Said It Here

How to clean a reusable bottle with mold or sunscreen inside

Reusable bottles left unwashed for months or contaminated with substances like sunscreen can usually be salvaged with a deep soak using hot water, dish soap, and white vinegar or baking soda. If the odor or residue persists after scrubbing with a bottle brush, the material may be permanently compromised and should be replaced.

What people tried

Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.

  1. 1
    Cleaning the bottle thoroughly with soap or bleach
  2. 2
    Throwing the bottle away and getting a new one
  3. 3
    Scrape or wipe out visible lotion, rinse with plenty of water, and soak or wash in soapy water.
  4. 4
    Use micellar water, makeup remover, or Dawn dish soap.
  5. 5
    Using miniature interdental flossers
  6. 6
    Checking manufacturer videos on YouTube
  7. 7
    Pulling out silicone flaps/gaskets and soaking in warm water with oxiclean
  8. 8
    Filling the lid with a 50/50 water and white vinegar solution overnight
  9. 9
    Using pipe cleaners, wire brushes, or unfolded paperclips wrapped in floss
  10. 10
    Soaking parts in dental cleaning tablets
  11. 11
    Washing thoroughly with dish soap multiple times
  12. 12
    Soaking overnight in vinegar
  13. 13
    Soaking overnight with water and a small amount of bleach
  14. 14
    Scrubbing with a brush and a sponge with soap
  15. 15
    Picking at the stain with a finger
  16. 16
    Using ball bearings or marbles with cleaner while swirling on its side
  17. 17
    Using a bottle brush
  18. 18
    Using chemclean soaked in warm water for an hour or two
  19. 19
    Using paint mixing balls from game stores

In their words

Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.

I found this old United dairies bottle on a walk. It has this scuff mark that either has dirt or some other stain.source ↗

I've tried scrubbing with a brush and a sponge with soap. Also picking at it with my finger. No luck.source ↗

Budstache · r/CleaningTips · 4 upvotes

I avoid this type of water bottle for this very reason.source ↗

navcom20 · r/CleaningTips · 1 upvotes

one time I left the residue in my bottle and forgot about it for a day or two but after washing like 20 times (has been two weeks since) the smell hasn't fully gone yet.source ↗

after washing it the smell goes away for a bit but comes back it if I leave the lid on, trapping the air.source ↗

how do I get rid of this smell of old Dunkin' juice in the bottle. I've washed with soap a lot of times.source ↗

CommunicationRich360 · r/CleaningTips · 1 upvotes

How do o clean this to make it look as good as new?source ↗

Myshkyn · r/CleaningTips · 1 upvotes

Ive been drinking out of this for like months, I didn't even know you were supposed to clean water bottles up until a year or so agosource ↗

Prestigious-Feed5997 · r/CleaningTips

I was dumb and filled a reusable toiletry bottle with sunscreen. Is there any way to wash it out?source ↗

I used all the sunscreen that was inside, but I don't want to use it for sunscreen anymore.source ↗

happy_bluebird · r/CleaningTips

Where this came up

People with this problem also raised