How Often Should You Wash Your Water Bottle (So It's Not Gross AF)?

The short answer: once a day.

The long answer:

Can we be real for a sec? As serious as we are about that glass water bottle life, we’re lowkey sparse washers. It’s not that we don’t like our stuff clean — of course we do, hence why we believe reusable > disposable plastic — it’s just that our water bottles never really feel all that dirty. Besides the occasional lemon wedge and ice on ice on ice, it doesn’t seem like anything’s really happening in there that could cause it to get that dirty. Right? 

Wrong. *Cut to scary local news segment about how water bottle germs are infiltrating the population and the world is ending.*

Just kidding. We aren’t trying to fearmonger or anything. The thing is just that germs are everywhere, and that’s kinda freaky considering they’re responsible for lots of stuff (ever heard of the flu?) that we want nothing to do with. Also, side note: germs aren’t all bad all the time. There are actually some pretty incredible ones that can influence everything from our mood to our body’s ability to ward off yeast infections. So don’t go priming bottles of bleach by the gallon, please.

Wash Your Hydration Vessels Daily

The truth is, we should all be washing our water bottles a little bit more often, because, with trillions of microorganisms in the human body, not all germs are the good kind. High-quality water bottles (like ours) are designed with cleanliness in mind. They’re made with dishwasher-safe, BPA-free plastic and soda lime glass, which is a heat- and chemical- resistant glass that won’t taste gross after a few uses (but beware of thermal shock or the freezer, they’ll both break your bkr). 

But, at the end of the day, bacteria loves moisture, and — unless you’re into some new powdered water trend or something — you’ll definitely find moisture in your water bottle no matter what it’s made of. As gross as it sounds, your mouth is actually a hotspot for germs, too. So the combo of a wet, germ-loving water bottle and your mouth can create the perfect spot for bacteria to flourish.

So, what’s the answer? Wash it once a day using warm water, gentle dish soap and a water bottle brush. 

How to Wash Your bkr Water Bottle

All the elements of your bkr, including its glass, sleeve and cap, are dishwasher safe, so go ahead and toss it in the wash if it’s convenient. Obviously, though, most of us aren’t running the dishwashers every day, so that’s not always the most practical solution if you want to get on the once-a-day train. To wash your bkr by hand, follow these instructions:

• Remove the cap and sleeve.
• Rinse your water bottle with warm water and add a little dish soap, filling the bottle to the top.
• Using your perfect bottle brush, scrub inside the bottle, swirling it around so the brush cleans the bottom and the sides.
• Hand-wash the cap and sleeve using some mild, soapy water. Don’t forget to wash your bkr ice cube trays on occasion, too.
• To dry, set it out overnight. Pro tip: you can also roll up a paper towel and leave it two-thirds of the way inside the bottle for a faster dry.
• Store your bkr in a cool, dry spot with the cap off so moisture doesn’t linger.

So, yeah, that’s it! You don’t need to do any crazy deep cleans or anything, but a quick scrub-down after a day’s use is a good way to make sure bacteria doesn’t get OOC and make you sick. Plus, regular cleanings will help ensure that your H2O stays totally pure and doesn’t take on any other flavors.