If you’re someone who uses their Greens Steel water bottle everyday, then you’ll need to know the best ways of cleaning it to ensure the germs are kept away and your water always tastes fresh!
Keep reading to learn the best methods of keeping your stainless steel water bottle squeaky clean.
Why you should keep your bottle clean
Reusable stainless steel bottles are the way of the future as one of the biggest ways to help reduce single use plastic, so, of course, you want to keep it properly maintained so it can last as long as possible!
As these bottles have a very moist environment it’s easy for mold and bacteria such as E. coli, which can lead to food poisoning and gastroenteritis, to build up within both the bottle and the lid. Whether you’re using the bottle for coffee, hot chocolate, water or iced tea, it’s highly recommended to properly clean and sanitise the bottle after every use.
Daily maintenance of your stainless steel bottle
If you’re using your stainless steel water bottle every day, there are a few daily tasks you should do to keep your bottle in top condition. After using it, unscrew the lid and run it through the dishwasher. All of our tumblers, lids and straws are completely dishwasher safe. Make sure the lid is completely dry before putting it back on the bottle though so it doesn’t become a breeding ground for germs!
Also, wash the bottle out thoroughly using warm water and soap. To get into those tricky nooks and crannies you can use a cloth or a small brush to scrub the inside and remove any build up. Rinse the bottle out thoroughly and again leave it to dry completely before using it again.
3 methods of washing your stainless steel bottle by hand
If, after washing it every day, your bottle still isn’t as fresh as it could be, try our top 3 methods of washing and sanitising your stainless steel bottle.
1. Distilled white vinegar
Vinegar is a fantastic natural cleaning agent that will help to disinfect and sanitise your bottle.
- Fill the bottle with equal parts water and vinegar.
- Put the lid on and give the bottle a few good shakes, swirling the mixture around.
- Let it soak overnight and then rinse out with warm water the next day.
2. Baking soda
Use baking soda for an extremely thorough clean to get rid of any grime and mildew that may have built up inside.
- Put a teaspoon amount of baking soda into the bottle.
- Fill the rest up with water.
- Scrub the inside of the lid with the baking soda solution too.
- Let the bottle sit overnight and then rinse it out with water the next morning.
3. 3% hydrogen peroxide
If there’s an unpleasant smell in your water bottle that just won’t budge, then using 3% hydrogen peroxide is your best option.
- First clean the bottle as normal with soap and warm water.
- Put around 60ml of hydrogen peroxide in the bottle.
- Put the lid back on and shake the bottle vigorously.
- Then pour out the hydrogen peroxide and give the bottle a quick rinse with water.
Best equipment to clean your bottle with
Washing your stainless steel water bottle is a quick and simple process that doesn’t require a lot of equipment. In fact, you’ll no doubt already have everything you need already laying around your kitchen! You can use a cloth to clean both the inside and the outside of the bottle, but, if you really want to be able to get in those hard-to-reach places then the best piece of equipment to use would be a water bottle brush.
Water bottle brushes are narrow, flexible brushes with long handles allowing easy access inside the bottle. Their soft bristles are perfect to use for stainless steel bottles as they won’t scratch the inside, unlike other products such as metal scrub sponges and wire brushes.
How to clean your bottle brush
After a few uses you’ll need to also clean your bottle brush too so no germs can build up and no residue or scents of previous drinks will linger.
- First fill the sink with hot water and add 1tbsp of liquid soap.
- Let your brush soak in the water for about 10/15 minutes first as this will loosen any product that may be stuck to it.
- Gently separate and comb through the bristles to remove any dirt particles and ensure the soap covers the entire brush.
- Rinse the brush off in the hot water and leave it on the side to dry.
- If you want to go that extra step farther and sanitise your brush, place it in a clean bowl and pour hydrogen peroxide over it to kill any lingering germs.
- Leave the hydrogen peroxide on for another 10/15 minutes before rinsing it and letting it dry.
If you’ve also got a tumbler take a look at our top tips for the best ways to clean your stainless steel tumbler.
FAQs
The best way to disinfect and sterilise your bottle naturally is with distilled vinegar. It's non-toxic, mildly acidic, a good disinfectant and a fantastic DIY cleaning product all round the house. Put 2 tablespoons of distilled (white) vinegar in your bottle and fill half way with warm water.
How do you clean a stainless steel bottle? ›
The best way to disinfect and sterilise your bottle naturally is with distilled vinegar. It's non-toxic, mildly acidic, a good disinfectant and a fantastic DIY cleaning product all round the house. Put 2 tablespoons of distilled (white) vinegar in your bottle and fill half way with warm water.
How to clean stainless steel? ›
The Best At-Home Methods for Cleaning Stainless Steel
1: Add white vinegar to a clean spray bottle. 2: Spray down your stainless-steel appliance. 3: Wipe clean with a microfiber cloth. 4: Once clean, dip your cloth into a small amount of olive oil.
What can I use to clean my metal water bottle? ›
Baking soda
Use baking soda for an extremely thorough clean to get rid of any grime and mildew that may have built up inside. Put a teaspoon amount of baking soda into the bottle. Fill the rest up with water. Scrub the inside of the lid with the baking soda solution too.
How do you clean a stainless steel water bottle with boiling water? ›
A bottle brush will let you clean a bottle with a narrower top. If you're using a insulated water bottle, then you can also fill your bottle with boiling water and let it sit for 10 minutes, this should kill any bacteria. Don't forget to wash the cap thoroughly too as this is where most of the germs will be.
What is not recommended to clean stainless steel? ›
Avoid abrasive scouring powders, scrubbers, bleach and ammonia to keep from damaging the appliance's finish. Never wipe stainless steel against the metal's grain. Always wipe with the grain to prevent streaking.
What is the best solution for cleaning stainless steel? ›
Fill a spray bottle with equal parts water and white vinegar. You can add a few drops of lemon juice or essential oils to make the mixture smell better. If you have stubborn spots and grime, add a little bit of baking soda, and gently scrub away the buildup.
How to clean bottle nipples? ›
Use hot, soapy water and a nipple and bottle brush. Scrub the bottle and nipple well, inside and out. Make sure to thoroughly clean all grooves on both the plastic ring and the bottle. Rinse in warm tap water.
How do you clean bottles and dummies? ›
Everything that comes into contact with an infant's food needs thorough cleaning and sterilising. All equipment should be rinsed in cold water after use, washed in soap and hot water using a bottle brush to thoroughly clean everything, then rinsed again, before being sterilised.
What is the easiest water bottle to clean? ›
So for most people, Zulu Ace is probably the best choice. Being able to take off both sides of the bottle makes it so much easier to make sure you're cleaning the bottle thoroughly, so we'll give the nod to this one for anyone who prioritizes cleaning your bottle over everything else.
Stainless steel bottles, as you know, are reusable, so they're one of the best ways to reduce the usage of single-use plastic. That said, you need to ensure that you are keeping it clean at all times so that you can enjoy its use for as long as possible.
How do you deep clean a steel water bottle? ›
Baking soda is a disinfectant and it has antimicrobial properties, making it the ideal antibacterial wash for a deep clean. All you have to do is add a teaspoon of baking soda to your water bottle, then fill it with warm water. Let soak for about 15 minutes, then rinse.
How to get smell out of stainless steel water bottle? ›
If you're starting to get that metallic or musty smell, that's a good indication that your water bottle already needs some cleaning. Put around two tablespoons of vinegar inside the bottle, place the cap back on, and shake vigorously for a few seconds. After that, just pour it out and rinse the bottle with water.
How often should you wash your stainless steel water bottle? ›
Experts agree that it's important to wash your bottle on a regular basis, but whether that's daily or every few days can depend on a few factors. If you use your bottle daily, Schaffner said, washing it weekly or once every couple of days would be a “reasonable” timeframe.
Should you wash stainless steel water bottles? ›
Whether it's composed of stainless steel, thick plastic, or aluminum, our experts say you still have to wash your reusable water bottle after every single use. “Unfortunately, germs don't care about what materials the bottles are made from.”
