Home hacks : How to give your water bottle a thorough cleaning

It’s one of the easiest things to forget but trust us when we say that you need to remember to clean your water bottle. Giving it a quick rinse isn’t enough. In fact, that creates the perfect dark and wet environment for bacteria to grow.

And while we’re sure you’re sipping from a reusable bottle, if it is hand-wash only, things can get a little tricky. That’s why you must make sure your bottle gets the best scrubbing every time. As compiled from Fitness magazine and popsugar.com, here are some suggestions for what you can do to give your water bottle a solid scrub-a-dub-dub.

1) See if your bottle is hand-wash only

Some bottles can be thrown in the dishwasher. So, you should check the bottom of your bottle for directions. If it is dishwasher-safe, take the bottles apart so each component (bottle, top, and possibly a mouthpiece and detachable straw) can be cleansed separately. Also, try to place them at the top rack of the dishwasher to avoid warping from the hot water.

2) Make sure you clean the bottle after every use

There really should not be any exceptions to this rule. “If you take a bottle to the gym with you, take it cycling or go out running with it and then don’t clean it afterwards, every sip you take will be filled with thousands of bacteria,” said Becca Napelbaum, a cleaning expert at Handy.com. Just like you would toss your dirty clothes in the laundry, at the end of a long day, get that water bottle in the sink.

3) Start scrubbing

If your bottle is hand-wash only, it is easy to go with the soap-and-water method. Make sure the water is warm and soapy (you can use whatever you use to hand-wash your dishes). Also, a nonabrasive sponge or bristle brush to get into the crannies of the bottle and under its mouthpiece is necessary for a thorough cleaning. You can also drop in a cleaning tablet. Once washed, turn the bottle upside down and allow it to air-dry overnight.

4) Grab some vinegar

If you have time for an extra step, Napelbaum suggests filling the bottle a fifth of the way with white vinegar and the rest with water, then letting it stand overnight. You can do this once a week, then give it a healthy rinse before taking it out for the next time.

5) Use a weak bleach solution

Are you really worried about germs? If yes, know that nothing stands a chance against a little bleach. It is perfectly safe to drink from a bottle that’s been cleaned with a weak bleach solution. In fact, it can even be used to sanitise baby toys and bottles! Make a bleach solution using one tablespoon of bleach per one quart of water. Fill your bottle, screw on the top and allow the solution to sit for two minutes. Pour the solution and allow the bottle to dry out completely.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 21^st, 2016.

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