How do I clean a plastic water bottle?
Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010 at
2:48 pm
I have a large plastic water bottle I like to keep at my desk. I heard that bacteria may form inside plastic bottles if not properly cleaned. The problem is that the water bottle has a small mouth, so I can’t scrub the inside with soap and water. I’m not even sure that soap and water is the best solution. Any ideas?
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Filed under: Water Filter System
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Empty it every evening before you leave, and turn it upside down so that all the moisture can drip out or evaporate. In the morning give the mouthpiece a good scrubbing.
You don’t want to reuse it very many times, though. I would probably toss it out after 3 or 4 days.
Get a bottle brush like they use for baby bottles. It looks big, but it smooshes together to fit into small openings for bottles. Pretty cheap too.
Vinegar and water should clean it out sufficiently.
If you cannot bear the smell of vinegar (as you’ll have to rinse the bottle out a lot to get that smell out) you could try baby bottle cleaners. They’re narrow bristled brushes designed to clean small items.
If it’s not a water bottle intended for re-use, I’d throw it away, because the plastic degrades over time and gets into your water.
Boil up some water, fill container about 1/2 full and slosh it around for a few seconds and that should do it.
To clean the bottle, use the bottle brush as recommened by others. Remember to use some dish soap as well.
To sanitize the bottle, consider using a small amount of chlorine bleach mixed with water. The concentration will vary with the size the bottle (1 part bleach to 5 parts water will be MORE than strong enough to kill anything). Let the diluted bleach solution sit for several minutes (at least ten) and then drain and rinse very well two or three times. Trace amounts of bleach in the water won’t hurt you but if might not taste good and you want to be certain to get all the bleach rinsed from where you’ll be putting your mouth on the bottle.
Use half hot soap and water and half bleach and a bottle brush, one that can reach to the bottom. You might have to surf for a specialty brush if the mouth of the bottle is too small. Baby bottle brushes are usually satisfactory.
Shake the mixture in the bottle and let sit for a while prior to using the brush. Rewash without bleach and rinse well.
Fill in about 3 tablespoons of rice, add water and shake.
WoW….way to poison the Asker people!
You can keep your bottle clean and fresh by simply rinsing it in hot water. You can add up to 5 DROPS of chlorine bleach when you want to make extra sure.
How many people are drinking from this supposedly nasty water bottle? No need to be afraid of your own germs, those are already in your mouth, ya know.
By the way-THANKS for re-using your bottle-we have enough plastic in the world!