Once you know where to look, keeping your bottle fresh is just a matter of routine.
Person holding an open stainless water bottle with a cap in one hand
Credit: Simply Recipes / Getty Images
Recently, during a morning workout, I noticed my water bottle was doing me dirty. I showed up with a freshly washed bottle filled with cold water, and every time I’d take a sip, the water would taste off. I washed it daily, air-dried it overnight, and occasionally even ran it through the dishwasher, so I couldn’t understand what was going on.
After speaking with Becky Fletcher, digital media coordinator and cleaning expert at GoCleanCo, I realized I might not have been cleaning it as thoroughly as I thought. It turns out, the parts of a reusable water bottle that need the most attention are often the ones we overlook—or don’t even realize need cleaning. Thankfully, once you know where to look, Fletcher says that keeping your bottle fresh is just a matter of routine. Here are three ways to keep it clean and odor-free.
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1. Deep-Clean Every Piece
I scrub the lid, the straw, and the bottle itself and call it a day. But when it comes to smells, that’s usually not enough. “The stainless steel itself usually isn’t the problem,” says Fletcher. Most odors “come from the parts that aren’t stainless steel, especially the lid, silicone gaskets, straws, bite valves, and mouthpieces.”
If your bottle still smells after it’s been washed, Fletcher says she “immediately suspect[s] the gasket.” Those silicone rings “are a perfect place for mold to grow. Many people don’t even realize they’re removable, so they never get cleaned,” she adds.
The next time your bottle needs washing, take the whole thing apart. That includes the gasket, straw, mouthpiece, and any other removable pieces. Wash each part with hot, soapy water, and use a narrow brush to clean the inside of the straw. A quick rinse won’t cut it.
Person rinsing a blue water bottle and its cap under a running faucet
Simply Recipes / Getty Images
2. Deodorize the Right Way
If the smell is still there after a good wash, it’s time to deodorize. Fletcher recommends soaking all of the parts in a diluted bleach solution, if the bottle’s manufacturer says it’s safe to do so. Afterward, rinse and wash it thoroughly, and let every piece dry completely before putting it back together.
What she’d skip are the internet’s favorite fixes. “I wouldn’t rely on baking soda or vinegar to solve a smelly bottle,” she says. “They get recommended all the time online, but if you haven’t scrubbed away the buildup first, they won’t do much.” Unfortunately, there’s no shortcut around the actual scrubbing.
