As the temperatures get warmer and spring sport schedules begin to blossom, reusable water bottles become a family’s best friend. These great inventions help us stay hydrated and eco-friendly, but if we fail to clean them on a regular basis (every night is recommended), we may be creating a wonderful place for bacteria.
First and foremost, invest in a long-handled bottle brush like this eco-friendly option from Lola (the bristles are actually made of Tampico plant). This will help you maneuver around narrow openings and thoroughly clean the inside—removing any sticky residue or mold that may be lingering in small crevices.
In most cases, you can simply wash your bottles in warm, soapy water and let air-dry overnight—or, if they are dishwasher safe (most stainless steel and glass options are), you can toss them in the dishwasher. However, if your bottles are smelling a bit off or it’s been awhile since they’ve been cleaned, you will want to give them a little extra TLC.
Here are 3 ways to clean and disinfect your reusable water bottles:
Baking Soda
After washing your bottle with warm, soapy water, mix one or two teaspoons of baking soda with warm water inside the bottle and let soak for several hours. After the soak, do a another quick soapy wash and rinse with warm water.
Vinegar
Fill your water bottle about half-full with white vinegar and fill the rest with water. Let soak overnight. In the morning, rinse it out and you are ready to go.
Denture Tabs
While there are several water cleaning tablets on the market, you can get the same effect by plopping a couple of denture tabs into a reusable bottle filled with water. Let it sit overnight and thoroughly rinse (using the above bottle brush to remove any residue) before using.
Don’t forget to also wash and disinfect your bottle caps!
Talk to us: How often do you wash and disinfect your reusable water bottles?