RNAV

Currently using Camelbak podium chills, and they're a massive pain to take completely apart to get into all the nooks and crannies to get mold out. And no matter how hard I try, or what brushes I use, I can't get all the mold out of the valve housing. Surely, there has to be something better out there.

Ideally, I'd like something that will come completely apart for cleaning. Any suggestions?

Berg417448

Clean Bottle

Top and bottom are removable

https://www.amazon.com/Clean-Bottle-.../dp/B0053OWBZ0

Maelochs

Second Clean Bottle.

The clean Bottle nozzle will discolor, but in my experience will not grow or hold mold. Been using them for several years.

inspclouseau

Never had a problem with my podiums in the dishwasher. Do you wash by hand? Also, I always use sanitize mode and heat dry.

Jazzguitar

How long do you wait after a ride before you clean your bottles? I don't have any problems with mold with my Camelbak bottles with just a quick wash with hot water and detergent. I can imagine that if you let sugary drinks sit for hours or days there will be funk growing in just about any bottle.

RNAV

My issue is with the lid/valve assembly, not the bottle itself. I typically rinse them out as soon as I get home, and primarily wash them in the dishwasher. The only time I wash them by hand is if I need them clean and there aren't enough dishes to justify running the dishwasher.

Here's the problem I'm talking about: it's inside the valve assembly; the plastic pieces that hold the rubber flap in place. From the outside, they look clean. But once I pried the entire assembly apart with a knife, this is what the inside of the valve assembly looks like:


I don't see how the inside of this valve assembly, which I had to pry open with a knife to access, could possibly get clean regardless of how it's washed. Which brings me back to my original question: are there any easy-to-clean and take apart sports bottles out there (specifically, the valve portion can be easily disassembled)?

Jazzguitar

Fwiw, they seem to have changed the design, I tore mine apart and it looks different and is clean as a whistle.

goenrdoug

... guess I know what I'm gonna be prying apart and examining this evening. Thx.

dvdslw

I had one get moldy and in the trash it went. After that experience I learned to immediately bring them to the kitchen just after a ride, rinse out, squirt clean water through them, and finally put them in the fridge to keep mold at bay. Never felt the need to run them through the dishwasher, just water or light dish soap inside and out.

DrIsotope

Someone had mentioned that after washing, to place the Camelbak caps nozzle down on a drying cloth (we have those microfiber dish mats in the kitchen) to prevent the mold buildup, so I tried it and lo and behold, it works. I haven't had to take my Jet Valves apart in months.

Also, run them through the dishwasher every couple of weeks. If mold does start to buildup, Q-tips work great for cleaning the individual valve parts.

TrojanHorse

me too and I'm not looking forward to the results!

Tycho Brahe 

I usually do the last step listed here, which is using denture cleaning tablets: How to Disinfect Reusable Water Bottles | POPSUGAR Fitness

AristoNYC

I switched over to Elite Thermal Bottles. I got tired of moldy camelbak bottles as well.
Elite is very easy to take apart and clean.

rpenmanparker 

OP may not have access to a dishwasher. If he does, there is nothing else to use. Never a cleanliness problem of any kind with any bottle if the dishwasher is used.

f4rrest

Like your own little garden in there, no?

aplcr0331

Whoah, that is gnarly! Is that from water? Or do you drink other things too?

dim

klean kanteen reflect ... they come with bamboo flat tops or with the sports top:



here's mine with the other tops:

Fiery

I use simple plastic cycling-specific bottles, no fancy nozzles, no thermal insulation. I occasionally rinse them with a vinegar solution, making sure it soaks and permeates the nozzle completely. I use a couple of these at the moment, but I have other ones that work just as well.

bikepro

If you only put water in them, they stay fairly clean. Drinks containing sugar are the worst. Best to rinse out after using and disassemble and clean throughly periodically.

2lo8

Polar nozzles twist off. They're designed to be removable and cleanable. It was one of the reasons I bought them.

cave12man

This is slightly horrifying. Had a bottle once where the nozzle smelled like absolute butthole. One of the worst smells I've ever endured, like the ones that creep into your nightmares. Now I know why.

Wheever

I find when I put my camelbaks in the dishwasher they end up smelling really gross. I hand wash. Occasional denture tablets. Mostly hand wash and give them a little clorox. But I only run water in them.

rpenmanparker 

You don't say what kind of smell, but I suspect you are using a dishwasher detergent with a high level of fragrance, perhaps citrus type. The plastic loves to absorb that fragrance. Costco's plastic detergent packets don't cause that problem...at least not very much.

Jazzguitar

I almost always have gatorade in one or both bottles so that's not it. My technique, which apparently works well, is to put a drop of detergent in each bottle, fill the bottle halfway with very hot water, shake it like hell and then squirt the hot, soapy water through the nozzle. I then rinse thoroughly, squeezing the hot, clean water through the nozzle until no suds remain. I then let the bottles dry in the rack with the caps on a towel. It sounds like a process but it takes me all of 3 minutes and there's no sign of gunk in any of my bottles. If you clean it properly you shouldn't have to take cap apart.

bmthom.gis

This is a really cool bottle/cage system. I know a lot of people who use it.
KOALA BOTTLE | The Magnetic Bottle System

The Camelback bottles are like $10 a pop. If it gets too bad I would just throw out and get a new one. I use the Podium bottles as well.