This Common Household Liquid Gives Your Metal Water Bottle The Deep Clean It Needs

Stainless steel water bottles are the popular eco-friendly alternative to disposable plastic and breakable glass bottles. You can safely carry them with you and easily stay hydrated on the go. But, with metal bottles being so easy to just fill and run, how often do you think about deep cleaning them, and what's the best way to do that? As it turns out, one of the most effective products you can use to get your metal water bottle super clean is probably sitting in your medicine cabinet – hydrogen peroxide.

Yes, one of the surprising ways to use hydrogen peroxide in your home is to deep clean your trusty water bottle regularly using that familiar brown bottle traditionally reserved for disinfecting skin cuts and scrapes. If you don't happen to have any on hand, it's easy to pick up some medical-grade 3% strength hydrogen peroxide at your local supermarket or drugstore. A quart-sized bottle typically costs no more than a dollar or two, and it's quite easy to use.

While cleaning a stainless steel water bottle with mild soap and water is enough for day-to-day maintenance, it's also a good idea to deep clean it once a week. To do so, give the bottle a good rinse with hot water. Then add 1/4 cup of hydrogen peroxide to the bottle and replace the cap. Give the bottle a good shake, and then rinse it out well with warm water to remove any hydrogen peroxide lingering on the metal.

You should also plan to deep clean your metal water bottle after you've been sick or if the bottle develops mold when sitting unused for a while. Peroxide can also be used in metal water bottles to remove odors. Both tap water and filtered water can leave behind mineral deposits that get smelly if not regularly removed with a deep clean. 

Hydrogen peroxide is made with water, but it has an extra molecule added that causes oxidation. "The extra oxygen molecule oxidizes, which is how peroxide gets its power," says Dr. Sarah Pickering Beers, MD in a Cleveland Clinic article. "This oxidation kills germs and bleaches color from porous surfaces like fabrics." Beers goes on to say that medical-grade hydrogen peroxide kills bacteria, fungi, and viruses, making it ideal for cleaning around the house. 

Take care when using peroxide when cleaning your metal water bottle, however, because it does tend to bleach clothing when splashes occur, as noted by Beers. Other suggested precautions when using peroxide as a cleaner are using it in a well-ventilated area and wearing gloves. In fact, the doctor urges moving hydrogen peroxide from the medicine cabinet to the cleaning cabinet these days because it can be harsh when applied directly to the skin. Also remember to safely store hydrogen peroxide in a dark, cool spot. With a little care, you can safely use it to disinfect your metal water bottle on a regular basis and get it squeaky clean.