Insulated bottles are an essential companion for those living in the UAE’s warm climate and busy lifestyle, whether it’s off to the office, gym, desert, or school runs! These are fantastic for keeping your water cool for hours and your coffee hot for those long days. With increasing usage, there’s an equally increasing question:
Are insulated bottles dishwasher-safe, especially for UAE residents whose homes are subjected to hard water conditions?
The quick answer: It depends on the bottle and the way you wash it! Don't worry, this article will take you through the details so that you may confidently wash your insulated bottle the way it should be!
1. What sets insulated bottles apart?
- For instance, insulated bottles such as double-walled and vacuum-sealed ones by Loch are designed to keep the temperature of drinks constant. They achieve this by:
- Double walls vacuum-sealed, where there is no substance between the inner and outer walls to minimize temperature transfer.
- Application of special coatings and linings for better temperature retention, such as stainless steel or food-grade material.
- Seals and caps, for avoiding leaks in the bottles and maintaining temperature.
- These are great design features for function, but perhaps not as helpful when it comes to cleaning.
2. Dishwasher Vs Hand Wash Pros and Cons
Dishwasher is the easier choice
The dishwasher is the easiest (and therefore the most likely) way to wash your dishes in most homes in UAE, such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. This is because of the extreme power of dishwashers, which can wash various types of dishes, including insulated bottles (which can safely remain in the dishwasher) without breaking down.
To clean your insulated bottle in dishwasher, however, several considerations need to be taken into account:
Heat Damage: The drying cycle of the dishwasher can create stress from the heat on your items which could cause cracks or other permanent damage.
The Detergent: Detergent used in dishwashers can have abrasion on the surface of your bottle and can also cause abrasion on the coating and insulator (gaskets).
Hard Water: The water in your dishwasher is called 'hard' due to having a high mineral content, and as such there is a potential for minerals to build-up in both your dishwasher and/or inside of your insulated bottle. This will affect how well your insulated bottle performs as well as how well it is able to be cleaned.
Hand Washing is a gentler method of cleaning.
Because of the reasons listed above, hand washing your insulated bottle is usually better.
You can choose how hot the water is going to be, which can provide a comfortable environment for the interior of the bottle.
You have the ability to use a softer type of soap, which can reduce any mechanical damage to the interior of the bottle.
You have the ability to insert the hand to clean the interior of the bottle.
3. Are Insulated Bottles Safe to Wash in the Dishwasher?
General Rule:
Read the instructions provided by the manufacturer of your insulated bottle.
The vast majority of new insulated bottles today (including many of Loch's insulated products) can go through the dishwasher, provided that they are placed on the top rack, under certain conditions.
Why Top Rack?
Usually placed in the top rack of a machine, insulated bottles would not be subjected to direct heat and drying from the main heating element and drying unit of most dishwashers, thus reducing the amount of possible heat exposure on the bottle itself when washing.
4. Helpful Cleaning Tips for Bottles Cleaned in the Dishwasher for Families in Dubai, U.A.E.
Once you have decided that using the dishwasher is a great way to clean your bottles, here are some cleaning tips to help you have a great experience cleaning them with little effort.
Place Your Bottles on the Top Rack
However, in order to be able to ascertain with certainty whether the integrity of the bottle in your possession is in no way compromised by the steam produced by the dishwasher during the washing process, it is always very important to place the bottle on top of the rack of the dishwasher. This is because of the desire to guarantee integrity.
Take Everything Apart
- You have to take the unit.
- Then you have to wash all the parts of the unit by hand.
- The reason is that the parts of the unit, such as the straws and the gaskets and the lids of the unit, are made of plastic or silicone.
- You cannot put the parts of the unit in a dishwasher to wash them.
Avoid High Heat for Drying
When you are drying the bottles you should not use heat. The reason is that high heat will make the seals and paint on the bottles go bad faster.This should be remembered when working with bottles. You may want your press-ons and paint to last for a long time, and the best method for drying out your bottle is not using excessive heat.
Use mild dish soap and/or mild determining method when washing your insulated bottle.
Negative impacts to your insulated bottle are caused by the harshness of the chemicals inside of many popular dishwashers and the presence of harsher chemicals corrosives in strong detergents.
Take Care of Hard Water
- You should install a water softener or water softening salt in the dishwasher based on its capability.
5. When to Hand Wash
Although the bottles are dishwasher safe, it is highly recommended that you don’t wash the bottles in the dishwasher but wash them by hand when:
- Coffee or tea may stain your mug if they have been left unsupervised.A mug may be stained if it is left unattended after use. However, you may be able to keep your mug clean without those messy stains resulting from your cup of coffee or tea being left idle. Many energy drinks are left unattended in their containers. This is usually as a result of the sugar that is remaining inside the containers.
- It is also important to ensure that you clean hard-to-reach places. There are no options on this in a dishwasher.
An easy-to-follow routine:
1) A combination of warm water and mild dish soap;
2) Using a bottle brush to clean the inside of the bottles;
3) Rinsing the bottles;
4) Drying the bottles by placing them upside down.
6. Mistakes to avoid
- The position of the bottle should be such that the bottom part of the bottle is facing downwards.
- The bottles should be kept vertically in the top rack of the dishwasher.
- The lid assembly should not be cleaned using the dishwasher because of the possibility of the silicone rubber ring being damaged.
- The bottle should not be exposed to strong chemicals because the internal parts of the bottle will be damaged.
- The bottle should not be exposed to heat cycles because the insulation and cover of the bottle will be damaged.
7. How to Remove Odors & Stains (UAE Climate Tip)
Your bottles will develop odors and stains because of the climate conditions. The following tips provide effective methods to perform safe removal of these substances:
Baking Soda Bottle Cleaning
You also use baking soda to clean your bottles! This you do by mixing the baking soda with water and then soaking your bottles in the mixture overnight. The following day, you could already rinse your bottles!
White Vinegar Soaking
Half-fill the bottles with water and half-fill them with white vinegar, and then set them aside for a few hours. At this stage, it is also important to add some water to the bottles for rinsing.
Bottle Brushes With Soap
Bottle Brushes With Soap Having a flexible bottle brush allows you to clean out the hard-to-reach places in your bottles easily. Especially those areas where there is a concentration of minerals or any unwanted substance within your water.
8. How Often Should You Clean?
General Guidelines for UAE Residents:
Daily Rinse - after every use
The system requires cleaning through washing or dishwashing after every 1 to 2 days when it contains water but needs daily cleaning when it holds coffee or juice.
The user needs to clean the system through Baking Soda or Vinegar. The user needs to perform this cleaning task every week.
9. Signs Your Insulated Bottle Needs Extra Care
Look out for:
● Persistent odors even after rinsing
● Stains inside the bottle
● Discoloration of the cap or seal
● Loss of insulation power
If you observe these, then it is time to give your insulated bottles a thorough cleaning, and if you have been relying on a dishwasher, then it is time to think twice.
10. Conclusion: The Safety of Dishwashers in Homes Across the UAE
Are insulated bottles dishwashers safe in the UAE?
Yes, if used with caution and proper care.
The Lowdown:
1 ) Use it the way the manufacturer says to, but most insulated tumblers may be washed in the dishwasher on the top rack.
2 ) Keep the tumblers away from too much heat.
3 ) Do not use high heat to dry the bottles.
4 ) You must wash these items (the silicone seal, lid, and insulated bottles) by hand.
5 ) You should clean the bottles every week if you have hard water, or add a water softener to your water before using your bottle.
Your bottle is usually with you at the beach, where it will play around in the sand, and the surf, and at the gym, where it will be kept cool. So, you can think of your bottle as your friend; your bottle should be easy to clean!
Your insulated bottle is always with you, so you can clean it easily, whether you like to use the convenience of a dishwasher or the advantage of hand washing because it gives more care. When you wash your bottle, the best way to keep your bottle functioning well is to wash smart.
