How to Clean a Water Bottle in the Dishwasher (without ruining it)

Reusable water bottles are a daily essential for many — but if you're not cleaning yours properly, you're either shortening its life or drinking yesterday's residues, bacteria brew or mystery smell. Not ideal.
40% of reusable water bottle users replace their bottle due to odors or hygiene concerns.^
The good news? Some water bottles can now be easily cleaned in the dishwasher making this chore easy. But "dishwasher safe" doesn't mean "chuck it in and hope for the best." Here's how to do it right and keep your bottle performing like new.

Step 1: Check Before You Load

First things first—read the instructions. Some water bottles are dishwasher safe for top-rack only, others have parts that must be hand-washed and some are dishwasher safe for certain cycle temperatures. Only put water bottles in your dishwasher cycle if they fit and are designed for it.

Step 2: Disassembly

Take it apart. Remove the lid, tea infuser, straw—whatever components your bottle has. Open any seals or flip-top spouts. Leaving everything assembled is how you end up with mold parties in crevices you can't see.

Step 3: Position Like a Pro

Bottle placement matters and this is where many people get it wrong:

• Face the bottle opening downwards so that it will be in the path of the spray arms and jets — think of it like holding a cup upside down above a rotary sprinkler

• Avoid placing the bottle in the corners of the dishwasher as the spray arms will not jet as much water in these areas to clean the inside of your bottle

• Leave space between items—overcrowding blocks the cleaning action

• Make sure that water bottle parts going into the dishwasher will have proper water flow and can drain properly. If the water inside the dishwasher cannot flow through all areas of the part and drain then it won't be cleaned properly. Follow your water bottle manufacturer recommendations regarding this.

Check the spray arms: Before closing the dishwasher, spin the spray arms by hand to check that they spin freely. If your bottle (or anything else) is blocking them, the dishwasher will not clean properly. Note: if your bottle is tall and interferes with the upper spray arms there may be different height settings for the top rack so more space can be given to bottom rack items.

Step 4: Get the Detergent Right

Here's another area where many people stuff it up:

• Use only dishwasher detergent (powder / tablets) recommended by your dishwasher manufacturer

• Use the correct amount (dosage) for the cycle you running and don't go overboard. Too much detergent reduces cleaning power by creating excess suds (think crazy foam party) that block water flow. Follow the manufacturer's recommended amount.

Note: Never use regular dish soap (washing up liquid) or alternative dishwasher detergents that are not recommended by your dishwasher manufacturer. Many of these detergents result in excess sudsing inside your dishwasher that degrades the cleaning effectiveness and which may permanently damage your dishwasher.

Step 5: Let It Breathe

Post-wash patience pays off. Let both bottle and parts air dry completely before reassembling. Screwing a damp lid onto a damp bottle? That's asking for funk to develop. Give it time to dry fully—your taste buds will thank you.

Troubleshooting Part 1 - Water Bottle Issues

If you are having issues cleaning your water bottle in the dishwasher after following the above steps remember that "Dishwasher Safe" doesn't mean easily cleaned in the dishwasher.

The Wide-Mouth Advantage

If you're shopping for a new bottle, go wide-mouth. They're easier for dishwashers to clean thoroughly, and when you do need to hand wash, you can actually get a brush or sponge inside. Narrow necks might look sleek, but they're a cleaning nightmare.

Top Rack Only Dramas

If you have a water bottle that is taller than 6 inches after being disassembled and is Dishwasher Safe "Top Rack only" it may be very difficult to clean it properly as most top racks have a max height of 6-7 inches. Putting your tall water bottle on its side to clean it is a waste of time unless you only want to clean the outside.

Troubleshooting Part 2 - Dishwasher Issues

If your dishwasher is not be performing properly even when using the right amount and type of detergent then there may be an issue with the dishwasher.

Refer to the manufacturers dishwasher manual and to ensure that you are following the maintenance steps to keep it running at its best.

Quick tip: If your dishwasher itself smells funky, run it empty through a hot cycle (Pots and Pans) with detergent to clean out all the internals. Sometimes the problem isn't your bottle—it's the machine that's supposed to be cleaning it.

The Bottom Line

A dishwasher can be your water bottle's best friend, but only if you use it right. Position matters, detergent matters, and bottle design matters. Get these basics down and your bottle should stay fresh and functional for years.

Reference:
^ Statista survey - August 2024 https://evervessel.com/blog/the-dirty-truth-about-reusable-water-bottles-in-2024-why-they-re-getting-replaced-fast/