Odour Retention
Plastic water bottles can periodically develop unpleasant odours and/or tastes. These can result when bottles are stored incorrectly, cleaned infrequently or used to carry liquid, which may impart a flavour or odour.

Most plastic water bottles are made out of either polyethylene plastic (which tends to be cloudy in appearance) or polycarbonate (which tends to be clear). Most hydration system bladders have polyethylene linings, which retain tastes and odours more easily than polycarbonate. But all plastic bottles are susceptible if cared for incorrectly.

General Care
The best way to maintain any plastic water bottle or bladder bag is to rinse it out after each use and to let it air dry completely. Most odour and taste problems occur when bottles are stored in wet areas or kept sealed for long periods of time with liquid inside. Polyethylene bottles can also develop unpleasant tastes/odours when their used to store a variety of acidic juices.

Cleaning
If your water bottle develops an unpleasant taste or odour, try the following procedure:

• Put a teaspoon of bleach and a teaspoon of baking soda in the bottle and fill it with water.
• Let the bottle sit overnight.
• Rinse out the bottle completely the next day (or run it through the dishwasher).
• Let the bottle air dry completely.

When cleaning hydration bladders, rinse them thoroughly and let them completely air dry before using them again. Do not place in your dishwasher

Sourced from Paddy Pallin