Among the top names in outdoor hydration, Nalgene water bottles have long been a staple. They’re lightweight, durable, and, most importantly, they don’t leak – keeping your pack dry on the trail. The products they offer are built for adventurers, by adventurers.
Nalgene is one of the most popular bottle brands in America with a variety of different shapes and sizes that would suit any of your needs.
However, when it comes to these high end bottles, there is always a question as to how they can be washed without affecting the condition of the bottle.
Many new users of the nalgene bottles want to know if they can be washed in the dishwasher or how to properly wash them when they are out on the trail. We understand why they have these questions. If you drink water out of your Nalgene bottle every day, it’s important to keep it as clean as possible to avoid getting sick. So, let’s get to some of those questions:
Importance Of A Clean Water Bottle
Before we understand how a Nalgene bottle can be cleaned, it is important to understand why water bottles should be cleaned on a regular basis.
Reusable bottles are great as they are beneficial to the environment. Purchasing one reusable bottle will save you money on multiple plastic bottles and will also help save the environment at the same time.
However, having just one reusable bottle may have you forgetting to wash the bottle on a regular basis. This can be dangerous for your health as bacteria will grow in the damp areas of your bottle.
Therefore if you do not regularly clean out your bottle, you could come into contact with some nasty illnesses which could be a big issue if you are out camping or on an expedition,
So Are Nalgene Bottles Dishwasher Safe?
To quickly summarise, yes Nalgene bottles are safe for you to put in your dishwasher. However, it is important that you place these bottles securely on the top shelf so that they can be safely run through the dishwasher. It is also important that the bottle is placed upside down in a secure fashion so that the bottle does not flip when the dishwasher starts up.
If the Nalgene bottle happens to find itself on its side in the dishwasher, it is very likely that the bottle will not come out of the dishwasher clean. This then adds paramount importance in making sure your Nalgene bottle is secure otherwise you will still be left with a dirty bottle.
What If The Nalgene Bottle Does Not Fit In The Dishwasher?
Another common issue. When you purchase large-sized Nalgene bottles, you may notice that they don’t fit on the top rack of the dishwasher. You can still clean your bottle, you just need to use some warm, soapy water. For bottles that have sat out for a few days, fill them with soapy water and let them sit for a while. Once it is covered with soapy water, shake it around a bit, and then thoroughly rinse it. Once the bottle has dried, you should be good to go if you have used quality antibacterial soap.
Avoid overusing soap, as it may leave a soapy aftertaste, which may be a bit too clean for our taste. As an alternative to soap, you can always simply wash the Nalgene bottle with water and baking soda.
What If I Am On A Trail?
You can buy Nalgene bottle cleaning tablets if you’re on the trail and want an easier way to clean your water bottle than a standard soap and water method, or if you’re just worried about fully disinfecting it. It’s perfectly safe to use these tablets on your Nalgene bottle, and they make special tablets just for disinfecting water bottles.
Just place a tablet into the bottle with water, screw the lid tight and give the bottle a good shake. These tablets will work effectively to remove germs from the bottle, ensuring you have a clean and safe Nalgene bottle for the rest of your hiking or camping trip.
A good point to remember is that you should rinse the bottle out well after you have shaken the cleaning tablet around the bottle.
Carrying these tablets also makes the cleaning process quick and easy which is time effective if you are on an intense expedition or a prolonged camping trip.
A further bonus tip for you regarding your Nalgene bottle is that you can save money on water bottle disinfectant tablets by buying denture cleaning tablets instead.
These denture tablets do the exact same thing whilst costing a fraction of the cost. Be sure when purchasing denture tablets that you select a brand name with extra strength cleaning power that will ensure all the germs are removed from the bottle after use.
How Often Should I Wash My Nalgene Water Bottle?
Although it may surprise you, the best advice for you is that you should be washing your Nalgene bottle every day. It is very important to wash your bottle everyday as even though you are rinsing the bottle out with water, germs love moist environments and tend to thrive in places like water bottles.
To avoid illness and stay as healthy as possible you should wash your bottle thoroughly during the day and then leave it out to dry overnight. This will mean that your bottle will be fresh and clean for the next day.
Summary
Nalgene bottles are a real staple of the bottle industry and this guide should have put your mind at ease when it comes to washing these products.
Whether you are on an adventurous hike, camping out in the wilderness or simply taking the bottle to school or work, there will always be a solution to keep your bottle as clean as a whistle.
Each method is cost effective and easy to follow to make sure you avoid illnesses and make full use out of your Nalgene bottle.
I decided to set up this site as an extension of my passion, to help others with their own camping and hiking journeys. I want Stone Moves to be the ultimate guide to all things camping and hiking. Whether it is something you have been doing for years, or whether this is a new hobby, there is information on my site to suit everyone.
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