How to properly clean your water bottles
Cleaning your bottles properly is an important step in keeping them hygienic for use
Alex Hunt
Junior Tech Writer
Having a proper cleaning regime for your water bottles might not be something that's top of your maintenance list. Even when you do give them a good scrub it might be that you're not actually cleaning away all of that bacteria, mould and microbes that can gather inside them. Which is why Ollie Bridgewood is here to guide you through the best way to clean your bottles, keep them fresh and ensure you can use them for thousands of kilometres without issue.
What do I need to clean my bottles?
No matter how you decide to go about cleaning your bottles you should always pair it with a good brush that can reach all of the internal surfaces of the bottle. Using a sponge can be incredibly awkward and can leave certain areas of the bottle untouched.
A bottle brush can not only make it easier but can also save a lot of time in the cleaning process. You can pick up a dedicated bottle brush from most cycling retailers. Yes, it might look a lot like a toilet brush, however it features softer bristles that are less likely to damage the surface of the bottle.
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A good bottle brush will help get in to the hard to reach areas that a sponge would struggle with
Some bottle brushes will feature a small pipe-cleaning brush attached to the handle. If the brush you choose to use doesn't come with one, it's a worthwhile investment getting a set of pipe cleaning brushes as they are great for cleaning in and around the nozzle.
What is the best way to wash my bottles?
To start off with, a simple solution of warm water and washing up liquid will work fine for lifting most surface dirt. If you keep on top of your bottle-cleaning practices partnering this with a good brush will remove any dirt or mould and effectively sanitise your bottles. In some of the tricker crevices on some bottles, some moulds are particularly stubborn and will take more cleaning power than washing up liquid on its own can supply.
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For most dirt and mould that build up in a bottle washing up liquid and warm water will be sufficient
The same applies to cleaning the nozzle. Using washing up liquid with the smaller pipe cleaning brush should get rid of most of the nasty stuff. Some bottle nozzles are also removable which allows a deeper clean of the whole area ideal for removing all bacteria build up.
How else can I sterilise my bottles?
If you are particularly keen on removing all contaminants from the bottle and making sure that is sterile, it is possible to use baby bottle sterilisation tablets which can just be popped in the bottle along with some warm water. However, there is an even cheaper option. Using bicarbonate of soda also has the same effect and can be mixed into a batch that all of your bottles can be cleaned in. As a rule of thumb, a mixture of around 70 grams of bicarbonate of soda to a litre of warm water will be effective.
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A mix of 70 grams of bicarbonate of soda to one litre of water is a great solution for combating more stubborn mould
If you live in an area of hard water where you get limescale build-up in your kettle and around your kitchen sink, you might find that you get carbonate build-up in your bottle. This can have the appearance of looking like your bottle is starting to frost up. To clean away these deposits a cheap and effective method is to use a 1:1 ratio of distilled malt vinegar and water. The acidic properties of the vinegar works by breaking down and lifting away the carbonate deposits.
- Read more: Mastering nutrition and recovery: what should you eat while following an indoor cycling plan?
What shouldn’t I do to clean my bottles?
Something that we recommend avoiding is using a dishwasher to clean your bottles. They do not use hot enough water to effectively clean them nor do they have the ability to properly clean the hard-to-reach areas around the neck and inside the nozzle. It is also noteworthy that not all sports bottles are dishwasher safe so it is best to save the hassle and just clean them by hand.
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Some sports bottles are not dishwasher safe and dishwashing your bottles can be far from effective
Harsh cleaning chemicals should also be avoided when cleaning bottles. Bleach-based products are not safe to consume so they should not be used on bottles. It is possible that residue from the bleach cleaner can remain in the bottle and then contaminate them when they are next used.
Don’t neglect the outer surfaces of the bottle either. It can be easy to become fixated on the internal surfaces of the bottles but the outer surfaces also need some love. Especially in the winter months the outside of the bottle can be exposed to all sorts of nasties from the road spray and this can then carry over to your gloves and mouth as well.
Do you have any other golden nuggets of advice for keeping your bottles squeaky clean? Share them with the GCN community in the comments section below.
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