We at Waterlinks are huge proponents of using reusable water bottles, especially ones made of glass or stainless steel. Why? Reusable bottles are the best way to get clean, great-tasting WaterChef or Aquasana filtered water into your body. They are also way more cost effective than buying bottle after bottle from stores. And of course reusable bottles are infinitely better for the environment than going through tons of plastic disposable bottles.
But as with anything that is filled with sitting water and comes in contact with germs in our mouth, water bottles can get a bit gross. We recently found these four tips to make sure that your reusable bottles get a proper cleaning.
One of the most important things to get germs out of your bottle is to make sure that it has time to properly dry. Any dampness will allow bacteria to grow and spread, so air your bottle out with the lid off! Put it upside down in a drying rack where it can get plenty of air is a great way to do this. Allow at least 24 hours of dryness before filling your bottle again.
Vinegar is a great natural antibacterial cleaner. Fill your bottle with ¼ vinegar and ¾ water. Shake it up and then let the bottle sit with this solution overnight. Then clean it out as you would with a bottle brush. Let it dry and it’s good to go!
If your bottle can handle hot water and keep its temperature for prolonged periods of time, boiling water is another way to clean it. Fill your bottle with hot boiling water, close it, shake it a little (don’t burn yourself) and let it sit overnight. In the morning, carefully open it and pour the water out. Wash with soapy water and a bottle brush and let dry.
Using a gentle, naturally anti-microbial dishwashing soap like Soapnut Republic’s Grapefruit essential oil infused Dish Soap is also a great and safe way to clean your water bottles. Simply squeeze a bit of the dish soap into the bottle, fill it with water, shake it, and then give the insides a good scrub with your bottle brush. Rinse it out and let it air dry.
So there you have it! Four great ways to make sure the pure, filtered water you put into your resuable water bottle stays clean and safe.