Cleaning Water Bottles

How often do you need to clean water bottles?

This question was posed by Ellen (one of this blog’s readers) before the holidays, and it’s a good one. Cindy tells adopters to thoroughly clean water bottles every other day, and it was my rule of thumb for years before I met her. It’s also a rule of thumb I’ve modified a bit for those who have guinea pigs who get more food debris (I call it “backwash”) than normal into their water bottles.

Daily

1. Empty what water is left from the day before.
2. Quickly rinse out the bottle with warm water.
3. Wipe the outside of the drinking spout under running warm water.
4. Fill the bottle with fresh water.

Every other day

1. Empty what water is left from the day before.
2. Thoroughly clean the inside of the bottle with hot water and a bottle brush. (Don’t use soap because it leaves a residue that will affect the taste of water and cause your guinea pigs to drink less, or not at all. Hot water and a good brush will do the job.)
3. Take out the colored plastic ball that serves as a water level indicator and rinse in hot water, lightly rubbing it to remove any buildup.
4. Remove the rubber ring inside the bottle cap and rinse in hot water, lightly rubbing it to remove any buildup.
5. Clean the inside of the cap with hot water and cotton swabs. (Swabs get in the tight spaces better than even the smallest bottle brushes.) Run a clean swab down the top of the drinking spout.
6. Turn the cap around and run a clean swab down the other end of the drinking spout. If this is the first time you’ve ever cleaned the spout, or if you’ve been cleaning it with a small brush, use several swabs. Once you get into a routine, you’ll likely only need to use one each time.
7. Rinse the entire cap again in hot water.
8. Put the rubber ring back into the cap.
9. Fill the bottle with fresh water, and put the cap securely back on.
10. Make sure the metal ball in the drinking spout is working properly by either giving the bottle a couple of shakes or tapping your finger at the end of the spout until water comes out.

Following this routine will keep your critters’ water and water bottle crystal clear.

Comments

[Whitney]

Both are good questions. Watch for your answers in the new postings that I'll put up later today.

[Tammy]

Good advice on cleaning -- I'd never thought about cleaning inside the spout or using q-tips. But do water bottles really HAVE to be cleaned so often? And water changed daily?