What is the Best Way to Clean and Store Reusable Water Bottles?

With so many options for fantastic reusable water bottles, it’s easy to rack up quite a collection. From sports bottles with spill-proof spouts to casual water-drinking devices that you use during the work day, maintaining your reusable water bottles can prove to be a challenge.

Reusable water bottles can be breeding ground for bacteria. Just because only water goes in, doesn’t mean it stays clean. That wet, dark environment is perfect for germs to fester. While reusable bottles are definitely a better way to drink water compared to single-use plastic bottles, making sure they stay clean is essential.

Then, we have the issue of storage. You may have eleven reusable water bottles but only ever drink from the three that are within reach. There’s got to be a smarter way to store your bottles that’s both efficient and can help them last longer.

How to Clean Reusable Water Bottles

Hopefully, you’re already in the habit of doing the dishes and washing your reusable water bottle is as simple as adding it to the ever-growing pile of dirty dishes. In fact, the most difficult part is remembering to do it in the first place.

So, at the end of every day, set a reminder to grab your bottle out of your gym bag or from the bottom of your backpack to make sure it’s clean for the next time you want to use it.

Double check that your reusable water bottle is dishwasher-safe and throw it in. If not, warm, soapy water will do the trick. But, if you haven’t cleaned your bottle in a while and you’re now freaking out about how gross that is, you may want to take extra measures.

• After a normal wash, use vinegar to fill your reusable bottle a quarter of the way and top it off with water. Let the mixture sit overnight to kill any lingering bacteria.
• You can even buy cleaner tablets that are made for the job. Follow the directions on the package but usually, you’ll just add water and let the capsules do the rest.

Storing Reusable Water Bottles

Kitchen organization seems to be a common struggle. From missing Tupperware lids to overflowing reusable water bottles, the clutter can feel daunting.

Right off the bat, it’s important to store reusable water bottles only when they’re completely dry. Leftover water is often what leads to bacteria buildup and just overall gunk. For extra assurance, store the water bottles upside down so any water that did get left behind can drip out.

If you don’t live under a rock, you’ve probably seen Tidying Up with Marie Kondo on Netflix and part of her KonMari philosophy on staying organized is to make sure you can find things easily. So, keep that in mind when storing your reusable water bottles.

• Use a wine rack to display your collection. The bottles will have to be lying on their side for this option so make sure to dry them out completely first.
• Use bins that you can pull in and out of your pantry. They won’t topple over and by acting as a drawer, you can see all of your options at a glance. If storing your bottles upside down, keep the tops in a separate, smaller bin within the large bin. If the lid to your bottle is unable to be removed, ensure that is is left open when storing. 
• Use drawer dividers in a drawer that’s tall enough to keep your bottles standing, but ensure that the lids are kept open to provide proper drying. 

Long story short, wash your reusable water bottle every day. Then, get creative and organize your clean reusable water bottles to make them sanitary and avoid a domino effect each time you open the cupboard. Lastly, it's always a good idea to give you bottle a quick rinse if they've been storing for awhile before filling with water. 

Let us know how you wash and store your water bottles at the comments below.