General Cycling Discussion - Old Water Bottles / How do you clean them?

I was just reading in another thread that keeping plastic bacteria-free is difficult. So that got me to thinking of all the old water bottles I have.

Do you guys put them in the dishwasher or just clean them by hand with soap and water?

I'd imagine the bacteria, if any, would from at the mouth area.........

Do you guys keep your water bottles forever or just buy a new one every couple of years or so?

Or have you never cleaned your bottle :eek:

Clean a water bottle? Why would you do that? ;)

Just like any other dishes, plastic food storage containers, etc. They don't have to be sterile.

I do occasionally do a little extra cleaning. I use antibacterial dish soap, and occasionally I will add a dab, and fill the bottles and just let them sit.

Also, I usually get new bottles every year or two.

A little bit of dish soap and a rinse, just like any other dish or item. Hammer Heed doesn't seem to stick too much...

You can get some white vinegar and pour 1/2 tsp in the bottle and fill with warm water to help clean it.

Generally, we just wash the bottles - either by hand or in the dishwasher, but once or twice a year they get the bleach treatment: Put a few drops of bleach in each bottle, fill with hot water & let sit for a few hours, then rinse out really well. This also works great for hydration packs - especially the tube & mouthpiece.

Usually soap and water ... sometimes a bit of bleach. And I do seem to collect a massive quantity of bottles, so I have to go through and retire some now and then.

thanks everyone. sound like some vinegar and bleach to properly clean off the super oldies. :)

Soap, H2O, and a brush in the sink.
If the funky plastic taste is especially bad, vinegar, maybe bleach, and a run in the dishwasher.
If it still tastes like a test tube, it goes in the recycling bin.

I occasionally fill them up with bourbon and vodka for recreational outings.

They usually go in the dishwasher but occasionally I'll toss one on the workbench and forget about it until the inside looks like pond scum. Then it gets the bleach treatment and then the dishwasher.

Oh oh! This has the potential to turn into a Campy vs. Shimano or worse, a best chain lube kind of thread.

My water bottles simply go into the dishwasher (not necessarily after every single ride either). That must be an OK way of doing it because I'm not dead yet.

Baby bottle steriliser tablets if you're worried about having left it for some time without washing it.

Rinse and refill.

Clean a water bottle? Why would you do that? ;)

Whatz next? Clean the coffee pot?

Actually, I always use WD-40.

Shake up some baking soda and water to get rid of odor/taste.

I think the key thing is not to leave any energy drink or other non-water fluids in the bottle for any time, then a normal warm water soapy wash will be sufficient.

i hear you can use denture tablets to clean camelbaks and stuff. if you wanted to really clean it thorougly with out much effort I'd do that. you can get the tablets really cheap at the dollar store or something.

Rinse and refill.

Oh yes, some of the other posts remind me...The caveat to this is that my water bottles are for water only.