Buying guide for best self-cleaning water bottles
Many people carry a water bottle everywhere, understanding the importance of staying hydrated. Using a reusable water bottle is great for the environment, but you might have concerns about the quality and safety of the water you’re putting in your bottle. A self-cleaning water bottle can deliver peace of mind.
It would be more accurate to call these “purification water bottles,” because they don’t actually clean themselves. Instead, the bottles clean and purify the water inside. Self-cleaning bottles contain an ultraviolet light and a rechargeable battery in the cap. The UV-C light purifies the water in the bottle with a type of radiation that damages or kills the DNA of microorganisms, eliminating bacteria, viruses, and other dangerous microorganisms that can cause sickness, including gastrointestinal problems.
If you’re looking for a water bottle that delivers cleaner, better-tasting water, a good buying guide and recommendations can get your shopping started.
How to buy the best self-cleaning water bottle
Materials
Nearly all self-cleaning water bottles are made of stainless steel. Double-walled stainless steel is a good insulator, and it is extremely durable, which is an important feature if you plan to use your water bottle when hiking or camping. Stainless steel bottles also have a smooth interior surface, ensuring that the UV-C light is able to reflect through and purify all the water inside.
Purification settings
Time: Most self-cleaning water bottles purify the water in 60 seconds. Some caps use different colors of light or a countdown timer to let you know when the purification process is running and when it has ended. During the purification cycle, you can’t remove the lid to take a drink.
Some more expensive bottles include a second mode that runs a longer purification cycle of a few minutes. This can be helpful if you have significant concerns about the safety of the water you’re drinking.
Automatic: Some self-cleaning water bottles enable you to set the purification cycle to run automatically every few hours. You can turn off the automatic mode so it doesn’t run when the bottle is empty.
Battery
You can expect two to four weeks of use from a single charge of the battery inside the cap. Some bottles have a flashing light near the USB port to alert you when the battery power is low.
LARQ presented its self-cleaning bottles on Shark Tank and received $1 million for a 4% stake in the company. The deal was one of the largest company valuations in the history of the show.
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Features to look for in self-cleaning water bottles
Color
Most of these bottles come in a rainbow of colors and fun patterns, giving you lots of choices. Black is the most common color, but you’ll also find everything from orange to blue to lavender. Selecting a unique color or pattern can help you distinguish your bottle from others at a glance. Even the least expensive bottles offer a few color and design choices.
Lid
All self-cleaning water bottles have a screw-on lid. There is no option to use a straw with these bottles because it would interfere with the purification process.
Some lids have a handle, so you can clip it to a backpack or belt. Some have a flexible loop that you can attach to a strap or belt.
Capacity
Self-cleaning water bottles typically hold 16 to 25 ounces. Most are tall and cylindrical, making it easy to fit the bottle in a cup holder in a vehicle. Selecting a large capacity bottle means you won’t have to refill it as often, but the larger bottles are more expensive. The capacity doesn’t affect the effectiveness of the UV-C light.
DID YOU KNOW?
By eliminating bacteria in water, especially the types of bacteria that cause odors, your water may taste better when using a self-purifying water bottle.
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Other specialized water bottle options
Maybe you don’t need a self-cleaning water bottle because you only use your bottle for tap or filtered water from home. If so, there are a few other specialized types of water bottles that may better fit your needs.
Infusion water bottle
You first fill an infusion water bottle with tap or filtered water. You then have the option of adding sliced fruit or vegetables, which fit inside a basket inside the bottle and infuse the water with flavor.
Filtered water bottle
For hiking or camping, a filtered water bottle removes contaminants like sediment, microplastics, chlorine, and other things that affect the taste or smell of water.
Collapsible water bottle
When traveling, it’s helpful to have a water bottle that folds down to a small size until you need it for drinking. Collapsible water bottles are available in many shapes and sizes.
How much do self-cleaning water bottles cost?
Inexpensive
The least expensive self-cleaning water bottles cost $25 to $40. These typically have a smaller capacity, often 18 ounces or less. Most of these bottles don’t have double-walled insulation. Some manufacturers sell replacement caps for $20 to $50.
Be careful about buying an inexpensive self-cleaning water bottle, because some come from less reputable manufacturers. Read customer reviews to be certain your inexpensive bottle will meet your water purification needs.
Mid-range
The average UV purification water bottle costs $40 to $70. Bottles in this price range hold between 15 and 20 ounces. Some are insulated to maintain the temperature of the water.
Expensive
The priciest self-cleaning water bottles cost $70 to $125 and hold 17 to 24 ounces, but some are even larger. Most are insulated, and many have a timer so you can run the purification cycle automatically every few hours. The most well-known manufacturer brand names, like LARQ, fall in this price range.
The short wavelength of UV-C light enables it to damage microorganisms more effectively than the longer UV-A and UV-B wavelengths.
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Tips
- Fill your self-cleaning bottle only with water. Most of these bottles aren’t made to handle other types of drinks like soda or juice. If you do fill it with another liquid, hand-wash the bottle with warm, soapy water before using it again. Stains on the interior surface from other liquids can decrease the effectiveness of the UV purification process.
- Read the cleaning instructions carefully. If you’re only using the bottle for water, you usually can go a few weeks before washing it. Use warm water and a little dish soap or a disinfecting wipe to clean the exterior. After every few uses, hand-wash the area where your mouth touches the bottle. Most of these bottles are safe to put in the dishwasher, but the lid with the UV-C light is not safe to wash in the dishwasher.
- Take care of the USB port too. Most of these bottles have a USB port in the cap to charge the battery. Keep this port free of grime and dirt so it will continue to work effectively. After washing the bottle, wait until the cap is completely dry before charging the battery.
FAQ
Q. How do self-cleaning water bottles work?
A. Most of them generate UV-C light inside the bottle cap. When activated, the UV-C light damages any bacteria, viruses, or other microorganisms in the water, killing them or rendering them harmless.
Q. Can I use any kind of tap water with the bottle?
A. Yes. Even in locations where drinking tap water might not be safe for travelers, the bottle’s ability to remove harmful microorganisms that could make you sick allows you to drink the tap water.
Q. Do self-cleaning water bottles keep water hot or cold?
A. If you want to maintain the temperature of your water, select a double-walled self-cleaning bottle. However, some manufacturers don’t recommend putting hot water in this type of bottle because it can reduce the effectiveness of the UV light. Cold water or the addition of ice cubes shouldn’t affect the bottle’s performance.
