How to Clean a Reusable Water Bottle

Nov 11, 2023

Your reusable water bottle should be cleaned after every use to prevent bacteria buildup.

You bring your reusable water bottle everywhere, making it your most used piece of drinkware. For this reason, it's typically emptied and immediately refilled without being properly cleaned first. We understand—the bottle, lid, and straw mechanism (if yours has one) can make cleaning reusable water bottles feel like a chore. But not giving your water bottle a thorough scrub regularly can lead to the buildup of bacteria, mold, and other unwanted substances—things you definitely don't want to ingest. And while it may feel like a nuisance, cleaning your reusable water bottle can be simplified with a few basic supplies and a method suitable to your specific bottle.

In general, you should wash your reusable water bottle after each use, says Alicia Sokolowski, the president and co-CEO of Aspen Clean. But the true cleaning frequency will depend on how often you use your bottle—and what you put in it. "If you only use your bottle occasionally, you can wash it every few days," says Sokolowski. If you fill it with drinks other than water, cleaning it after every use is crucial, or the interior may grow bacteria and mold.

Neglecting to wash your water bottle regularly will also make it harder to clean over time. "When we drink from a water bottle, we introduce our mouth's bacteria into the bottle, which can multiply if the bottle is not cleaned regularly," says Sokolowski. "Over time, this can create a biofilm, a thin layer of bacteria that adheres to the inside of the bottle, making it harder to clean and increasing the risk of contamination."

Make sure you have these cleaning supplies on hand before getting started.

Always empty your bottle of any liquid before cleaning it and disassemble the lid and straw (if it has one) from the body to be cleaned separately.

For everyday cleaning, wash your reusable water bottle like any other piece of drinkware. "If your bottle is dishwasher safe, you can place it on the top rack of the dishwasher for cleaning," says Sokolowski. If the manufacturer's instructions indicate that dishwashing isn't applicable, hand clean your reusable water bottle, instead.

If your reusable water bottle has been neglected for a while, it likely has a buildup of bacteria or stains. A deep clean may be necessary to remove any unwanted substances. "It's important to note that this deep-cleaning process should be done periodically and not as a substitute for regular cleaning after each use," says Sokolowski.

Like the body of your bottle, reusable straws can also harbor bacteria and germs. After each use, you should rinse your reusable straw under hot water to remove any remaining liquid or debris. Scrub the inside and outside of the straw with a cleaning brush or pipe cleaner, using hot, soapy water. To sanitize your straw, follow the steps below.

Cleaning a bite valve lid can be tricky, but it is possible. "For these types of bottles, I really only recommend filling them with water which will reduce issues of build up and mold from juices," says Melissa Poepping, founder of The Chemical Free Home.