We carry our reusable water bottles everywhere we go; to the gym, the beach, work, school and sports. They have become part of our everyday routine and help us feel environmentally responsible.
Regardless of where it goes, we often feel less of a need to clean them regularly when we only fill it with water; however, germs and bacteria love a moist environment and thrive and spread in these conditions. That’s why it is important to wash your water bottle after every use with warm water and soap, to ensure it is squeaky clean. Does your water bottle need a little bit of extra love and care? These additional cleaning tips are sure to do the trick.
Banish Odours
No one likes to drink from a reusable water bottle that smells funky. Even newly purchased water bottles can smell of plastic and chemicals. The solution? White vinegar. This natural cleaning solution will remove any odours from your water bottle, new or old.
- Simply, fill your water bottle with white vinegar and leave it overnight to soak.
- In the morning, pour out the white vinegar and give the bottle a good scrub with warm, soapy water and rinse well.
When Liquids Turn Solid
If you’ve ever used a water bottle, or shaker bottle for your protein shake, chances are you have thrown the bottle back into your gym bag and have forgotten to clean it when you got home. The protein powder is now a solidified, smelly mess – ick! Don’t stress, baking soda is all you need to thoroughly clean this mess.
- Take a deep breath, remove the lid and empty out the remaining contents, and rinse.
- Add 1 tbsp. of baking soda into the bottle, and enough water to form a paste.
- Using a bottle brush, or an old toothbrush, scrub the bottle clean. Pay special attention to the nooks and crannies in the cap.
- Rinse out the baking soda and wash the bottle in warm soapy water, and then rinse it well.
- Make sure the bottle is fully dry before securing the lid and putting it away.
Food for Though
Stainless steel water bottles are actually much easier to clean and maintain than plastic ones. This is because plastic water bottles often crack and get scratched, providing bacteria a safe haven to bread it. Therefore, stainless steel water bottles are a much cleaner choice, as their material is stronger, making them less likely to harbour germs.
