Daily Cleaning

  1. 1

    Rinse with hot soapy water after every use

    Add a small amount of dish soap and hot water to the bottle. Shake vigorously. Use a long bottle brush to scrub the interior if possible — especially the bottom where bacteria accumulate. Rinse thoroughly with clean water.

  2. 2

    Dry completely with the lid off

    Leave the bottle upside down on a dish rack with the lid removed. A damp interior with the lid on creates the perfect environment for mould and odour. Fully drying after each use prevents most odour issues before they start.

Weekly Deep Clean: Baking Soda Method

  1. 3

    Fill with hot water and baking soda

    Add 2 tablespoons of baking soda to the bottle. Fill with hot (not boiling — this can damage insulation seals) water. Shake to dissolve. Leave overnight. The baking soda neutralises odours and loosens residue. Rinse thoroughly in the morning.

For Persistent Odours: White Vinegar

  1. 4

    Fill with diluted white vinegar solution

    Mix equal parts white vinegar and water. Fill the bottle and the lid separately (if the lid has a seal or straw, disassemble and clean each part). Leave for 30 minutes to 2 hours. Rinse very thoroughly — multiple rinses with clean water to remove the vinegar smell. Dry completely.

Clean the Lid Thoroughly

The lid is often the dirtiest part — especially flip tops, straw lids and press-button lids with many small parts. Disassemble all removable components. Use a small straw cleaning brush or toothbrush to reach into crevices. Soak lid parts in a baking soda solution for 30 minutes. Rinse well and dry separately before reassembling.

Can I put a stainless steel bottle in the dishwasher?Most stainless steel bottle bodies are dishwasher-safe, but vacuum-insulated bottles (double-walled Hydroflask, Yeti, Kmart Anko) may have their insulation damaged by dishwasher heat over time. Lids with silicone seals are generally dishwasher-safe on the top rack. Check the manufacturer’s label — most specify whether dishwasher-safe.

Frequently Asked Questions

New stainless steel bottles sometimes have a metallic odour from the manufacturing process. Fill with a baking soda solution (2 tbsp per 500ml of water), leave overnight, rinse. Repeat if needed. The metallic smell usually dissipates after a few uses. Avoid strongly flavoured drinks (coffee, certain juices) in a new bottle until the smell has gone — they can amplify it. If the smell persists after several washes, it may indicate a low-quality stainless steel alloy — a different bottle may be needed.
For visible mould: mix 1 teaspoon of bleach in 1 litre of water. Fill the bottle and lid. Leave for 10–15 minutes. Rinse extremely thoroughly — at least 5 rinses with clean water. Allow to dry completely. For bottles used for anything other than water, the white vinegar method is safer if bleach concerns you. Prevent mould by always drying completely with the lid off after every wash.