How to Clean a Canteen Water Bottle

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Canteen water bottles are a trendy piece of equipment that can be both light and durable. This is a perfect combination for hikers, who want to minimize the amount of weight they're carrying. Nicer canteen bottles even help regulate temperature inside the canteen, keeping your water colder for longer. The downside to these bottles is that they're often too long and narrow to be properly cleaned in a dishwasher. Since the water jets inside your washer can't easily get inside, you have to handwash these bottles to get them as clean as possible.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Hot water
Soap
Bottle brush

Step 1

Remove the cap from the bottle. Empty out any remaining fluid.

Step 2

Fill the canteen with hot water and a few spoonfuls of soap. Place the cap back on the bottle, and shake the canteen vigorously to agitate the soap. Continue shaking for 20 to 30 seconds.

Step 3

Empty out the soapy contents. Do not rinse.

Step 4

Use a bottle brush to scrub the interior of the bottle, including the inside neck of the bottle, and then proceed to cleaning the exterior of the bottle.

Step 5

Thoroughly rinse the bottle. You should partially fill the bottle with water and swish it around vigorously to clean out the soap. You may need to do this three to five times until suds stop coming out.

Step 6

Handwash the cap with soap, scrubbing it with a bottle brush and then rinsing it thoroughly.

Step 7

Place the canteen bottle upside down on a dish rack or right side up on a paper towel to air dry. Set the cap alongside it.

Tips & Warnings

Washing your hands frequently, particularly after going to the bathroom and before handling your water bottle, will make the bottle and its contents cleaner and prevent bacteria from entering it.

To keep your water clean and safe, wash your bottle every day.

Article Written By Jonathan Croswell

Jonathan Croswell has spent more than five years writing and editing for a number of newspapers and online publications, including the "Omaha World-Herald" and "New York Newsday." Croswell received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Nebraska and is currently pursuing a Master's of Health and Exercise Science at Portland State University.

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