How to Kill the Bacteria in your Water Bottles!

By Anisha Nair - Updated: October 31, 2018

In this Article

How to Clean Drinking Water Bottles to Stay Healthy

Water bottles can expose you to many germs if you aren’t careful. Bacteria loves moist places, making your bottle one of the most attractive places to dwell in. Find out how to make water bottle cleaning solutions to keep yours and your family’s containers properly sanitised.

You can’t deny that reusable bottles are incredibly handy. You don’t need to buy new ones every time and you do a big favour to the environment. However, for all their convenience, bottles need to be cleaned regularly. Else, bacteria will make their home in them! Get into the habit of cleaning bottles so that you can sip your drink without any stress.

How to Clean Drinking Water Bottles to Stay Healthy

- Use warm water and soap
  
  Whether it’s a water bottle or one that holds your favourite energy drink, it’ll always be susceptible to harbouring bacteria if you aren’t careful. To get your bottle really sterile, dump the contents, remove the cap and soak everything in warm, soapy water. Use a cloth to clean the edges of the cap and use a brush that you can insert into the bottle. Then, screw the bottle and do some vigorous shaking. Rinse and leave to dry out.
- Vinegar and baking soda aren’t just for cooking!
  
  For a deeper clean that goes beyond the soap and water wash, switch to vinegar to clear bacteria in your water bottle. Pour a half cup of vinegar and 2 tablespoons of baking soda into the bottle. Let the fizzy mixture sit overnight. In the morning, scrub it and wash it thoroughly with cold water, including scrubbing the cap and the insides.

Pop it into the dishwasher

If you have a dishwasher and your bottle is dishwasher-safe, toss it in. Set it to a temperature to kill bacteria in your water bottle. It shouldn’t be too hot, but enough to sanitise. You can check the bottle manufacturer’s instructions for safety.
Try denture tablets

It may sound weird, but denture tablets can disinfect water bottles from bacteria. The ingredients are safe and won’t damage the plastic. Place one or two tablets in the bottle and fill it with warm water. Let the solution rest for two minutes. Close the bottle and shake it vigorously for a few seconds. Rinse it well and let it dry.
Use a little bleach

Create a water bottle cleaning solution with some bleach. This is a great way to treat bottles that are greasy and don’t seem to be getting much cleaner with vinegar and baking soda. A weak bleach solution prevents the spread of germs and even helps clean the flu virus too. Drop 1 tablespoon of the powder into your bottle and fill it with water. Allow it to sit for three minutes or so and rinse it out thoroughly.

These are some of the best ways to clean water bottles. Even if all you use yours for is water, it can still get dirty and needs regular cleaning. Just like how you wash your hands frequently to keep germs at bay, do the same with bottles. Aside from the cleanliness factor, they’ll also smell nice and fresh. Set aside one bottle for each member of the family and label them accordingly. It’s an easy way to stay safe and hygienic.

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