How to properly clean glass bottles and plastic water bottles

Clean. Hygienic. Looks good for longer.

A reusable water bottle is a practical everyday companion – whether in the office, on the go, during sports, at school, or while travelling. To ensure it stays hygienic, neutral in taste, and looking great for a long time, it should be cleaned regularly.

Whether it's a glass bottle, plastic water bottle, Tritan™ bottle, or printed water bottle: with the right cleaning routine, you can prevent residue, odours, and biofilm – while extending the lifespan of your bottle and its print.

Why should you clean water bottles regularly?

Even if you only fill your water bottle with water, residues, germs or a biofilm can build up over time. Small residues quickly accumulate, especially around the mouthpiece, in the thread, on the cap and on the sealing ring.

Regular cleaning ensures that your bottle:

Water bottles should also be rinsed thoroughly before first use. By the time a bottle reaches you, it has been through manufacturing, finishing, packaging and transport.

How often should you clean a water bottle?

The short answer: If you use your water bottle every day, you should clean it regularly.

When used daily with water, a simple clean with hot water and a little washing-up liquid is often enough. If the bottle is used for juice, tea, smoothies, carbonated drinks or other beverages, it should be cleaned more thoroughly.

As a guide:

Cleaning a water bottle: step by step by hand

Cleaning by hand is particularly gentle and the best method for many bottles – especially if the bottle is printed or has high-quality caps.

How to clean your water bottle properly:

1. Rinse the bottle with warm to hot water.
2. Add a few drops of washing-up liquid into the bottle.
3. Fill the bottle with water and shake gently.
4. Clean the inside with a long bottle brush.
5. Thoroughly clean the opening, thread and grooves.
6. Clean the cap separately.
7. Rinse everything thoroughly with clean water.
8. Leave the bottle open and upside down to dry, if possible.

Important: Do not close the bottle until it is completely dry. This will prevent odors and moisture from building up inside.

Cleaning water bottles in the dishwasher

Many glass or plastic water bottles are dishwasher-safe. At aboutwater, unprinted glass bottles and many water bottles are heat-resistant and easy to clean.

However, always check the respective product recommendation. Not every material and not every cap belongs in the dishwasher.

A dishwasher is useful if:

Depending on the model, printed water bottles can also be dishwasher-safe. For the longest possible lifespan of the print, we still recommend washing them by hand occasionally.

When using the dishwasher, make sure that other crockery does not rub against the print. After the wash cycle, the bottle should dry thoroughly before it is used or closed again.

How to clean plastic bottles properly

Plastic water bottles, standard plastic bottles and Tritan™ bottles can be kept hygienically clean with very little effort. Over time, residues, odours or deposits can build up, particularly on caps, mouthpieces, threads and seals. These areas should therefore be cleaned especially thoroughly.

Warm water, a little washing-up liquid and a bottle brush are usually enough for regular cleaning.

How to clean plastic bottles properly:

Do not use aggressive scouring agents or harsh brushes, as these can damage the surface and, in the case of printed bottles, the print.

Important: Do not just quickly rinse your water bottle, but clean it thoroughly on a regular basis. This prevents odours, deposits and biofilm, and helps reusable plastic bottles stay hygienic and ready for use for a long time.

Cleaning a glass bottle

Glass bottles are usually very easy to clean because the surface is smooth, neutral in taste and hygienic. Borosilicate glass does not absorb odours or tastes, making it particularly suitable for water, tea or juice.

How to clean glass water bottles:

Our glass bottles are dishwasher-safe. Even printed glass bottles can be washed in the dishwasher. To ensure the print lasts as long as possible, we also recommend occasionally washing them gently by hand.

Please note: The caps for our glass bottles should be washed separately by hand and should not be placed in the dishwasher.

Cleaning the cap: The most important part is often forgotten

The cap is one of the most important areas to clean. Residue tends to build up here particularly easily due to contact with the mouth, beverages, and moisture.

The caps on our glass bottles should not be washed in the dishwasher. We recommend gently washing them by hand with a little dish soap and a soft cloth or sponge.

How to clean caps properly:

The stainless steel caps on our glass bottles can also be soaked in a mild soapy water solution. Then rinse them thoroughly and let them dry.

The bamboo caps on our glass bottles should not be soaked, as bamboo is more sensitive to water. It’s best to clean them gently with a damp cloth and a little dish soap.

Kavodrink caps: Standard, flip-top, and premium caps can be washed in the dishwasher. For the sports cap, we recommend washing by hand with a little dish soap and warm water. Pay special attention to the mouthpiece, threads, and sealing areas.

Cleaning printed water bottles

Printed water bottles are particularly popular as employee gifts, client gifts, school water bottles, club water bottles or branded water bottles. To ensure the print stays looking good for a long time, cleaning should be done carefully.

Many printed water bottles are dishwasher safe. However, for the longest possible print lifespan, occasional hand washing with warm water and washing-up liquid is recommended.

Important for printed water bottles:

Removing stubborn odours, deposits and stains

Depending on usage, odours, deposits, or discolouration can build up over time. Most residue can be gently removed using simple household remedies.

Suitable household remedies:

Baking powder: odours & light deposits
Vinegar cleaner: limescale & odours
Lemon juice: light discolouration
Rice grains: mechanical cleaning
Bottle brush: daily cleaning

Tip: Never leave baking powder to soak in a closed bottle, as pressure can build up.

Download cleaning instructions

We have put together a compact cleaning and user guide for our glass bottles. There you will find the most important instructions for cleaning the bottle and lid, using printed bottles, and using them with carbonated and hot drinks.

Download cleaning and user guide for glass bottles

Sources

Health.com: How Often Should You Wash Your Water Bottle?
Good Housekeeping: How Often Should You Clean Your Reusable Water Bottle?

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