I love my stainless steel water bottles. Between my wife and I we have more than a dozen – a few 24oz, large capacity 40oz, wide mouth (my personal favorite), 34oz, Thermos Hydration Bottle, Thermos Backpack Bottle and more.
I can drop them down a mountain or in the parking lot and they just get more character. The laser etching never wears off.
Before we talk about cleaning your stainless steel water bottle, let’s review the top 5 reasons why you should buy a metal water bottle!
Top 5 Reasons to Buy a Metal Water Bottle
We all love our stainless steel water bottles. They come in great colors, are easy to personalize with logos, clip art, or names, last for years and years, are durable, are easy to clean (learn how below!)... I could go on! Here are the top 5 reasons to buy a stainless sports bottle as opposed to plastic:
1. They don’t leech:
Depending on who you talk to, all plastics will leech a little bit, especially as they get older. Stainless steel doesn’t! No chemicals in your water.
2. Durability:
Boy are they durable! Hiking, rock climbing, biking, the office desk, the parking lot, they may get dinged and dented, but a quality stainless sports bottle should hold water and look good for years!
3. Cost-Efficiency:
Stainless steel sport bottles save money (see our blog post about this). No more buying plastic water bottles from vending machines, my stainless sport bottle is always around my fingers or nearby. Filling it is free!
4. Variety of Colors:
Stainless sports bottles are colorful! In our line, we currently have over 22 different colors available in various models!
5. Personalization:
And of course, stainless steel sports bottles can be personalized with your name, logo, slogan, dates, gift messages and more.
Cleaning your personalized stainless steel water bottle
I’m sure you have some stainless bottles you enjoy too. Have you ever noticed that sometimes they can start smelling after weeks of constant use? It is a mystery how that happens when all I put in there is water.
Here are a few tips for cleaning your stainless steel bottles.
My favorite method that gets it clean and odor free, plus it is quick and easy to do almost anywhere:
Rinse with Warm Water:
Start by rinsing the bottle with warm water. This helps to remove any loose debris and prepare the surface for cleaning.
Soapy Sponge Cleaning:
Apply a small amount of dishwashing soap to a sponge and lather it up. Use the soapy sponge to scrub the interior of the bottle. Focus on areas that are easily accessible.
For those challenging-to-reach spots, like the bottom half of the bottle, use the handle of a long-handled spoon to maneuver the sponge. Wooden spoons are particularly effective for this purpose.
Shake Vigorously:
Put the lid back on the bottle securely. Give the bottle a vigorous shake to help dislodge any remaining grime or residue.
Rinse Thoroughly:
Remove the soap residue by thoroughly rinsing the bottle with water. Ensure all soap traces are washed away to prevent any unwanted tastes or odors.
Air Dry or Refill:
Air Dry or Refill: At this point, you have two options: allow the bottle to air dry, ensure the cap is left off to prevent moisture buildup, or immediately refill it with fresh water for your next use.
If that doesn’t do it for you, here are more cleaning tips:
Alternative Stainless Steel Water Bottle Cleaning Methods
- Bleach Solution:
Add a little bit of bleach to the bottle, fill it with water, and let sit for 15 minutes. Keep bottle out of reach of children. Rinse thoroughly.
- Using the rice method:
Put a small amount of rice on a spoon, put a little soap on top of the rice, and pour the rice and soap in the bottle. Fill the bottle about half way with warm water. Put the lid on and shake, rattle, turn upside down, swirl so the rice comes in contact with the edges of the bottle. The rice acts as an abrasion and helps clean the inside of the bottle. Rinse thoroughly.
- White Vinegar Solution:
You can also use white vinegar to clean the inside of bottles: Pour 2 tbsp. white vinegar into the bottle, put the lid on and shake. Remove the lid, fill halfway with warm water, and scrub with a sponge or brush. Put the lid back on and shake it again, and then rinse thoroughly.
Other tips:
- Always store bottles with lids off so that any leftover moisture can evaporate.
- If storing, ensure the bottle dries completely before putting in storage.
- If the cap needs cleaning, use a soapy sponge or a little bit of vinegar.
That’s what works for me! Did these tips help or do you have any to add?
Hello! Thanks for the blog, you had some really helpful tips! I’m definitely printing this off and following it next time I clean my Klean Kanteen :).