plastics like polycarbonate can release harmful BPA. To prevent this, either choose bottles that are free of BPA and pollutants or clean them according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Don’t leave your bottle in the sun for a long time as it can be harmful to them
@chadnbrooks I should be canceled for this #fyp #minions #cleaning #cleantok ♬ Papaya – Remix – Minions Lil
How the bottle reacts to high temperatures is also important if you want to put it in the dishwasher. Unfortunately, thermal bottles (also known as vacuum bottles) are not dishwasher-safe because the salts in the detergent damage the insulating layer. The high temperature can also deform the cap and the bottle will then leak.
So, do a good online check or ask in store if the bottle can go in the dishwasher and at what temperature.
Such straw brushes are very handy for cleaning drinking bottles
How do you clean stainless steel drinking bottles?
Drinking bottles made of stainless steel can keep cold drinks cool for longer, while the warm ones don’t cool too quickly either. To protect your thermal insulation, you should also treat the bottle properly. As noted above, it would be better not to put the bottle in the dishwasher. That way it won’t get scratched. With a little washing-up liquid and a soft bottle brush, you can quickly disinfect them inside without worrying about the coating.
Clean drinking bottle with rice or salt
But if stubborn stains and coffee or tea residue remain, put a little vinegar or vinegar essence on a kitchen towel and rub the spots on the outside. If they don’t fade, soak the entire bottle and mouthpiece in a solution of warm water and 5 tablespoons apple cider vinegar for 15 minutes. Then rinse everything under running water.
Cleaning drinking bottle home remedies
Different cleaning tablets that are specially designed for drinking bottles are already on the market. But if you don’t want to spend the usual money, you can simply resort to the following home remedies.
All parts of the bottle must be cleaned separately
#soda
When we talk about cleaning and disinfecting, baking soda and baking soda are of course on the list. Put 3-4 teaspoons of baking soda or 1 packet of baking soda in the bottle and pour hot water over it. Without capping the bottle, leave the baking soda on for about 2 hours. This is how you disinfect the bottle and neutralize the stinky musty odors.
Do not let water stay in the bottle for too long to avoid bacteria
#Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is another home remedy that is often used in cleaning and disinfecting. To remove dirt or musty odor from the bottle, add 5-10ml of vinegar (no acetic acid or essence) and hot water to the bottle. Depending on the degree of soiling, the exposure time can also vary. One to two hours should be sufficient. Rinse the bottle well and let it dry.
But be aware that the acetic acid can sometimes damage bottles made of aluminium, plastic and glass. So only use vinegar when cleaning a stainless steel drinking bottle.
There are special brushes on the market for cleaning drinking bottles
