How to Remove odors from a Silicone Water Bottle?

Keep your silicone water bottle fresh and odor-free with these easy tips!

Silicone water bottles are popular because of their flexibility, portability, and ease of use. Normally these bottles do not contain the smell of liquids, but sometimes due to long-term use, they may smell unpleasant for various reasons.

You might have been facing this issue with your silicone water bottle. These odors can make your drink unenjoyable. Fortunately, here is the solution to your problem. In this blog, we’ll be discussing how to remove odors from silicone water bottles along with the causes of odors.

•       What Causes Odors in Silicone Water Bottles?
•       Preparing to Clean Your Silicone Water Bottle
•       Step-by-Step Methods to Remove odors from a Silicone Water Bottle
•       How to Keep Your Silicone Water Bottle odor-free
•       FAQ’s

What Causes Odors in Silicone Water Bottles?

They are the best alternative to plastic bottles and are odorless too. But due to lack of proper cleaning and other reasons, they can have unpleasant smells sometimes. Here are some reasons for the smell in your silicone drink bottle. You can save your best bottle by avoiding these mistakes.

Long-term use without Cleaning: silicone is a durable material and is born to live longer. They can be your partner with the same freshness for a long period of time. However, due to lack of care and cleaning, they can show some signs of damage like an unpleasant smell or bacteria growth.

Storing Flavoured Liquid: Yes, this can be the reason, but it depends on the quality of the silicone your bottle is made of. Some premium quality silicone can bear the smell of any liquid in your store. However, some silicone water bottles can have an unpleasant smell due to the storage of sharp smells or fruity liquids.

Moisture inside the Bottle: We all clean or wash our bottles daily. After washing it is necessary to completely dry your bottle before storing or closing the cap. A little amount of moisture trapped in the bottle can cause the growth of bacteria inside the bottle which can lead to an unpleasant smell inside the bottle.

Food Remains: If you use your silicone bottle to store protein shakes or smoothies in it, then you must wash your bottle with more care. Any residues or remains of your food can be the cause of smell over time.

Long-term storage of Liquid: If you store your bottle with the liquid inside for a long period of time, this can lead to unpleasant odor.

In short, this is not the problem that your bottle smell, now you must know how to clean your bottle rightly to let go of this smell. Let’s prepare your bottle to clean and wash properly.

Preparing to Clean Your Silicone Water Bottle

Before proper cleaning, it is better to prepare your bottle and collect the right tools and ingredients. You can wash any kind of bottle with this method. This is specifically to remove the bad smells. 

1. First,  empty your bottle and pour out any liquid remains from your bottle.
2. Secondly, for thorough cleaning, do separate all the detachable parts of your bottle such as lids, caps, or straws.
3. Lastly, gather all the ingredients required to wash the bottle. Some generic things for washing are a mild dish, soap, vinegar, and a bottle brush.

But to remove odor, these things are not necessary to wash. Let’s look at the detailed ingredients required for cleaning.

Tools and Supplies Needed for Cleaning

Along with the tools, to clean your silicone water bottle, you’ll need a few simple ingredients. Finding them is not too difficult, everyone has this, normally, at their home. If you don’t have them, no need to worry, just visit a general store and you can have them easily. Ingredients are:

•       Mild dish soap
•       Baking soda
•       White vinegar
•       Lemon juice
•       Bottle brushes of various sizes
•       Hydrogen peroxide (for persistent odors)

After the collection, you must follow some steps to restore your bottle back to its fresh state. These steps are explained below in detail.

Step-by-Step Methods to Remove odors from a Silicone Water Bottle

There is not just one method to clean your bottle. Several methods are there. Select the one as per your ease and make your bottle in a fresh state.

1.     Using Baking Soda and Water

Baking soda is a natural deodorizer it is known for removing smell or any unpleasant odor. You can use this to clean your silicone water bottle.

1. Mix two tablespoons of baking soda with warm water and form a paste-like mixture.
2. Apply that paste carefully inside of your bottle using a bottle brush.
3. Let it apply for 30 minutes to neutralize all the unwanted odors.
4. Lastly, wash your bottle thoroughly with warm water and let it air dry.

This is an eco-friendly method and perfect for everyone who prioritizes using BPA-free drink bottles.

2.     Vinegar and Warm Water Wash

White vinegar is also one of the ingredients used to eliminate odors. This is another excellent option that kills bacteria naturally.

1. Fill your silicone bottle with a mixture of water and white vinegar (both in equal quantity).
2. Shake the bottle well in a gentle way to let the vinegar coat the interior.
3. Let the vinegar solution inside the bottle for an hour.
4. Lastly, rinse the bottle thoroughly with water to remove any vinegar residue.

You can use any method for any bottle, no matter if it is a sports bottle or a bottle for normal use. It freshens the bottle effectively.

3.     Lemon and Hot Water

If you don’t have white vinegar or baking soda, you must have lemon in your kitchen. Lemon juice is also a natural cleaner with a citric scent. Use this use to clean your bottle. Let’s see how:

1. Take a juice of half lemon and pour it into your silicone drink bottle.
2. Add hot water and fill the bottle.
3. Let the mixture soak for an hour.
4. Rinse with warm water and allow the bottle to dry completely.

This method can eliminate odors but along with this, it leaves your silicone bottle water smelling citrusy and fresh. If you love citrus fruits or drinks, then nothing is better than this.

4.     Deep Clean with Hydrogen Peroxide (For Strong odors)

This method is specifically for tough odors that don’t go away easily with basic cleaning or with much effort. Hydrogen peroxide is a powerful solution that can be used for such kinds of smells.

1. Take 2/3 of water and mix 1/3 of hydrogen peroxide in it.
2. Pour the solution into your silicone bottle and let it for 30 minutes.
3. Rinse thoroughly with water and allow the bottle to air dry.

If you are worried about safety, then no need to. This method is safe for durable silicone bottles and works amazingly well for persistent smells in sports bottles.

Instead of cleaning your bottle from these ingredients, isn’t it better to take proper care of your bottle to protect it from such odors? Now you might be thinking how can you keep your bottle odor-free? So, let’s have a look at how.

How to Keep Your Silicone Water Bottle odor-Free

Everything needs proper care and maintenance for its survival. So as silicone bottles. With the right care, your silicone water bottle will stay fresh and clean. Preventing your bottle from odors is much more important than removing them. You can achieve this by following some tips.

Tips for Regular Cleaning and Maintenance

Some tips are:

1. Wash After Every Use: Always rinse your silicone foldable water bottle after every use, even for a little bit of time. Most importantly, if you have used it for flavored drinks.
2. Deep Clean Weekly: Besides cleaning it daily, deep wash it once a week with any of the appropriate methods mentioned above.  
3. Avoid Harsh Cleaners: You can use the above-mentioned ingredients to clean your bottle except that you can also use mild dish soap and natural cleaning agents. But to maintain the bottle’s quality, avoid using harsh chemicals or cleaners.
4. Dry Completely: As I have discussed above, even a bit of moisture can cause bacteria to grow inside your bottle. So, make sure your bottle is completely dry before you store it.  
5. Leave the cap off: Before you store your bottle for a long time; it is much better to leave the cap off for proper airflow and to prevent any kind of smell.
6. Strong-Smelling Liquids: In your regular-use bottle, avoid having coffee, tea, or other strong-smelling beverages in it. If you want to store, you can have a separate bottle for these kinds of drinks.

By following these habits, you can probably extend the lifespan of your silicone water bottle. And this way you can have a fresh drinking experience.

Final Thoughts

Overall, silicone water bottles are a fantastic choice for any age group. And, if you experience any kind of odor, you can eliminate it from the above methods. One thing to note is that after cleaning from any of the ingredients, you can experience that specific smell from the liquid stored in it right after your cleaning, but no need to worry about, this happening. After 2-3 times proper wash, that smell will also go away.

If you are thinking of replacing your bottle or having a new one, do not forget to check out our premium selection of silicone water bottles from our silicone all-in-one products store. Our every product is worth buying because of its reasonable price and exceptional quality. Know the proper benefits and care tips of your silicone bottle from this blog “Everything You Need to Know About Silicone Bottles.”

FAQs

How often should I clean my silicone water bottle?

If you use your bottle regularly, wash it daily with proper care after every use. Whatever you store in it, even water rinsing or washing is necessary. And besides all these, a deep thorough cleaning is required for the maintenance of your bottle. You can use any of the methods discussed above.

Are silicone bottles safe for both hot and cold drinks?

Yes, silicone water bottles are purely safe to use. You can use it for hot or cold drinks. However, it is suggested to check the manufacturer’s instructions for temperature limits for your specific bottle.

Can I put my silicone water bottle in the dishwasher?

Silicone is really easy to use and so are silicone water bottles. They are safe to wash in the dishwasher. But before placing it in a dishwasher disassemble all parts of your bottles such as caps or lids for thorough cleaning. Use the top rack and avoid high heat to dry them. Dishwashing washing is allowed but if you hand wash them; it is much better for the long life of your bottle.

Why does my silicone water bottle retain odors?

Normally this is not the nature of silicone but sometimes due to unfavorable conditions, it can retain some odors. Some conditions like storing strong-smelling drinks or storing the bottle with moisture can cause your bottle to smell awkward. With my mentioned ways above, you can let go of the smell.

Is it safe to use vinegar for cleaning silicone bottles?

Yes, it is. Vinegar is a natural and safe cleaning agent for silicone water bottles. The acidity in it helps to eliminate the bacteria and also the odor. Use an equal amount of water and white vinegar to clean your bottle. Let it for an hour and then wash your bottle thoroughly.

What’s the best way to dry a silicone bottle after cleaning?

Air drying is the best of all methods to dry your bottle after cleaning. Place it upside down without a cap and leave. That’s it. 

Can I use soap on my silicone drink bottle every day?

Yes, you can use it, in fact, it is best. A mild dish soap is safe for daily cleaning of your silicone drink bottle. Daily wash keeps your bottle fresh and safe from bacteria. Do rinse thoroughly after washing. 

Are BPA-free drink bottles truly safe?

Yes, BPA (Bisphenol A) is a chemical specifically safe for health. These BPA-free drink bottles are non-toxic, food-grade, and safe for every age group either adults or children.

What makes silicone bottles odor-resistant compared to plastic?

Silicone is non-toxic, which is why it is more resistant to odors than plastic. It does not trap smell normally. High-quality silicone is even safer, non-porous, and risk-free.

Where can I find high-quality silicone foldable water bottles?

You can have high-quality silicone foldable water bottles from anywhere online or in retail stores. For online, websites like Siliconemania, Amazon, and other shops offer a variety of designs and options.