There’s nothing better than a cold, refreshing sip of water on a hot, sunny day! In fact, consuming water has also been clinically proven to boost your brain’s function. Unfortunately, you tend to forget to consume water as regularly as you need to in the hustle-bustle of life. With the temperatures at their peak and risks of heat strokes and dehydration, drinking water is a necessity. To do this, you need to have your own water bottle. But will any bottle do? No. It would help if you opted for a scientifically healthy water bottle that keeps your water chilled, something that is durable in the long run. Your answer is an insulated stainless steel water bottle. But, investing in it alone is not enough. It would be best if you cared for your bottle regularly. Here are some valuable tips to take care of your insulated stainless steel water bottle.
1. Warm Water and Soap
This combo is one of the simplest and easiest ways to wash your bottle. Doing this on a regular basis can help your bottle stay clean and neat, devoid of bacteria and germs. All you need to do is add warm water and a few drops of dish soap to your water bottle. Now screw on the top and shake well! Rinse the bottle out and leave it open to air-dry overnight.
2. Check Symbols
Before you pop in your bottle in the dishwasher or use something on it, make sure you check the bottle for symbols like dishwasher-safe or any other warnings so that you don’t ruin your bottle in a moment of negligence. Also, you need to ensure that all the pieces of the water bottle, the body, top, and lids, get cleaned. It is always better to do a thorough check of the symbols on the bottles to ensure durability.
3. Vinegar
If your bottle needs a deeper clean after washing with water and soap, fill it with white vinegar till 1/5 of the way and the rest of the bottle with water. Let this mixture sit in the bottle overnight. The next morning, thoroughly rinse it with water. Vinegar is an excellent cleansing ingredient for stainless steel. It can almost make your bottle look spick and span. Regular usage of vinegar can ensure the perfect condition of your insulated stainless water bottle.
4. Take a cloth to the Cap
The cap is an important part of the bottle. You wouldn’t want to do everything possible to clean your reusable bottle forcefully, only to realize later that the cap you keep putting on top of the bottle is crusted in mildew and swarming with bacteria. Soak a clean cloth in vinegar to clean your stainless steel water bottle’s cap. Has your bottle got a musty-smelling cap? Allow the cap to soak in the vinegar from the cloth for around 15 minutes just before rinsing. If the odor’s gone, rinse it after 2 minutes.
5. Try a cleaning tablet
The smell of vinegar is not something everyone likes, in fact, its strong scent is one of the reasons some zero-wasters don’t prefer using it for cleaning. If you are in the similar category, you can try another option called cleaning tablets. You can easily find them online. They are also extremely convenient as they are a great option when you’re on the go. They require no brush. Just add a little water into your bottle, pop the tablet into it, shake well, pour it away, then rinse one more time with water. The cleaning tablets totally dissolve in the water when you shake it, saving you from the worry of any kind of wastage.
6. Baking soda as a cleaning agent
Baking soda is another excellent option to clean your insulated stainless steel water bottle. It has almost all the anti-microbial properties of vinegar, making it perfect to crack down on bacteria without any distinct smell. Baking soda is popular for its ability to cut through odors caused by mold, bacteria, and other build-ups. To clean your insulated stainless steel water bottle with baking soda, you can make a paste with water and baking soda. Also, use a bottle brush to rub the paste inside your bottle. Let it sit for 15 minutes. Then rinse with hot water and allow the bottle to air dry.
7. Keep your steel water bottle safe
It is recommended to avoid knocks and drops to ensure your bottle has a lasting, healthy life. While insulated steel water bottles are way better than other kinds of bottles when it comes to maintaining your drink at the right temperature, their capability to do so will reduce if the outer wall develops a dent. So, just be careful when you’re handling your bottle. Try and avoid that dreadful “clang!” as it falls on the floor.
8. Drying and storing steel bottle
Your water bottle should usually be rinsed, refilled, and out again. But, when you are storing it, it is advisable to remove the lid when leaving it dry. Also, keep the lid away when putting it away for longer periods. That’ll allow the bottle to breathe. This prevents any foul smell from building up in the bottle.
Conclusion
If you have recently switched from plastic to stainless steel or planning to do so, you should be proud of yourself. While being highly sustainable, durable, and healthy, stainless steel can be the best thing to happen to you. You can store everything you want on the go, and an insulated one will also retain the temperature for long periods. The vital part of owning an insulated water bottle is maintaining it in the right way. These tips are great ways to take care of your water bottle, keeping it in perfect condition.