brianappleby

i'm getting a bit tired with washing them after every ride....

by "wash" i mean soap and water and a bottle brush...

can I get away with just rinsing every now & then?

b.

Ih8lucky13

I wash them after every ride, I never get tired of doing that.

WheresWaldo

Depends on what's in them. If it's just water, once a week in the dishwashers top rack. If it has something else, after every ride.

urbanknight

I usually just carry water in them, so I just rinse them out and leave them to dry with the top open, then wash them in the dishwasher once a week. If I use an energy drink, I use soap and a brush after the ride.

H1449-6

Into the dishwasher after every use. I don't need to drink whatever mung may grow in there between rides.

scottmorrison99

I agree. Who knows what kind of crud will grow in that little bit of water in your bottles. Cleaning them isn't that hard.

Impoliticus

I rarely wash my water bottle. The bottle looks gross, but I haven't gotten sick yet. . .
*runs to knock on wood

Thomill

Perhaps get a few extra bottles? It seems with every order from BTD or cbike I end up with more and more bottles. They may not be fancy Campy Record bottles, but seem to hold water just fine . I go through a few of them, wash them on the weekend, and there you go.

T

ViperZ

Wash your bottles??? What a novel Idea.....

I always just pitch my empty water bottles along the ride like I see the pros do

ken cummings

Works for me.

Psimet2001 

Wash in dishwasher on top rack after every use. I have enough from collecting over the years. I buy a couple of new ones every year and throw out the oldest, worst-for wear.

There was a great thread on here about the plastics used in these things, and the safety hazards that can arise from improper washing, or prolonged use.... I'm too...lazy...to...search.........must....post...without....checking....source *click*

Dalai

I just rinse and let dry on the sink post ride regardless if water or sports drink. If they start to become biology experiments, then I just fill a bucket with water and Miltons Antibacterial liquid (baby bottle cleaning product - in the supermarket aisle with Nappies etc) as directed in the instructions and leave the bottles and lids in overnight.

Diluted bleach should work also, but as this is tested on babies I feel safer using the Miltons.

SteveE

Rinse with hot tap water before re-filling. Periodically scrub with a bottle brush if I feel I need to. Pretty much just plain water in the bottles for me.

Psimet2001 

****Warning***** This technique could lead to crying at the sight of hills, the uncontrollable urge to soil your chamois, and un-explained naps at 20 mile intervals.....


....use as directed....

Jacobi

This is what I do with my camelback and water bottles. Just toss them in the freezer after every ride and nothing will grow in them, plus if you leave just a little water in them, it turns to ice (who would have thought!) and keeps your drinks colder, longer!

-Barry-

pinkrobe

I once used the same water bottle for ~3 years [including commuting] without washing it with soap or other cleansers. I've never washed out my hydration pack in 4 years, and I have left water in it over the winter on occasion, then jumped on the bike in the spring thinking, "I don't recall filling this up". I've never gotten sick from this, but I don't ever put sports drinks in there. YMMV.

cel_davids

throw it away after everyride, like pro cyclist...haha

urbanknight

Psimet2001 made me think, my fiancee and I were reading about the cancer causing effects of plastics and how only "milky clear" plastics can be free from these chemicals. This article was regarding baby bottles, but I started looking at my bike bottles and wondering.

Which brings me to respond to Jacobi, freezing water inside a plastic container tends to release gasses you don't want trapped in there. If it's bad to freeze a regular bottle of bottled water, I imagine there are similar applications towards camelbacks and bike bottles as well.

And with all that said, the absolutely best way to avoid cancer is apparently not to eat, drink, or breathe anything in a developed country or territory. Best of luck!

Jacobi

What gasses are released by freezing water inside an open container?

urbanknight

Actually, I suppose an open container would be fine since the gasses aren't trapped. I take that to mean you leave the camelback open. I think what I read only applies to closed bottles.

edit: aren't trapped. I can't seem to type a post without editting tonight.

Jacobi

haha urbanknight, we keep type clashing tonight. I was just wondering, even if you freeze it closed, you still have to open it to fill it? Whatever gasses are inside (I'm still very interested to know what they are and where you read this, it is something I have never heard) would escape with an open cap!

urbanknight

It apparently gets into the water when locked inside for a while like that. I wish I could tell you specifics, but I'd have to dig through emails. My fiancee looks up tons of things like this and sends the information to me. We now know what body temperature I have to stay under to make sure I don't get mutated sperm when it's time to have kids (102 I think), what kind of baby bottles not to use (clear plastic), which solid foods to introduce the baby to first (veggies, THEN fruits), what kind of paint to use in the house (low VOC) yada yada yada. It's a lot, and I'm sure some of it is incorrect, but the more chances we give our baby to be fit and smart, the better.

Hitchy

G'day,

wash them**********.....but what about the 'cure for sumfing' I've been growing for the last 25 years?. I could have a major medical break through happening...& you want me to wash them???

botto 

the insides? not often.

the outsides (specifically around the nipple) - pretty often.

i only put water in my bottles, so it;s not a big issue.

HAMMER MAN

if anything besides water after every ride, if just water, upside down on the counter-top to drain and dry