How to clean a water bottle, lid and straw (and get rid of the smell)

Step by step: how to clean a water bottle, lid and straw

Safety first. Never cap a bottle while baking soda and vinegar are fizzing inside; the gas builds pressure and can pop the lid off. Do not mix bleach with vinegar. Most insulated bottles are not microwave or freezer safe, and some lids are not meant for hot or carbonated drinks.

1. 1

   Take the lid completely apart

   Unscrew the cap and pop out any straw, spout, flip top and silicone gasket. A butter knife or the edge of a spoon can lift a gasket without tearing it. Most smell and mold hide in these parts, not the bottle.

2. 2

   Wash the bottle with hot soapy water and a brush

   Fill the bottle a third full with hot water and a few drops of dish soap. Scrub the walls and bottom with a long bottle brush, then the threads at the neck. Rinse until no suds remain.

3. 3

   Scrub the lid parts and straw

   Wash each lid piece in hot soapy water, using a detail brush on threads and the drink opening and a thin straw brush through any straw. Push the brush through from both ends.

4. 4

   Soak with baking soda for smells and film

   Once a week, fill the bottle with warm water and 1 to 2 tablespoons of baking soda and leave it open for 30 minutes. Soak the lid parts in a bowl of the same mix. Scrub and rinse.

5. 5

   Use a vinegar soak for mineral film or mildew

   If you see white residue or the gasket smells musty, soak the bottle and lid parts in equal parts white vinegar and warm water for 30 minutes to a few hours. Rinse thoroughly.

6. 6

   Try a cleaning tablet for hard-to-reach bottles

   For narrow bottles or tough coffee stains, drop in a bottle cleaning tablet with warm water as the package directs, usually 15 to 30 minutes, with the lid off. Rinse well afterward.

7. 7

   Air dry everything apart

   Set the bottle upside down at an angle on a rack so air can get in, and lay the lid parts out separately. Reassemble only when everything is fully dry. Trapped moisture is what grows mold.

How to clean a stainless steel water bottle

Wash it with soap and a brush, deep clean it with baking soda or vinegar, and never use bleach. Insulated stainless bottles from the big brands all warn against chlorine.

Stanley’s FAQ suggests a 30-minute warm water and baking soda soak, or white vinegar or lemon juice, for smells and stains, and says to treat any rust spot with baking soda or vinegar for 5 to 10 minutes and a non-abrasive sponge. YETI’s Rambler FAQ says its drinkware is dishwasher safe and to remove gaskets for a thorough clean. Hydro Flask advises against cleansers with bleach or chlorine.

How to get mold out of a water bottle lid

Take the lid apart, soak the parts in vinegar, scrub every groove, and dry them separately. Black specks usually live under the gasket and inside the spout or straw valve.

• Pry out the silicone gasket and look in the groove it sat in; that is the usual spot.
• Soak all lid parts in equal parts white vinegar and warm water for at least 30 minutes, then scrub with a detail brush and rinse.
• If mold stays in a straw or a sealed lid you cannot open, replace that part. Most brands sell replacement lids, straws and gaskets.
• To stop it coming back, wash the lid every day and let it dry apart overnight.

Cleaning plastic, glass and smart bottles

The same soap, brush and soak routine works for all bottles; the differences are heat and electronics.

• Plastic (Nalgene, CamelBak and similar): many are top-rack dishwasher safe. Baking soda helps with flavors that plastic absorbs. Replace bottles with deep scratches that hold film.
• Glass: dishwasher safe in most cases; remove the silicone sleeve and wash it separately so water does not get trapped under it.
• Smart or self-cleaning bottles: hand wash the bottle only, and keep the cap with UV lights or sensors out of water unless the maker says otherwise.
• Hydration bladders: use a reservoir brush kit, and dry them propped open.

For other drinkware and appliances that hold water, see how to clean an electric kettle and how to clean a coffee maker.

Mistakes to avoid

• Rinsing the bottle with water only and leaving a slimy film to build up.
• Washing the bottle but never removing the gasket, where most mold grows.
• Screwing the lid on a wet bottle, which traps moisture and smells within a day.
• Using bleach on a stainless steel bottle, which can cause pitting and rust spots.
• Capping a bottle while baking soda and vinegar are still fizzing.