Let us know your bottle-cleaning tips 👇

Bottle brush = $2 Cycling bottle brush = $34

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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?!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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).

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😅

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.

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.

Do they make a gravel specific cleaning brush?

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!

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 !

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.

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 :)

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

I cracked up when you mentioned the toilet brush 😂

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.

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

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.

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.

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?

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.

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

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?

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

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 💪

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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 :)

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

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.

Dishwasher has always done the trick for me!😁

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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 🙂

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.

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.

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.

Thanks Ollie, very useful tips.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

I have been soaking my cap/top in a cup with a Milton solution without any need to strip the valve down, just soak it and forget about it. Fill the bottle up to the brim with a Milton solution as well to clean the inside. My Camelbak bottles are about 15 years old. The inside is still cleaner than clean...😁. No need to rinse either if you don't want to. If it's good enough to sterilize baby bottles, then it's good enough for me..😉. No effort or brushing required. You can spoil your bottle once a month by submerging it in a Milton solution as well to treat the outside. Once you've tried it, you'll never look back.

@4.30 'Your kettle gets all frosted up'.....Is this a new chemistry term for scale on the element ? :-). Keep up the good work. I was going to say, keep your bottles in the fridge full of water, ready to go.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

You can disassemble those Cambelbak tips. Way more effective.

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

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

Thanks Ollie!

Baking soda and vinegar I used and works great

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

Load up some ice cubes soap and give it a good shake. The ice is great at scrubbing the inaide

Great video! Really great do's and don'ts.

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.

What?!?! No Park Tools bottle cleaning brush? 😁

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

I have that exact bottle - the black one

I don't use any brushes because I realized that if I put bleach and water inside the bottle and leave it for a couple hours and rinse it out at with some hot water , All of the gunk and grime is gone from inside the bottle .no scrubbing needed .

One thing the UCI should rule on (and I know this is fantasy) is to standardise the diameter of bottles and lids. Over the decades, I have accumulated shipping container-full quantities of bottles which have been separated from their respective lids. Even when you pair ever-so slightly mismatched bottles and lids, you will be brutally punished with a face-full of drink mix when you squeeze it, or a bag full of damp gear if you full the bottle and put it in your race bag.

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

I've always used boiling water then washing up liquid on new bottles to get rid of plasticisers and on manky bottles to get rid of mold. Never had a problem although handling a softened bottle filled with boiling water takes care. When I was training my bottles would be in constant use, filled 2-3 times per day, so they never needed a rinse. "Fill a sink with warm water and add 70g bicarb per litre" - 🤔 that's about a kilo of bicarb then...?

Excellent!!!😉🥰

Rinse the bottle in hot petrol. The bottle will break down into a jelly, which you can eat!

Just use boiling hot water for long enough, especially on camelbak valves (take them apart)...immediately when you get back, don't let a bottle sit around and gunk up. I've been super sick with a bottle left around in a refrigerator for a day on which mold had developed inside the valve... And don't fill and prepare bottles to early before heading out, they go stale and will make you sick!!

Thank you ad

Detritus! Excellent word!

Always rinse my bottles after riding them but also inspect the bottles and nozzles now and then I put my bottles on a light cycle in the dishwasher

Water bottles can be cleaned?

Yay. Thanks for some useful info