The Best Way To Clean Your Bike Bottles!

[@gcntech]

Let us know your bottle-cleaning tips 👇

[@robertcatuara5118]

Podium lids come apart in apx 6 pieces. Much more effective way to clean it.

[@Knitterfest]

Commercial dishwasher 😅 Also dont go to hard at the outside of the bottle, as my red GCN bottle turned into a generic red bottle.

[@bennigro6075]

I use mouthwash to disinfect the bottles. It also helps get rid of the soapy taste.

[@PixelVibe42]

Pop them in the ultrasonic cleaner along with some white spirit, and then hot wax afterwards .... :)

[@s23bho38]

Miltons to clean both bottle and top. Sterile and clean.

[@BobbyRoeIFR]

I use denture cleaning tablets for 3 minutes after each use. They're incredibly inexpensive (less than 5 cents per tablet) and are highly effective. My post-ride routine is to fill each bottle with hot tap water (around about 130°F/55°C) and drop a tablet into each bottle, then let them sit in the sink while I mix and drink my recovery drink. I put the lids in a bowl of hot tap water with a denture tablet and lay a utensil over them to keep them submerged while they soak. After finishing my recovery drink, I rinse the bottles and lids and turn them upside down to drain and dry before putting them away. Easy peasy, cheap, and I keep a bunch of the tablets in my bag to use when I travel to events.

[@MM-ev1fg]

That’s actually ingenius

[@xen0_0x]

Thanks. Will try this method!

[@MichelBertrand]

Came looking for this before posting. I've been doing this for years, never had a mold problem.

[@downinla4076]

I actually posted the same thing, until I saw your post. I do the same thing.

[@backpacker3421]

Just left the same comment before reading yours. ABSOLUTELY TRUE. They are exactly the same thing as bottle cleaning tablets and SO MUCH CHEAPER.

[@JayLato]

Bottle brush = $2 Cycling bottle brush = $34

[@andrewmcalister3462]

So true on the "cycling tax".

[@AirSpace]

Carbon fiber Aero brush = $340!

[@anshumansahoo4869]

​@@AirSpace titanium brush $1000

[@veganpotterthevegan]

On principle, the $2 bottle brush won't work

[@anshumansahoo4869]

@@veganpotterthevegan it will work, why the fuck won't it work? You smokin something?

[@chrisdavis8399]

One good thing to do is let the bottles dry out completely after each use and after washing them.

[@backpacker3421]

Would suggest using a little bleach in the water if you are going to just air dry and call it good. Clean and sanitary are two different things, and soap rarely gets everything. 3 oz (100 ml) to a gallon of water makes a sanitizing solution and leaves no bleach taste behind.

[@troisminutesdumans7650]

The good thing about camebak is that it allows you to disassemble it to the very small parts. If you push the top end of the valve from the nozzle, you can take them off

[@AirSpace]

Yeah! Ollie forgot to mention this feature or chose to exclude it to keep generic?

[@matthewvelo]

Possibly the most useful GCN Tech vid so far this year :) Also agree with the previous poster on using denture tablets - cheap, easy and effective, without any bad taste left in the bottles.

[@Mike22313]

Don't use boiling water in your plastic bottle it's up to 60c, and can degrade or deform

[@LaurentiusTriarius]

It's a non issue outside of the UK...

[@FreakShowScitchy]

Elite bottles that gcn sell, have a max temp for dishwasher of 40 Celsius

[@BixbyConsequence]

Last I checked boiling water was 100C😉

[@climatechangedoesntbargain9140]

don't use plastic bottles - I use stainless steel

[@keinpietz7697]

@@LaurentiusTriarius eh? Hexplain, please.

[@MattLethargic]

1. Leave next to sink 2. Some pixie magic 3. Pick up from draining board the next day......isn't this how bottles get cleaned?!

[@hotsky83]

Works for me every time!

[@askmeaboutmattweiner]

I hate to admit it since they are now a gcn sponsor, but CamelBak bottles are really tough to clean. Despite the valve and nozzle being able to be taken apart, they contain so many crevices that even my smallest brush can't get to them. Also those little plastic tongs break pretty easily.

[@KILLTHEREDDITOR]

Yup one of the sides of the plastic that holds the nozzle assembly in place broke off on mine already. Was wondering if they offered a warranty since the bottle is like a year old but their chat rep was very unresponsive in my case so I just kept using the bottle since it still works somehow

[@motombocolombo]

I stopped using Camelbak bottles solely because of them being so frustrating to clean.

[@samteenoise]

Camelbak makes great water bottles, but very poor bike bottles

[@chrisjames9710]

Same, I have a few CB bottles but much prefer Elite for easier cleaning.

[@motombocolombo]

@@chrisjames9710 Yeah, i use the Elite bottles as well. Super easy to clean. The whole bottle is just three parts.

[@RonaldBeirouti]

I have stopped having mold on my bottles ever since I've been putting my bottles in the top rack of my dishwasher. I never have the drying option on so plastics have no problems, especially in the top rack. Also, not waiting too long before washing your bottles definitely prevents mold. Otherwise, rinse your bottles with warm water when you get back home, making sure to squirt some through the nozzle, then throw it in the dishwasher 🙂for the next wash cycle.

[@ZnakeTech]

I think the key here is giving them a quick rinse shortly after use, especially if you have had any sugary stuff in it, don't let them sit for days or weeks. I also just use the dishwasher and have never had any issues.

[@chrisjames9710]

Do they make a gravel specific cleaning brush?

[@andyedwards7800]

Been putting bottles in dishwasher for last 15 years, no died yet.

[@robertcatuara5118]

Yet😉

[@seattlegrrlie]

Same... yet

[@TikeMyson69]

It's gonna happen eventually.

[@NealWilliams]

Ticking time bomb ⏰️

[@ZenEndurance]

You are died and with us other deads and just don’t know it yet. I clean mine with bleach and have died 16 times already because I’m too stupid to rinse the bleach off because I can remember to rinse off soap, but remembering to do the same with bleach is just impossible.

[@hornetluca]

I pour bleach in the bottle and let it rest upside down for 30 minutes at least when I see mold growing. Then, off course, I wash it carefully with dish soap. Don't forget to dry it.

[@SteveSmith-xw7xi]

You can disassemble those Cambelbak tips. Way more effective.

[@julianz.9164]

Before, I used to try all the tricks and things and same result, after time MOLD. 3 years now I rinse them with water and put them in the freezer, same bottles for 3 years and NO MOLD.

[@NeuschneeNord]

Use a bottle that is easy to disassemble. Especially the top, nozzle part. And personally I made a switch to steel bottles. They are less prone to gunk, have no problem with boiling water and no worries about plastic in the water that you might swallow.

[@SergeySus]

My hack for bottle lids/tops is to put them in the freezer between rides - no mold or bacteria.

[@itstrbo]

Ditto! Was scrolling to see if someone else did this

[@ketle369]

Or move to Norway 🇳🇴. It’s so cold here that nothing grows😂. Actually haven’t ever experienced any mold or anything in my bottles.

[@donball370]

All part of the end of ride routine. Wash out bottles using washing up liquid and warm water. Leave to drain dry. Thanks for the tip to use a baby bottle brush Dr.Ollie; good one.

[@northofI90]

Complete disassemble after use. Hand wash in the sink with the rest of the dishes. Something, brush, pipe cleaner, whatever, for every little nook and cranny. Every once in a while bleach to make sure.

[@hmartinlb]

Those podium bottles, especially the new style, are really easy to disassemble. No brush needed for the nozzle. Also if you only ever just put water in them and let them dry it takes a long time for them to actually get mouldy / dirty. Just rinse the mouthpiece after every outing.

[@stevedouglas3975]

I have a bottle of liquid sterilising solution(like Miltons but supermarket own brand). Capful mixed with half gallon of water, soak bidons in it for 30 mins, good rinse and job done.

[@DavideLibenzi]

Coarse grained salt, warm water, shake hard. Alternatively, on Amazon they sell small stainless steel (like #10 shot size) to be used in a similar way. This cleans bottles better than any other brush I tried (I have the FidLock ones, whose interior is kinda oddly shaped).

[@ZiggyMeister]

I do this from time to time

[@Fercough]

As a tourer I keep one old bottle for using in the night when camping. I am sure you know why. That bottle has a big bright band round it so i can't mistake it. That gets rinsed in the sink in its own, last. Then cleaned as best is needed.

[@mb10kx]

its fine to drink your own piss

[@trbeyond]

For indoor rides, I have one or two bottles that are dedicated to my nutrition, the rest just water. That way I only need to really clean one or two bottles. The rest just get a warm water rinse.

[@qsterino]

I like to cover my bottles with spare/old socks when riding in wet/muddy conditions. It keeps the outsides clean enough to drink from, regardless of how bad conditions get. The only downside is the funny looks people give :)

[@Pesmog]

Good advice. I was quite ill for about a week a few years ago after drinking from bottle because the mouthpiece had something nasty on it thrown up from the tyre. Since then, when its muddy or wet I only use a bottle with a separate cap that goes over the mouthpiece. Your advice with the sock sounds like a great idea for bottles that don't have a mouthpiece cap 👍

[@ghowell13]

Few things with this video, as someone in the food industry once upon a time, and as a Yank: In regards to the use of bleach for disinfecting: 1 one ONE! And only one single ounce, to a full GALLON of water is used to disinfect tables in restaurants. Or is supposed to be. And at one time, it could also be used in the sanitation cycle of the automatic dishwashers in a pinch, until you got a shipment of the disinfecting solution. The dishes would then be air dried or heat dried. I've done this same thing from my teen years to now 50 years old. Only rinsing my bottles after disinfecting, then air drying. No problems yet, never been ill from it. Also, all Americans: that was an electric kettle he was using to boil water with in the video. Look into them, then buy one. It'll change your life. You're welcome😅

[@carlosdeno]

Camelback selling new tops is absolutely great, the amount of gunk that gathers in the nozzle is scary and you can’t always get it clean 100% I use bleach tablets occasionally as they’re not overly aggressive.

[@ytyehyeh]

Yeah, while I like my Camelback insulated bottles, I hate their nozzles. You think it's great that you can pull the top part out of the cap (like I used to do with my old Elite bottles with the red nipple), but the top part itself is pretty much impossible to disassemble, yet has surfaces that can gap apart enough for water (and all the bad crud you want to get rid of) to get inside, but you can't get out and eventually you get a line of black or red/pink gunk in there. I'll try some diluted bleach solution soon to see if it can work through the gaps and remove the black/pink gunk, or maybe I just need to get new bottles.

[@carlosdeno]

@@ytyehyeh Merlin Cycles sell replacement caps, they’re the new nozzles too. Game changer and I love them, I only use bleach tablets occasionally.

[@john12mclaughlin]

I alternate between dishwasher and hand washing with a bottle brush (and sometimes just rinsing). I usually squeeze hot water through the nozzle, and always let them dry completely.

[@fergusfitzgerald977]

Learned something useful "baby bottle cleaner ! " Tried Soda Bic before but didn't know it was so good !That little brush for the Nozzle is brilliant ! Great stuff !

[@gcntech]

Glad we could help out 🙌Do you struggle with deep cleaning your bottles? 👀

[@jamesmckenzie3532]

One other thing is denture cleaner. You can get flavored types that leave a fresh smell.

[@evanbrom1]

This is great given the challenges of the jet flow valve. I like how the newer gens are easier to clean.

[@secretagent86]

I just wash in sink by hand using hot water and detergent. But i do like the bottle brush idea. Good video

[@lancecryor]

I cracked up when you mentioned the toilet brush 😂

[@42kman]

I definitely wash the outside. Great tip! We have a lot of dairy farms around here which means a lit of manure.

[@ysarn]

Dishwashers are fine for cleaning you water bottle, as long as the drinking nozzle is simple. I used to have a Camelback Podium bottle like the one in the video, and the nozzle is overly complicated and always a pain to clean and would not clean or dry properly in the dishwasher. I now have the Specialized Little Big Mouth, and this has a much simpler pull-up rubber nozzle, which is far easier to use on the bike and cleans without problem by just putting it in the dishwasher with the other dishes to be washed. I have never experienced mould this way.

[@sgold1132]

I found that exact brush in the dollar store. They are definitely cheap and effective

[@RyonBeachner]

currently remodeling my kitchen, and I’m adding a cup rinser to the sink just for cycling bottles. Of all the dumb little touches, I’m most excited for this.

[@vyfilm]

For the Camelbak Nozzles - if you don't remove them from the top lid and rinse the O-Ring, at times there might be some soapy water trapped and it might mix with your water when drinking.

[@Fercough]

Do them with the usual washing up, never had a problem. Are you struggling for mid-winter content by any chance? Keep on pedalling!

[@tonygenovese6239]

Baking soda and vinegar I used and works great

[@SteevyTable]

I've been rinsing with scalding hot water right after a ride, and then letting dry for at least a day so it gets completely dry. I only run water in my bottles so I don't have sugars or other nutrients that things like in them. Trick is having enough bottles to make this a viable strategy.

[@MarrafaCycling]

Great advice! Thanks, I will buy a brush. But i saw you added a tablet with boiling water a lot of bottles will break with boiling water, is not advised

[@Outsideville]

I always toss mine to my adoring fans each ride. I assume that's why people are on the Greenway.

[@user-sg2gs6bi7v]

Had to get rid of all of my Podium bottles as no matter how well I cleaned them (after every ride) the mouth piece valves eventually grow black mold. (This includes taking them apart and scrubbing them using different cleaning methods). Keeping to the Elite brand (use the mtb models as they come with flip covers) as they are easy to use and never had any problems keeping clean.

[@jasoncarlson2519]

Use Star San sanitizer concentrate in a spray bottle with water. As a beer brewer it's a huge necessity to prevent bacteria and this stuff has never failed me in the 15 years I've used it. Don't even need to brush the bottles if you use it every time. My son's and I have 10 podium bottles that we've used over the years and none have had mold. Great for cleaning other non-porous surfaces as well.

[@bonbonflippers4298]

Threw away 4 bottles from mold. Ive changed my way of cleaning and more importantly drying by separating the top and its rubbers/plasric ring out on top of a towel. I leave the bottle upside down on the dish rack for a few hours before putting it on a table facing up to dry the rest of the water. So far no mold or bad smell in months. If youre mixing stuff in the bottle like hydrating packs make sure after drinking all of it to rinse it completely during your ride to refill regular water. If you leave it too long without a rinse the stuff gets harder to remove.

[@sabrowenie]

Over time, regardless of how well you cleaned them or what was used the older Camelback Podium bite valves become mildew farms around the silicon. Also those valves were tough to remove and harder to assemble. Started tossing them in my dishwasher. Problem solved. Note we have a newer DW that uses forced warm air to dry instead of the heating coil.

[@user-cx2bk6pm2f]

This the year of Camelbak bottles! I have the Podium Chill, 750 ml... been great so far.

[@encodedevil7843]

I always put them in the dishwasher every one in a week. Even on the glasses program 😮. Will consider the brush tough

[@jimhansen5395]

Not a fan of cleaning plastic bottles with a stiff bristle brush. I can leave small scratches on the inside surface of the bottle, promoting ‘bad stuff’ sticking and making them harder to get truly clean. If you are going to use a bristle brush, better to use a soft one (not easy to find), The better solution is to use a bottle brush with sponge material on the head rather than bristles. The sponge brush has it’s own challenges with keeping the sponge head clean. Be sure to give it a good thorough wash and rinse when you are through.

[@BlakeJames-yk2yz]

Wow?! Watch this video. I thought, "what a stupid topic" when I first saw this, but reluctantly watched. Then later I checked my Camelback tops ?!?!?!? Oh gross!! There was mold all in the parts when I took it apart! Yowzaa! Changed how I handle these bottles. Now I take them apart and clean and place in freezer. Thanks GCN!

[@troycollett8540]

I also store my bottles with the lids off

[@dmitrypalaev3323]

Probably during wet winter months for hygienic reasons we should fill up those bottles with vodka instead of water 🤣

[@tn9274]

been using few gens of camelbak podium nozzle type. the earlier version rather difficult to clean and tend to easier to accumulate dirt & mold. the latest one is much better.

[@T1MBKT86]

Dishwasher for life 😂

[@jonathanzappala]

Delta bottle washer, it’s a nice feature, it will fit on any kitchen sink with a spare hole. There are Amazon knock offs too. I use it, and then put them in the dishwasher.

[@DaigoroToyama]

I'd imagine most people have one of those brushes in the kitchen. I certainly do, and use it to clean my water bottles. 😀

[@7258martin]

Rince out post ride and straight in the freezer, never had mold on my bottles or any aftertaste.. #simples

[@MichalJanata]

I remember from tag on Purist bottle that Specialized doesnt recommend using brush or any other abrasive tool that damages antibacterial surface inside bottle. Just rinsing and drying.

[@davidsaltwell1995]

Rinse and clean as soon after riding as possible. Especially if using electrolytes!

[@event4216]

Seems like people have forget what baking soda does. A pinch of powder, a bit of water, shake bottle well, let it sit for a minute, shake again, empty, rinse and leave open to dry.

[@Mike22313]

Don't use boiling water in your plastic bottle it's up to 60c, and can degrade or deform. Also wineger can degrade PTA. And you can use dishwasher for clean your bottle. Depend on nosal tipe it clean perfect. Also for dishwasher you use detergent, it also have antibacterial property. SO?

[@frazmars]

Thank you for this much needed video, Ollie! I love my camelbak bottles and my tip to clean bottles, aside from cleaning them regularly, is to not touch the nozzle to my lips. I’ve learnt to squirt into my mouth with the nozzle about an inch away. Mind you I’m not racing on my rides so might not be for everyone, and I do get the occasional spilled electrolyte on myself, but I reckon I’m going to shower and wash my kit anyways. Worth a try?

[@shaungraham9502]

IV been using thin unscented bleach for years.... Two cap fulls into the bottle boiling water in (take mouth piece off lid and put it inside the bottle) then lid on. Give it 20 mins, wash it out with washing up liquid and allow all of it to dry completely before using.... I'm still kicking and KOMing 💪

[@MarcoP70]

I use polident/steradent (denture cleaning tabs) and dishwasher once a week.

[@nerdexproject]

Dishwasher has always done the trick for me!😁

[@AirwolfCrazy]

I have one of the Camelbak Podium bottles. It is a real pain to clean. I am not getting another one. The Elite bottle is simple and easy to clean.

[@tomutadaniel7919]

try a handful of rice with enough vinegar to cover the rice. then stir. guaranteed effect :)) clean with fresh water.. and the bottle is like new :)

[@EatMyPropwash]

Rubbermaid has a 2-in-1 brush meant for bottles, and the hanging end unscrews and is a straw cleaner.

[@TheoreticalCyclist]

Bottle caps can be disassembled and then cleaning is much better and easier.Take apart the cap, then you can find strangge stuff in there.

[@dwaynesaunders]

Simple rinse and then in freezer after each use. Haven’t had to retire a bottle in years

[@neeleshkushte6023]

How long do bottles last? That is when do you replace them? Cos we use them year around in varied temperature conditions.

[@HowP88]

During summer, I wash my bottle then fill it halfway with an electrolyte mix and put it in the freezer resting almost horizontally. This stops mold from growing, and then when I ride I fill to the top with water so i have a large ice block to keep the drink cool for at least an hour. I think it works a treat, feel free to critique me though 🙂

[@johne7100]

All I've ever done for the last quarter-century is to fill mine up with water out of the hot tap. Ours is at ~70°C, and IIRC pasteurisation temperature is 60°C, so any bugs will have a thin time of it. The tops go on upside-down with the teats open (proper pull-up teats, not those horrible spongy things) and get filled up as well. The bottles stay in the sink until cool enough to handle or madame protests and I have to scald my fingers. Once out of the sink the bottles stay full until next time I use them. Never had a gut upset. Natch, if you leave them for months they will get a bit eloquent. Once that happens the bicarb idea is interesting.

[@MrCyclist]

I've been using for the last 40 years, bleach (tsp per bottle) and fill with warm water, let it stand for 5 minutes and rinse thoroughly or the dishwasher. Use the bleach water for the nozzles.

[@848evo4]

I only use drinking water in my bottles, and just simple rinse them out with hot tap water and air dry after each ride. have not got any mold or smells from my bottles

[@davidhunter8100]

After I have washed bottle and lids ; I place them in the fridge freezer until me next ride. No more mould

[@bengt_axle]

I'd like to know what bottles impart the least plastic taste to the fluid they carry and whether any cleaning solutions will have any effect (beneficial or adverse) on this. I use one insulated stainless bottle and one ordinary plastic cycling bidon, which I use to refil the bidon.

[@JonCannings]

Whatever you do, do not make the same mistake I did. I used sterilising tablets for baby's bottles, and I didn't read the instructions correctly, they were in Dutch. I had the mixture totally wrong, I didn't know, and persisted with this. However, this gave me massive stomach issues and I thought to myself "maybe it is this stuff which gives babies the runs", as I had very similar issues! I still continued as I didn't want manky bottles. Only after several weeks, did I stop and revisit the package and realise I was actually wrecking my internals.

[@maxmxl]

I use Amuchina Disinfectant, I leave a very small quantity on the bottle filled with water for a night.. done

[@wspmjw]

Should you clean a brand-new bottle before first use? I have a smaller brush that will effectively clean the valve and opening of a Camelbak Podium bottle.

[@nerdexproject]

Yeah I would

[@endtimeslips4660]

i use tooth paste. for cleaning the bottle. i found it more clean and more white if use tooth paste.

[@global_nomad.]

a proper informative GCN video like the good old days..ha ha

[@gcntech]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@iBuyGeorgiacom]

Detritus! Excellent word!

[@tomconway6808]

I thought so too. I'm definitely going to try to sneak that into a casual conversation at some point soon.

[@championkhamis12]

I use Milton sterilising tablets. 👍 p.s. I also store the bottles in the freezer until the next use.

[@davlddemarest2626]

With all that cleaning knowledge your home must be spotless... ...

[@fakepixilord]

I just put them in the dish washer... But tbh I mostly using pure water on my rides. Never had any problem

[@mrmcdermo]

I mean, the real trick is to clean and dry them immediately after a ride. Don't leave them in the frame, don't leave them in the car, don't put them on a shelf in the garage - wash them right away. Over 3 years with a couple of camelbak podiums and I've never had a problem. I will admit, however, that I only dismantle the podium nozzles after every few rides, not every ride. Also, I only ever put pure water in my bottles. I know some people put electrolyte mix in their bottles or bladders and for that you really need to stay on top of cleaning.

[@albikes8484]

When my bottles get bad. I use some uncooked rice and water. Put the top back on and i shake it until the hard rice scrubs it clean.

[@LHTkayaksport]

I have that exact bottle - the black one

[@knitrundig4663]

Thanks Ollie, very useful tips.

[@mondoabz]

Track stands last week how to wash bottles this week. Journalism at its finest 😂

[@user-wx7wg5cn1m]

Good clean up info , gonna use this useful information- thanks!🚴🏼‍♂️🏃‍♀️🌿🧘🏼🙏

[@steve_and_lolas_hikes]

I've used bleach to clean bottles, stained coffee mugs, all sorts....for years.....All it needs it a good rinse afterwards.

[@MS-bw7yt]

I find that bottles last much longer when you are really careful not to scratch the coating on the inside. For some reason, as soon as the inside coating is damaged, you reach a state of " uncleanable and stinky" very quickly...

[@RKNG]

Utilize a combination of rock salt and crushed ice, vigorously shaking it, to effectively clean and eliminate any unpleasant odors.

[@elizabethpoley6882]

You would be surprised how many guys from my local bike shop just leave the water bottles (w/some water still in them) on their bikes after a ride. That's disgusting! I used to be pre-med. On most days, the human mouth has both staph and strep bacteria in it. So, every time you take a sip, some of that goes into the bottle. If you leave your bottle unwashed, these bacteria cook and multiply enough that in time, it could build up to make someone very sick. It wasn't until I told them about it that they finally started regularly cleaning them! I mean, how lazy can you get? You wash your bike, just add the bottle to the whole process!

[@ecopennylife]

Learnt the dishwaher the hard way, had 2 bottles shrink 😅

[@madmick9205]

I never understood why bottles are such a difficult shape for cleaning. I use steredent tablets.

[@janvandamme4229]

what's your opinion on the "Neto" product of ELITE?

[@Frostbiker]

Water bottles can be cleaned?

[@bonddav007]

I use denture cleaning taps for 15 min with hot water