How to Clean a Moldy Water Bottle

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: September 16, 2021 References Approved

Drinking from a re-usable water bottle is a great way to save the environment and save money. However, when they get moldy, cleaning the re-usable bottles is not easy. Here is a great way to get rid of the mold!

Steps

1
Give it a good rinse with hot water. If the mold is hard or dried on, you might want to fill it with hot water and a little bit of dish soap and let it sit for about 20 minutes.^{[1]
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2
Pour in 1/3 cup dry, uncooked rice and 1/3 cup baking soda. The rice will remove any dried on particles while the baking soda will disinfect and remove odor.^{[2]
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3
Fill the bottle halfway with hot water and add a dollop of dish soap
4
Screw on the lid tightly, and shake vigorously. Make sure that if your bottle has a flip-top or pop up top that you hold it closed.
5
While holding the bottle over a sink, slowly unscrew the lid (you will have the same reaction as if you had just shaken a bottle of soda, so be careful to prevent an explosive mess)
6
Pour out the contents and rinse the bottle well. Stand upside down in a dish rack to let it dry, then give it another rinse before putting it away.^{[3]
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Community Q&A
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Question

Is mold in a water bottle dangerous?

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Most of the time, drinking a little mold won’t hurt you—although it might taste gross. However, if you have a weakened immune system, there’s a chance it could make you really sick. Some people also have allergic reactions to certain types of mold.
Question

Can stainless steel water bottles get mold?

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Stainless steel is mold resistant, but not totally mold-proof. If food residue, dirt, or mineral deposits build up inside the bottle, mold can grow on the dirty surface. So, to prevent mold completely, you’ll still need to clean your bottle regularly.
Question

Does vinegar kill mold?

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Yes, vinegar can kill many species of mold. Pour equal parts water and white vinegar into your bottle and let it sit overnight. The next day, scrub your bottle thoroughly with soap and hot water. Rinse it thoroughly to get out any lingering vinegar taste.
Question

Is there a way to fix my leaky water bottle?

Community Answer

If the water bottle is inexpensive, I would just replace it. If you dont want to replace it, find out where the leak is. It depends on what water bottle you have. If you have a water bottle with just a plain screw on/off lid, the seal may be broken. If it is something like a Camelbak water bottle where you have to suck, a valve may have been put on crookedly/loosely.
Question

What if the bottle is so small I can't put my finger through the top?

Community Answer

Make a cone with plastic paper or with paper for pouring. For cleaning, use a bottle cleaning scrubber.
Question

What do I do if I don't have any rice?

Community Answer

I use about 1/3 cup of playground sand. When done, rinse out the sand and let it dry.
Question

Does the rice and baking soda method remove mold from the lid as well?

Community Answer

Yes, usually. If it doesn't get it off the first time, you can also use an old toothbrush and a drop of dish soap to scrub inside the lid.
Question

Once I’ve washed the mold out of my water bottle can I still use it?

Community Answer

Yes, once the mold is gone and the bottle is disinfected, you can still use it. Try drying the bottle in the sunshine to kill any last mold.

Warnings

Pressure will build up inside the bottle as you are shaking it, due to the baking soda. Be very careful to aim it away from people and open it slowly to prevent an explosion.

Thanks!
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