I hear you on the tea bottles—mine always end up with that stubborn odor, way more than just plain water ones. I’ve tried every trick in the book, but honestly, once that smell sets in, it’s tough to get rid of. I’m kind of ruthless about it now. If a bottle’s been funky for a while, I just move on. Funny enough, it reminds me of mouthguards—after a certain point, no amount of soaking fixes that weird taste. Sometimes it’s just not worth the hassle.
You know, I’ve wondered the same thing about glass bottles. I’ve tried baking soda, vinegar, even those bottle brushes that are supposed to get every corner. Sometimes it helps, but if the smell’s really set in, it just lingers. Do you think it’s the rubber seals or lids holding onto the odor more than the glass? I end up swapping out the lids more often than the bottles themselves. Kind of like mouthguards—once they get that funk, no amount of soaking ever really fixes it for me either.
Do you think it’s the rubber seals or lids holding onto the odor more than the glass? I end up swapping out the lids more often than the bottles themselves. Kind of like mouthguards—once they get that funk, no amount of soaking ever really fixes it for me either.
Honestly, I think you’re onto something with the lids and seals being the real culprits. Glass itself is pretty nonporous, so unless it’s scratched up or super old, it usually doesn’t hold smells. But those rubber or silicone seals... man, they soak up odors like crazy. I’ve had the same issue with retainers and mouthguards—once that weird smell sets in, it’s game over.
One trick that sometimes works for me is letting the seals or lids sit in direct sunlight for a few hours. UV can help kill off some of the bacteria that cause the funk. I’ve also tried soaking them in diluted hydrogen peroxide, which seems to help more than vinegar or baking soda. Still, sometimes it’s just easier to replace the seal or lid if it’s been around a while. The glass bottle itself usually cleans up fine after a good scrub and air dry.
It’s wild how some smells just never go away, no matter what you try...
Yeah, I totally get what you mean—once that smell sets in, it's almost like a lost cause. I’ve tried boiling my mouthguard and even soaking it in denture cleaner, but sometimes nothing really works. You’re not alone in swapping out lids and seals more often than the actual bottles. It’s weirdly reassuring to know others run into the same thing... guess we’re all just fighting the funk together.
I have to laugh—my grandkids think I’m nuts for sniffing my water bottle every morning. But honestly, that mystery smell is relentless. I’ve tried vinegar soaks and even let the sun bake the funk out... sometimes it helps, sometimes not so much. At this point, I’d rather buy new lids than risk that weird aftertaste.
