You should clean your bottle every day or at least every other day, at the end of the day so that the next morning it’s ready to use when you wake up, according to our experts. In the sections below, we outline the different steps required for cleaning based on what materials you use.
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Squeeze a small amount of liquid dish soap in the bottle, then add a small amount of lukewarm water to the inside of the bottle.
Use a sponge to gently scrub the inside and outside.
Repeat the above process with the lid and straw of the water bottle. Use a small straw-cleaning brush to clean the inside of the straw and around any crevices on the lid, including under the drinking spout, if applicable.
Thoroughly rinse the inside and outside of the water bottle, as well as the straw and lid. Allow all of the pieces to air dry completely.
Pour any remaining water out of the bottle and rinse the inside and outside with lukewarm water.
Add about a tablespoon of baking soda to the inside of the bottle and fill it up entirely with lukewarm water and stir. Let the bottle sit overnight.
If your bottle has a lid and straw, Nachman recommends simply washing those parts by hand with soap and water.
Pour out the mixture and rinse the bottle, straw, and lid.
Pour any remaining water out of the bottle and rinse the inside and outside with lukewarm water.
Fill the bottle about three quarters of the way with lukewarm water. Fill the rest with distilled white vinegar. (Nachman recommends a four to one ratio or a five to one ratio of water to vinegar, though this will vary depending on the size of the bottle.)
As mentioned above, wash the lid and straw (if applicable) by hand with soap and water.
Pour out the mixture and rinse the bottle, straw and lid.
Cleaning your water bottle daily is a necessity, according to experts we spoke with. Though it’s unlikely someone will get a severe infection simply by drinking from a water bottle that is not clean, it’s important to clean it regularly, especially when you consider your daily diet.
When you eat meals throughout the day without brushing and flossing, you’re left with small particles of food sitting in your mouth. The bacteria that develops in your mouth as a result, is known as flora. You can then backwash these particles into the bottle and develop into substrate, where microbes will begin to produce, according to Tierno.
In fact, this is what causes bottles to smell bad and water to develop a bitter taste, he says. When you eat while drinking from your water bottle, the bacteria in the bottle digests the food transmitted from your saliva. The smell that results is a telltale sign you need to clean your bottle.
The answer depends on a couple of factors. Nachman does not recommend it since dishwashers require detergent pods, which are much more powerful than standard liquid dish soap and could risk damaging your bottles. Additionally, Tierno discourages dishwashing as it may not be as thorough as cleaning a water bottle by hand. Dishwashers may have difficulty properly spraying and cleaning the entirety of the bottle and pieces.
That said, there may be some benefits to using the dishwasher to clean your water bottle. Some dishwashers have “germicidal” cycles, which are sometimes called the sanitize cycle. These use high heat to kill germs and can be effective with water bottles, according to Tierno.
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
Dr. Sharon Nachman is chief of the division of pediatric infectious diseases at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital. Nachman’s expertise includes infectious diseases, including epidemiology, immunizations, coronavirus and influenza.
Dr. Philip Tierno is the director of microbiology and immunology and a professor of microbiology & pathology at NYU Langone Medical Center. Tierno is the author of several books on microbiology, including “The Secret Life of Germs” and “First, Wear a Face Mask.”
I'm a commerce editor who covers various topics including home, kitchen, food and lifestyle. For this article, I spoke with experts in the fields of microbiology, infectious diseases and pathology.