Water Bottle Hygiene
Tips for keeping your water bottle clean and free from harmful bacteria.
Although your water bottle can be one of your biggest tools when it comes to taking your health to the next level, it can also become a breeding ground for germs and bacteria if it isn’t cleaned regularly. Experts recommend washing reusable water bottles often (daily is ideal for most people) to help prevent buildup that can lead to funky smells, bad taste, mold, and bacteria.
In this blog, we’ve included several simple tips to help keep your bottle clean.
Wash your water bottle regularly.
As mentioned above, it’s ideal to clean your water bottle at the end of each day you use it to make sure that the water you’re drinking is clean, fresh, and tastes good.
The universal “go-to” method to wash every kind of reusable bottle is hot water and dish soap. That combo is effective at removing everyday germs and residue.
If you aren’t sure how often to wash it, here’s an easy rule:
- Daily: bottle and lid (especially the mouthpiece area)
- Extra important to wash daily: if you’ve had anything besides water in it (electrolytes, pre-workout, juice), if it’s been in a gym bag, or if you’ve been sick
If you’re washing a reusable plastic bottle, we still recommend unscented soap, since plastic can hold onto scents more easily than glass or stainless bottles.
Use a bottle brush.
To make sure you’re getting the hard-to-reach areas of your bottle, the best thing to do is use a bottle brush. Bacteria and residue can gather in small crevices, so it’s important you’re reaching those areas.
Quick tip: If your bottle has a straw or narrow parts, a small straw brush makes a big difference for keeping things fresh.
Don’t forget the lid.
One area of your water bottle that is often overlooked during cleaning is the lid. This is one of the most important areas to clean because it comes into direct contact with your mouth – and lids or straws have tight spaces where gunk can hide.
How to clean the lid (and disinfect occasionally):
- Disassemble what you can (remove straw pieces and gaskets if possible).
- Wash with hot soapy water, then scrub with a small brush.
- For a deeper clean once a week (or whenever it starts to smell), use one of these methods:
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Soak in a vinegar and water solution, then rinse well, or
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Soak in baking soda and warm water, then rinse well, or
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Use denture tablets in warm water (great for odors), then rinse well.
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You’ll notice we didn’t combine baking soda and vinegar together – they cancel each other out, so it’s better to use one method at a time.
Air-dry your water bottle.
Air drying your water bottle is often the easiest and most effective way to dry your bottle. All you have to do is turn it upside down on a drying rack in your kitchen.
Air drying is more sanitary because nothing is coming into contact with the inside of your bottle after it has been cleaned. However, make sure your bottle is 100% dry before you put it away so moisture doesn’t lead to that musty smell or mold growth.
Avoid cross-contamination.
When filling your bottle, make sure it doesn’t come into contact with anything that could be contaminated by food or human fluids. For example, in the kitchen, try not to let the water bottle touch the faucet.
It’s also important to keep your water bottle in a separate pocket of your bags (or outside of your bags completely). This helps your bottle avoid picking up germs from other items.
Be mindful of where you store your water bottle.
It is always best to store your bottle in a clean and dry place. Most cupboards and pantries are usually the perfect place. This is once again to help prevent bacterial growth within your water bottle.
In conclusion, make sure you are washing your reusable bottles regularly to prevent yourself from being exposed to germs and other bacteria that can be found in your bottle – and to keep your water tasting fresh.
For a full cleaning schedule, see: How Often Should You Clean Your Reusable Water Bottle?
