You may want to sit down for this one and take a sip of water. Actually, on second thought, put that water bottle down for a minute.

I recently read a study that said the average reusable water bottle can be 40,000 times dirtier than a toilet seat. Yes, you read that right. The cup you have been emotionally attached to all week, the one you take to work, the one you sleep next to, is basically a science experiment with a straw. I have not been able to shake that fact out of my head, and now you cannot either. So sorry!

The solution? Cleaning your Stanley, Yeti, Owala, Hydro Flask, or whatever cup has stolen your heart this year is actually really simple once you know the right method. Grab your bottle, channel your inner Clean Freak, and let's make that thing safe to drink out of again.

Let’s Go! 👇

This is the step almost everyone skips, and it is the reason your cup smells weird two days after you "cleaned" it. These modern tumblers have more hidden compartments than a spy movie, and every single one of them is a tiny mold motel.

Start by popping off the lid. On most Stanley style lids, you will see two little prongs. Squeeze those in, and the slider piece will pop right out. Underneath that, there is a small rubber piece in the center. Push it through with your finger from the top, then grab it from the bottom and gently work it out.

Now for the part most people miss: the rubber seals and gaskets. Most water bottles have them somewhere, whether it's in the lid, straw, spout, or flip top. Just be careful not to stab or damage them with a knife or toothpick. Instead, gently remove them if possible so we can get them clean.

I already know what you are thinking. "Brandon, the label says dishwasher safe." Sure, technically. But after washing countless water bottles in my life, here is why I do not recommend it:

First, double walled insulated cups never feel quite the same after repeated dishwasher cycles. Second, all those tiny rubber and plastic pieces can come loose, drift toward the heating element, and melt into a sad little puddle. Third, a dishwasher cycle takes about two hours. That is two hours separated from your emotional support cup. Unacceptable.

And if you are a sticker person like me, the dishwasher will absolutely destroy your sticker collection. 

Dental cleaning tablets (the same ones people use for retainers and dentures) are cheap, effective, and shockingly good at deep cleaning water bottles. You can grab a box on Amazon for pennies per tablet.

Here is the method: Place all the small removable parts into a glass bowl. Fill the bowl with warm water until everything is fully submerged. Break a tablet in half and drop one half into the bowl. Then fill the cup itself with warm water all the way up. Heads up, it foams a little, so go close to the rim but not over. Drop the other half of the tablet into the cup and let it fizz. Let everything soak for 5 to 10 minutes. That is it. No scrubbing, no soaking overnight, no harsh chemicals.

While the cup is soaking, give the straw the attention it deserves. A skinny straw brush plus a little Dawn Powerwash works wonders. Spray, scrub, flip, scrub again. Straws are almost always too long for the brush to reach all the way through, so work from both ends.

Then rinse it. Then rinse it again. There is nothing worse than taking your first sip of cold water and tasting last night's dish soap.

Once your soak time is up, dump everything out and give it all a good rinse. For the outside of the cup, a Scrub Mommy with a mustache sized dollop of dish soap does the trick. Gentle on the finish, tough on fingerprint smudges and mystery sticky spots.

You did not just spend 15 minutes deep cleaning your cup to reintroduce mold the moment you put it back together. Wipe each piece down with a clean towel, then let everything air dry on a drying rack for 20 to 30 minutes before reassembly.

Time to put everything back together. For any rubber seals or gaskets you removed, make sure they're seated properly and laying flat all the way around. If a seal gets twisted, stretched, or bunched up, your bottle could leak.

For lids with sliders, straws, flip tops, or other removable parts, take your time and make sure everything clicks back into place the way it came apart. A quick photo before disassembly can be a lifesaver. Once everything is secure, give it a quick test with water to make sure there are no leaks, and you're good to go.

Drink it all in Clean Freak Fam!    

Your water bottle may have looked clean. It smelled mostly fine. But behind that innocent powder coat finish, it has been hosting more bacteria than a public restroom doorknob. 

This fix takes minutes, costs about a nickel, and requires no special skills beyond a willingness to pop some rubber pieces off a lid! Ahh, another cool drink of water to look forward too!

Ready to stock up on the gear that makes this whole thing easier? Dental tablets, straw brushes, Scrub Mommies, the works. They are all waiting for you at the Clean That Up Amazon Storefront. 🛒 Shop the Clean That Up Storefront 🧼

Want your cleaning win✨ to be featured? Join our Clean Squad or send us an email, yours could appear in an upcoming newsletter!

🎬 What’s New on YouTube?

📝 Blogs We Posted

🛒New Products & CTU Favorites

Got a cleaning conundrum? Have a cleaning win? Reply to this email and we might feature your question next week!

Same time next week in your inbox, Clean Freak Fam. Check your inbox for:
‘🧹 How to Motivate the Whole Family to Help Clean?✨🧼

Thanks so much for joining us at Clean Freak Weekly!

Brandon