lailasmum Posted May 19, 2013 Share Posted May 19, 2013 2 of our 4 stainless steel drinks bottles have suddenly taken on a really horrible flavour and smell which makes them unusable. One of them is still fine with no flavour or smell. They are H2Onya bottles and they are unlined. It's hard to describe the flavour it's kind of musty and horrible. They've only ever had water in them. I've scrubbed and scrubbed them and sterilised them and tried bicarb. I just can't get rid of the smell and taste. Anyone got any ideas? They were pretty expensive so it would be a shame to have to stop using them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFSinIL Posted May 19, 2013 Share Posted May 19, 2013 Rinse with bleach? Are there rubber or silicone seals at the top that may haved mold or other ickies in the cracks and crevices? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lailasmum Posted May 19, 2013 Author Share Posted May 19, 2013 I'll try something harsher. They're entirely steel theres no other materials which is why I am mystified I can't get them clean. The lid parts are plastic but it comes off entirely and doesn't smell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest inoubliable Posted May 19, 2013 Share Posted May 19, 2013 Hope you can figure it out. Our SIGGs went bad that way and we ended up recycling them. I never could figure out what the smell/taste was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wabi Sabi Posted May 19, 2013 Share Posted May 19, 2013 When ours get funky I put a tiny splash of bleach in each one, fill with hot water and let them sit overnight. So far it's always worked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lara in Colo Posted May 19, 2013 Share Posted May 19, 2013 My BIL swears by alka seltzer tablets (for plastic bottles but I think it would work for metal) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbmamaz Posted May 19, 2013 Share Posted May 19, 2013 my stainless steel coffee cups got bad after a while. i think i ended up putting them in the dishwasher, which helped some - i figure it was that or toss them. eventually I lost them and now I use dishwasher safe plastic travel mugs. i love them because they get REALLY CLEAN, but they dont insulate as well as the old one. and of course, not quite as easy to bring along as a bottle, but i do bring them almost everywhere Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted May 19, 2013 Share Posted May 19, 2013 A few ideas: Chlorine bleach (Clorox etc) and warm/hot water Oxygen based bleach with hot water (Oxyclean) Or Denture tablet with warm water Hot Vinegar soak Sunshine Put in the freezer empty Boil or sterilize with boiling water Tongs and a magic eraser Salt and water swirl (no-scratching but abrasive) ETA: CItric acid (Tang powder or kool aid) Lemon juice and then sunshine to dry I have heard of people using newspapers stuffed in bottles to deodorize but I have no idea if it is true or not. I would specifically try to get the bottle warm or hot to open up any pores in the metal that could be harboring the smell/detritus. Even if you have only used water in the bottles, there are a lot of minerals, a few bacteria, and even algae in various water supplies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lailasmum Posted May 19, 2013 Author Share Posted May 19, 2013 I think I've sorted one with 50/50 water and vinegar and a tsp of bicarb. Then I scrubbed it when it was still fizzing. The taste is back to normal. The other one ( the biggest and most expensive!) still smells wierd and the inside actually looks a little odd and not a smooth satin finish inside. A few ideas: Chlorine bleach (Clorox etc) and warm/hot water Oxygen based bleach with hot water (Oxyclean) Or Denture tablet with warm water Hot Vinegar soak Sunshine Put in the freezer empty Boil or sterilize with boiling water Tongs and a magic eraser Salt and water swirl (no-scratching but abrasive) ETA: CItric acid (Tang powder or kool aid) Lemon juice and then sunshine to dry I have heard of people using newspapers stuffed in bottles to deodorize but I have no idea if it is true or not. I would specifically try to get the bottle warm or hot to open up any pores in the metal that could be harboring the smell/detritus. Even if you have only used water in the bottles, there are a lot of minerals, a few bacteria, and even algae in various water supplies. Thanks, I'll try some of those on the other bottle. The steriliser I tried is a chlorine bleach and that didn't work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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