Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, sanitation issues have received more and more people’s attention. Do vacuum insulated stainless steel water bottles need to be cleaned more frequently? Which way will be cleaner?  What we can be sure of is that frequent washing of cups does help to stay healthy.

How often to wash the water bottle

If you use your double wall vacuum insulated stainless steel water bottles every day, you could try to wash it every day. But if you’ve been sick or you’ve taken your bottle outside, you can do this more frequently. Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, even if they don’t look dirty.

This is because the water bottle will provide a humid environment that a large number of bacteria like. Such as E. coli, which can lead to food poisoning and gastroenteritis. Although stainless steel is a material that is difficult for bacteria to control, certain parts of the bottles, such as the ridges, threading and under the lid may provide opportunities. If you find that your vacuum stainless steel bottle has a sticky film or an unpleasant smell, it is time to clean it. During the COVID pandemic, we recommend frequent washing to prevent bacteria and germs.”

If you use your stainless steel bottle for coffee, smoothies or various juices, you should wash them after each use to keep them super clean and sterile.

Frequent deep cleaning of stainless steel bottles is a good practice. If you are very focused, it can be a deep cleaning once a week. But if you are a bit slack, you can revert to a deep clean once a month, which is still very effective.

Daily cleaning method

The best and easiest way to clean double wall vacuum insulated stainless steel water bottles are to use warm soapy water.

For daily cleaning, rinse and clean all parts with warm soapy water. Make sure the drinking spout, lid and threading where the lid screws down to are all cleaned. These parts are most likely to become dirty.

You’ll also need to clean the inside of the bottle. But if you don’t have a soft bottle brush, it may be difficult to reach the bottom of the container. So you can fill it half with hot soapy water, close the lid, and shake for 30-60 seconds. Then pour out the soapy water and put it on a drying rack to air dry. Of course, it would be better to repeat the above steps again.

4 Ways to deep cleaning

Daily cleaning with hot soapy water is a good way to keep the vacuum stainless steel bottle clean. If your stainless steel water bottle has not been cleaned daily, has not been properly cleaned for a period of time, or you want to deep clean it regularly, then here are the best ways to do that.

1. Baking soda

Baking soda has disinfectant and antimicrobial properties, can neutralise acids and can well remove peculiar smells. Use baking soda for an extremely thorough cleaning to remove any dirt and mold that may have accumulate inside.

Then what to do:

Method 1: Put a teaspoon of baking soda into your empty stainless steel water bottle. Fill the rest with warm water. After the liquid sits in the bottle overnight,  rinse your bottle out with water in the morning .

Method 2: Scrub the inside of the bottle and lid with the baking soda solution and leave to sit for a little while, at least 15 minutes, and rinse out.

2. White vinegar

White vinegar is non-toxic and slightly acidic. It is a good disinfectant and an excellent cleaner of stainless steel and glass. For hundreds or even thousands of years, it has been used as the main resource to disinfect wounds, clean sores and fight infections.

Then what to do:

Fill the vacuum insulated stainless steel water bottle with equal amounts of water and vinegar.

Method 1: Close the lid and shake well to ensure that the vinegar is evenly distributed and touches all areas in the bottle.

Method 2: Use a soft bottle brush to carefully scrub the inside of the bottle, as well as the lid and drinking spout.

Pour out the mixture of vinegar and water, then rinse your bottle with fresh water. Finally, let it dry on the drain rack.

3. Stainless steel cleaning tablets

It is a very simple method to clean the vacuum stainless steel bottle with cleaning tablets.

Natural cleansing tablets are usually made from a mixture of citric acid, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide and other ingredients. Natural, biodegradable cleaning tablets can remove all dirt and odors.

Then what to do:

Fill the bottle with warm water. Drop the cleaning tablet in the water. Let it stand for at 15-30 minutes. Put the lid on the bottle and give it a little shake. Empty the liquid, rinse it off, and let it air dry.

4. Put metal water bottle in the dishwasher

Another alternative to deep cleaning of stainless steel water bottles is to place them in the dishwasher.

Generally speaking, stainless steel can be washed in the dishwasher, but it is important to check whether your bottles can be washed in the dishwasher. The dishwasher may damage the leak-proof silicone ring of the lid and other non-stainless steel parts.

If you have checked and confirmed that your stainless steel water bottle can be used in the dishwasher. Please remove the lid and other parts, and put them in the dishwasher separately with the bottle.

Cleaning tools

Cleaning double wall vacuum insulated stainless steel water bottles are a quick and easy process and don’t require a lot of equipment. In fact, you already have everything you need in your kitchen. You can use a cloth to clean the inside and outside of the bottle. However, if you want to be able to clean the hard-to-reach places, then the water bottle brush is a good choice.

The water bottle brush is a narrow and flexible brush with a long handle that can easily enter the inside of the bottle. The soft bristles are very suitable for stainless steel bottles because they will not scratch the inside.

Of course, after a few uses, you need to clean the bottle brush to prevent bacteria from growing, while avoiding residual dirt and odor.

• First add hot water and 1 tablespoon of liquid soap to the sink. Let your brush soak in the mixture for about 10 to 15 minutes, as this will loosen any product that may stick to it.
• Then gently separate and comb the bristles to remove any dirt particles that may be hidden inside, and make sure that the entire brush is covered by soap.
• Finally, rinse the brush with hot water and set it aside to dry.

If you want to further sanitize your brush, put it in a clean bowl and pour hydrogen peroxide on it. Let the hydrogen peroxide stay for 10 to 15 minutes, then rinse and dry, which is enough to kill any remaining bacteria.

I hope that after reading it, you already know how often you should clean the vacuum insulated stainless steel water bottle, as well as how to clean your stainless steel water bottle.