When I realized my trusty water bottle that I use for running, biking and elliptical workouts could be its own incubator for bacteria and mold, I spit out my water and ran to the sink to clean my little laboratory. It turns out there's a right way and wrong way to clean the sticky residue of sports drinks or standing water from your bottle.

Here are 6 tips on how to keep your bottle sanitary and your mind sane:

Soap & Water

Rinsing bottles by hand with warm water and soap is the best way to clean them out after your workout.  Any general, all-purpose liquid soap will do the job.

Brush, Brush, Brush

Combinded with the above suggestion, scrubbing with a brush cleans sticky residues more easily and thoroughly and better removes mold than rinsing alone. You don't need anything fancy. A simple, long-handled bottle brush, available at most department or kitchen stores, will help you clean deep the inside of large bottles or those with narrow openings. 

Doff the Cap

It's not rocket science but I'm sure you know that the fluid in your bottle goes through the nozzle at the top. So, that area needs to a cleaning, too. The best way is to squeeze some warm, soapy water through the bottle and cap and then rinse it out a few times with some clean water.

Say No to the Dishwasher

I know what you're thinking. Why don't I just toss the bottle into the dishwasher and let the machine do all the work. That's usually a good solution to desanitize things, but the boiling temperatures in your dishwasher can actually harm your bottle, deform the material and cause the bottle to wear out sooner. Stick to point one above.

Do It Everytime

Just as you would for a drinking glass, wash your bottle every time. Even if you only drink water, you’re still leaving sweat and possibly bits of whatever you’re eating on the lid. At the very least, rinse your used bottle out.

Think About the Environment

Skip the harsh chemicals. If you're thinking about using them, it may be time for a new bottle. Besides, if you use something like bleach, you run the risk of not thoroughly cleaning the chemical out of your bottle and contam

inating the fluid you pour in afterwards. Soap, warm water and brush are enough to get to the ge

rms that may be there.

Follow these steps and you should have a happy, healthy bottle. Check your bottle after each use and if you just can't get rid of bacteria or mold that may have built up, then toss the bottle. It's not worth the risk or health concerns.

And, if you're thinking about a new bottle, check out our new Landice water bottle. It's BPA free, 16.9 oz (500 ml), and comes with its own Landice logo.