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Did You Clean That? · No. 06

Reusable Water Bottles: the one-page checklist

Things everybody uses. Almost nobody cleans.

Check these parts

  • Straws
  • Silicone seals
  • Removable gaskets
  • Threaded lids
  • Mouthpieces

What you need

  • A bottle brush and a straw brush
  • A small detail brush for lid threads
  • Dish soap
  • Baking soda for stubborn odor, if your bottle's material allows it

Do it in this order

  1. 01. Take the lid completely apart. Pop out the silicone gasket, pull the straw, unscrew the mouthpiece. Lay the pieces out.
  2. 02. Wash every piece separately. Hot soapy water. The gasket gets rubbed between your fingers, not just rinsed.
  3. 03. Run the straw brush all the way through. Both directions. This is the part people skip and then wonder about the taste.
  4. 04. Brush the threads. Bottle threads and lid threads. A detail brush or an old toothbrush gets in there.
  5. 05. Air dry fully, disassembled. Upside down on a rack, pieces separate. Reassembling a damp bottle undoes the whole job.
  6. 06. Deep clean weekly. Baking soda and warm water overnight for odor, if your bottle's material allows it. Check the manufacturer's guidance for insulated and coated bottles.

Don't do this

  • · Don't put an insulated bottle in the dishwasher unless the manufacturer says it's safe. Heat can wreck the vacuum seal.
  • · Don't use bleach on silicone. It degrades it.
  • · Don't store it sealed and damp.
  • · Don't scrub a coated exterior with an abrasive pad.

Know when to stop

If there's visible mold in the seal or straw that won't come out with a brush and soap, replace that part. Most good bottle brands sell replacement gaskets and straws for a few dollars.

LaLa says

“If the lid comes apart, take it apart. That little rubber ring is living a whole separate life.”