Bolo Grubb

I try to rinse mine out after each use but sometimes forget or get distracted. The only bottle brushes I can find are too small being designed for baby bottles. I use the 24 oz Polar bottles.

so what do you guys use to make sure your bottles are clean and free of fungus?

Flatballer

I use a fork and a dish rag. Put the dish rag in the mouth and then push it down with the fork. This allows you to get it into the tight corner at the bottom and push it hard against the sides.

If you're just drinking water it isn't a big deal. Just put them upside down after the ride and let them dry. If you're using anything with calories, you need to wash them somewhat regularly (I do about every 2 weeks.... should do more probably).

If you really want a brush, the one that Camelbak sells for cleaning the reservoirs works well. I usually use that, but I left it at home when I came to school, so I improvised with the fork method.

Namenda

Antibacterial soap, fill with water, let sit a while, then rinse. I never scrub my bottles, and have no trouble with mold or mildew.

hammy56

dishwasher

hornytoad

i use them a few time b/w washes in the dishwasher --- stored empty in the freezer

Spreader

I refill them immediately after riding so they are ready for the next workout. Never need to wash them when the are always full.

cyclingvirtual

Always rinse them asap after use and wipe the lid etc.

every now and again in the dishwasher

botto 

wrobertdavis

I did that for a while... and I only fill with water. I recently discovered mold growing under the lip of the drinking nozzle. I wash them now.

Bob

Nickshu

You actually clean your waterbottles??

The Carpenter

Dishwasher

Grambo

Have you guys heard of bleach********** 1/2 teaspoon and warm water ... let sit for 15 minutes and rinse well. Guaranteed to sterilize / kill all fungus & bacteria.

LesterOfPuppets

I buy my water bottles (water included!) at 7-11 for $1.19. They last a week or two, then get recycled. You gotta stretch your bottle cage a bit to make 'em fit, though.

haimtoeg

Denture cleaning tablets.

johnny99

I just rinse with hot water, as soon as I get home. Never had a problem.

You're not likely to get mold/fungus unless you let your sports drink brew over night.

Jakedatc

Oxo Good grips one and dish soap is plenty big enough for my 20oz bottles. I throw the cap in the dishwasher once in a while but usually just scrub that with soap too and squirt soapy water through it to get the insides

bitingduck

I put them in the dishwasher, bottom rack, directly over the area swept by the bottom sprayer.

If they get spots inside that don't wash out in the dishwasher, I just fill them with water and add a little bleach and leave them for a while.

axelfox

I fill them about 1/4 when I'm done riding and then throw them in the freezer until my next ride. So far so good.

Terex

Rinse and fill with water immediately on return home. My two Polar 24 oz bottles are sitting in the sink now. I'll post again when my wife yells at me and tells me to "do something with your bottles".

The new Polars have been redesigned to minimize the number of interstices in which mold can grow. I'll jam a little damp paper towel into the nozzle to get it a bit cleaner.

Machka 

Bleach

erliuic

I have the same bottles and they have a sticker on them that says top rack dishwasher safe.

revolator

Wash and dry them as soon as possible, no matter how you do it.

I just noticed the powder w/ protein (accelerade lemon-lime) is a bit more of a pia to clean.

wrobertdavis

Just sitting with bleach won't clean out the gunky mess Accelerade leaves. Of course my cure for that was to stop using Accelerade.

Bob

Terex

Water - the universal solvent. Just takes a little time. The dyes in Accelerade are what worry me.

markwebb

About once a year I wash them out with hot water and a drop of dish detergent. If I am drinking water I don't worry about them. If I used Gatorade or something on a ride, I'll wash them out after a ride the same way - rinse with hot water & a drop of detergent. Common sense.

But honestly - does a matter as simple as washing a bottle require a post? Is our society so de-voled and has lost all it self-sufficiency that we gotta ask how to wash out a bottle? Common sense, anyone?