How to Clean Kids Drink Bottles and Straws

Life can get messy, especially when you have the little ones in tow. Thankfully, your family's drinkware doesn’t have to be!

Greens Steel’s Stainless Steel Kids Bottles are easy to clean, making them the perfect companion for your kiddo to stay hydrated and healthy while they’re hard at work having fun.

Here's 4 easy methods for keeping your kids' drink bottles, straws and easy-sip lids sparkling clean and fresh: 

THE HAND WASH METHOD

WHAT YOU'LL NEED: 

  • Mild Dishwashing Soap
  • A Dish Brush or Sponge

THE PROCESS: 

Squeeze some dishwashing liquid onto your sponge or dish brush, and thoroughly scrub your tumbler, lid and straw inside and out. Rinse and repeat until cleaned thoroughly.

THE DISHWASHER METHOD

WHAT YOU'LL NEED: 

  • Dishwasher Tabs
  • A Dishwasher!

THE PROCESS:

Just load your bottle, lid and straw separately into the dishwasher and go! For best results, utilize the top rack with the opening of the tumbler facing down.

All of Greens Steel’s Stainless Steel drinkware is completely dishwasher-safe, making for a hassle-free cleanup that couldn’t be simpler. 

An electropolished finish on the interior ensures your kids bottles stay rust-free and keep the contents tasting pure, even with frequent dishwasher use!

DON'T FORGET: If your little ones are helping you load up the dishwasher, ensure that they wash their hands thoroughly after touching the dishwasher detergent powder or tabs. 

THE "SQUEAKY" DEEP CLEAN METHOD

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

  • Baking Soda
  • Household Vinegar

THE PROCESS:

Combine a heaping tablespoon of baking soda and a big splash of vinegar in your kid's stainless steel bottle and set aside. 

The mixture will foam and bubble up, indicating it’s working its deep exfoliating magic. Once the mixture settles, put on the lid and seal the bottle before giving it a good shake.

Finally, empty the vinegar mixture out, and give the bottle a thorough rinse before allowing to dry. 


insulated KIDS BOTTLES
Easy-sip cap & straw • 100% spill-proof • Safe & BPA free
 SHOP NOW

NEXT, AIR-DRY THOROUGHLY

No matter which method you use to clean your kids' bottle, always allow the pieces to dry completely before reassembling and storing in the cupboard. 

After washing, set your bottle, straw and lid upside-down on a drying rack or dish towel, allowing them to air dry completely to avoid any bacteria or other contamination to materialize.

PRO TIP: When setting out to dry, leave the sliding re-closable drink spout on the lid open halfway. This allows the air to circulate through the gaps for a thorough air dry.

HERE'S what not to do...

As you can tell, stainless steel drinkware is incredibly convenient, versatile, and couldn’t be more simple to clean and keep in tip–top shape.

Still, there are a few no-nos you should keep in mind when giving your kids' bottles the scrub down…

1. use bleach to clean your stainless steel

Bleach is often the go-to for keeping your hardware spotless, but consider it off limits for your stainless steel drinkware. Because bleach is a powerful oxidizing agent, it does not play well with the chromium oxide, which is the very component that makes your steel "stainless"!

2. use steel-on-steel 

It can be tempting to reach for the steel wool or spatula and go to town on those particularly stubborn food or coffee stains, but think twice. Scratching the interior of your tumbler will attract stains and residue, forever putting the contents at risk of being contaminated.


little-kid FRIENDLY 350ml WATER BOTTLES

Easy-sip cap & straw • 100% spill-proof • Safe & BPA free

SHOP NOW

BONUS: eco-friendly CLEANING solutions

Don’t want to use dish soap, but need your tumbler cleaned in a pinch? Looking for a more eco-friendly method? Many common household items double as a powerful cleaning agent, including the following: 

Baking soda 

This accessible and affordable multi-purpose product isn’t only destined for the oven. The powder can be mixed with water or other cleaning liquids to lift stains and give a deep clean.

distilled white vinegar

Another kitchen staple, distilled white vinegar (and most household vinegars) is a useful non-toxic cleaning agent. 

Hydrogen peroxide

A mild antiseptic typically used medically to prevent infections, hydrogen peroxide is a versatile household product that’s effective for cleaning as well.

lemon juice

This citrus fruit doubles as an antibacterial agent, making the juice from lemons a great weapon against mold and germs.

Tea tree oil

Microbial properties in the essential oil makes it another great cleaning product, and a little goes a long way.

P.S. Here's some other helpful links to other Greens Steel tips & tricks:

How to Clean a Stainless Steel Coffee Cup

How to Clean Your BEAST Tumbler

How to Clean Reusable Metal Straws in 5 Steps

How to Clean a Stainless Steel Bottle in 3 Ways 

Back to News