How to Clean Platypus Water Bottles

Platypus bottles are an alternative to bulky rigid water bottles.

Platypus water bottles are flexible plastic bottles made by Cascade Designs. When the bottles are empty, you can roll them up and pack them into a smaller space than a rigid water bottle. Their flexibility allows them to easily fit into water bottle holders and backpack pockets when filled. Always keep your Platypus bottle clean, especially if you are switching between liquids. Cleaning will keep the water in the bottle fresh-tasting and will remove any traces of juice or energy drinks that could go bad while you are storing the bottle.

Things You'll Need

• Water
• Soap
• Baking soda
• Lemon juice
• Bleach

Instructions

Simple Cleaning

1. Fill the bottle with hot, soapy water.

2. Shake the Platypus bottle thoroughly.

3. Rinse the bottle with hot water and pour it out. Continue refilling and emptying the bottle until you have removed all of the soap.

Deep Cleaning

1. Fill your bottle with 3/4 cup of water for every liter of bottle volume. For example, for a 2-liter bottle, you should add 1.5 cups of water.

2. Add 1/4 cup of baking soda for each liter of bottle volume. Continuing with the 2-liter bottle example, you should add half a cup of baking soda to the 1.5 cups of water already in the bottle.

3. Close the Platypus bottle and shake it for 30 seconds.

4. Open the bottle and add 1/4 cup lemon juice. Close the bottle again.

5. Shake the bottle for 10 seconds. The lemon juice will react with the baking soda to clean the bottle. The mixture will release gas that will inflate the bottle, so you must vent the bottle.

6. Point the bottle's nozzle away from you and open it to vent it.

7. Shake the bottle and vent it three more times. Squeeze all the air out of the bottle and let it sit for 20 minutes.

8. Pour out the lemon and baking soda solution. Rinse the bottle thoroughly with hot water.

Disinfecting

1. Add water to the bottle until it is almost full.

2. Pour in 1 oz. of household bleach for each liter of bottle volume.

3. Close the bottle and shake it for 10 seconds to mix the bleach solution.

4. Store the bleach-filled bottle overnight. Empty it and rinse it out thoroughly with hot water.

References

• Cascade Designs: Platypus Bottle FAQ