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.
- 1Cleaning the bottle thoroughly with soap or bleach
- 2Throwing the bottle away and getting a new one
- 3Scrape or wipe out visible lotion, rinse with plenty of water, and soak or wash in soapy water.
- 4Use micellar water, makeup remover, or Dawn dish soap.
- 5Using miniature interdental flossers
- 6Checking manufacturer videos on YouTube
- 7Pulling out silicone flaps/gaskets and soaking in warm water with oxiclean
- 8Filling the lid with a 50/50 water and white vinegar solution overnight
- 9Using pipe cleaners, wire brushes, or unfolded paperclips wrapped in floss
- 10Soaking parts in dental cleaning tablets
- 11Washing thoroughly with dish soap multiple times
- 12Soaking overnight in vinegar
- 13Soaking overnight with water and a small amount of bleach
- 14Scrubbing with a brush and a sponge with soap
- 15Picking at the stain with a finger
- 16Using ball bearings or marbles with cleaner while swirling on its side
- 17Using a bottle brush
- 18Using chemclean soaked in warm water for an hour or two
- 19Using 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 ↗
“I avoid this type of water bottle for this very reason.”source ↗
“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 ↗
“How do o clean this to make it look as good as new?”source ↗
“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 ago”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
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