Are Hydro Flasks Dishwasher Safe?

Homeowners have not looked back since its invention back in the mid-19th century,

loading them up with all their dirty dishes and utensils before simply allowing the kitchen appliance to do all the hard work for them. Life hasn’t been the same since.

After all, nobody wants to touch a plate with soggy food fixed to it. Why should you lift a finger, scrubbing your dishes clean, when it can easily be done for you?

While plates, glasses, and cutlery are normally at the forefront of a dishwasher’s cleaning tasks, the roomy interiors allow for a variety of other items to be placed within.

If it fits inside, it should be able to be thoroughly scrubbed and rinsed along with everything else.

However, not everything that fits inside a dishwasher should be placed inside a dishwasher. If you look carefully at the fine print of most objects,

there will be a warning stating that they are not dishwasher safe, and, therefore, will need to be washed by hand. Ignoring these statements can lead to these objects becoming damaged. 

Sometimes, the warning may not be printed at all, leaving you to wonder what can be used in your dishwasher, and what can’t.

What about a Hydro Flask? 

If you have clicked on this link, this is almost certainly the question burning in your mind. Perhaps you have recently purchased your very own Hydro Flask, and are wondering whether it can be cleaned inside a dishwasher or not.

Well, you have come to the right place! In this article we will be reviewing what a Hydro Flask is, what materials it is made out of, and whether or not the product is suitable for dishwasher use. Hopefully, all your questions will be answered below.

So, let’s get into it.

What Is A Hydro Flask?

Here’s a brief overview of what the Hydro Flask is, for those who have been living under a rock for the past decade or so.

‘Hydro Flask’ is a stainless steel water bottle brand that uses double-wall vacuum insulation, allowing the liquid inside to remain chilled or heated for an extended period of time. 

While the company was initially created back in 2009, its popularity has skyrocketed in recent years as a result of Millennium and Gen Z trends (e.g., the ‘VSCO Girl’ subculture). 

Hydro Flasks have become popular substitutes for one-use plastic cups due to concerns regarding global warming and growing environmental awareness throughout the last decade.

Metal straws have also been known to be motifs of the ‘VSCO Girl’ aesthetic, which is why the ‘Hydro Flask’ brand has been frequently associated with them in popular culture.

While the ‘Hydro Flask’ company is most renowned for its water bottles, it also manufactures several other products, including wine decanters, tote bags, and food containers. 

Regardless, the most common association made with the words ‘Hydro Flask’ are with their famed water bottles. For that reason, we will be only discussing the Hydro Flash bottles in this article.

Can I Wash My Hydro Flask In The Dishwasher?

Yes. And, no.

It depends.

Until fairly recently, Hydro Flasks were not considered to be dishwasher-safe, and were recommended to be handwashed with warm, soapy water instead. 

This reasoning was attributed to the outer layer of the flask’s substance being incompatible with high levels of heat.

The hot temperatures inside an operating dishwasher would damage the flask’s external layer, damaging its insulating properties.

Are Hydro Flasks Dishwasher Safe?

Additionally, the powder coating on the flasks’ exteriors would eventually wear down after being continuously rinsed inside a dishwasher.

In 2020, the materials used to make a Hydro Flask were modified, ensuring that heat from the dishwasher would not negatively affect the insulation and/or the powder coating.

There have been multiple reports that dishwashers can cause the color of the newer Hydro Flask to significantly fade, but otherwise, they are deemed to be dishwasher-safe.

So, in summary: the newer Hydro Flask bottles can be cleaned inside a dishwasher, whereas the models manufactured prior to 2020 should not.

How Can I Wash My Hydro Flask?

If you have an older Hydro Flask model, you might be wondering how to clean it as safely and thoroughly as possible.

Cleaning a Hydro Flask by hand is incredibly simple: all you will need is some warm, soapy water and a soft, bottle brush.

Fill the bottle with the water, and carefully scrub the insides clean with the brush. Then, rinse out with some clean water. Repeat this process until the bottle is spotless.

Once you are done, you can either leave the bottle to dry naturally on a drying rack for a couple of hours, or to save time, you can wipe it dry with a clean cloth. 

If you leave the bottle dry overtime, you may notice some water spots on the surface.

You can easily remove them by simply wiping the bottle with a cloth or a napkin, but they won’t cause you any harm if you leave them there.

While washing by hand takes a little more time and effort, it is definitely worth using this method if you are the owner of an older Hydro Flask. 

How Often Should Hydro Flasks Be Cleaned?

Again, it depends.

If you only use your Hydro Flask to drink water, you will only need to clean it once a week.

It is recommended that you rinse the bottle once a day with some warm water, but it will still need to be properly cleaned with soapy water once a week.

If you drink tea, coffee, or any other liquid that isn’t water from your Hydro Flask, you will need to clean it with warm, soapy water at least once a day.

Flavored, thicker liquids will cause the inside of the bottle to become sticky, making it more likely for bacteria and/or mold to grow at a faster rate. 

If the insides are becoming noticeably dirty sooner than expected, rinse them out with soap to be safe. For particularly tough stains,

try using white vinegar and warm water: just make sure you thoroughly rinse with soapy water following to get rid of the bitter vinegar taste.

Final Thoughts

Before you decide to clean your Hydro Flask in the dishwasher, make sure to check its manufacturer date to be certain that it is dishwasher safe.

You can do this by thinking back to when you bought or received the bottle, or you can search up the details online.

Always remember to clean your bottles regularly, even if they appear to be fresh and clean. No one wants to take a sip of mold-infused water.

Don’t forget: the better you take care of your Hydro Flask, the longer it will last!

George Alexander
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