Do you think certain brands hold onto smells more than others, or is it just all glass bottles after a while?
I’ve wondered the same thing! It’s funny, because I used to think glass was this magical, smell-proof material—like, “oh, it’s glass, it just wipes clean, right?” But then after a few months, even with boiling and all the scrubbing, there’s this weird hint of... something. Not quite sour milk, not quite dishwasher funk. I’ve tried a couple brands (Lifefactory and Dr. Brown’s, for what it’s worth), and honestly, I can’t say I noticed a huge difference. Maybe some are a little thicker, but the smells seem to creep in eventually no matter what.
I hear you about sunlight, too. I did the whole “let’s put the bottles out on the deck and let UV rays do their thing” experiment. The bottles looked all sparkly, but then I started picturing pollen and city dust just floating down and making themselves at home. Not exactly what I was going for.
Boiling helps, but I’ve noticed if I don’t take the rubber rings and plastic parts out, they’re the real culprits. My daughter has a super sensitive nose (seriously, she’ll call me out if I switch laundry detergents), so even a faint smell means a full bottle strike. I started soaking the rings in white vinegar every couple weeks—doesn’t smell great at first, but after a rinse they’re way better. I read somewhere that baking soda can help, too, but I haven’t tried it yet.
One thing that surprised me: sometimes it’s not the bottle, it’s the drying rack. I realized ours was holding onto moisture and getting musty, and then that smell transferred to the bottles. Swapped it for a wire rack and things improved a bit. Who knew, right?
Anyway, I wish there was some secret brand that stayed fresh forever, but I think it’s just part of the parenting adventure. At least we’re all in it together, sniffing bottles like detectives...
Funny, I always assumed glass was immune to smells too—turns out, not so much. I’ve had glass containers for mouthwash and denture soak, and after a while, there’s this odd lingering scent, even after scrubbing. The rubber seals are definitely the worst offenders, in my experience. I started soaking those in diluted vinegar, which helped a bit, though you’re right, the initial smell isn’t great. Also, I once realized my bottle brush was the real source of funk—swapped it out, and things improved. Sometimes it’s the little things you overlook...
The rubber seals are definitely the worst offenders, in my experience.
Totally agree about the rubber seals—those things seem to soak up smells no matter what. I’ve actually had a patient bring in their denture bath, and the whole thing reeked even after multiple cleanings. I get kind of paranoid about cross-contamination, so I tell folks to replace seals if possible. And yeah, brushes can be sneaky little culprits... I learned that the hard way after using the same one for months.
I’m not totally convinced it’s just the rubber seals, honestly. I’ve had bottles where the glass itself seemed to hold onto a weird smell, even after running it through the dishwasher and letting it air out for days. Is it possible the type of stuff you store in them matters more than the seal? I use mine for herbal teas and sometimes they get funky way faster than water bottles. Maybe certain liquids just cling to the material more?
Is it possible the type of stuff you store in them matters more than the seal? I use mine for herbal teas and sometimes they get funky way faster than water bottles.
I’m actually kind of paranoid about this now, because I had a bottle that I only ever used for chamomile tea, and it started smelling weird after just a couple weeks. I scrubbed it, soaked it in vinegar, even tried baking soda, but the smell was just… stuck. I wonder if some teas or herbs are just more likely to leave a residue that’s hard to get out? I don’t think it’s always the rubber seal either—sometimes it feels like the glass itself absorbs it, especially if the bottle sits closed for a while. Maybe I’m overthinking, but it makes me nervous to reuse bottles for different drinks.