Take a moment and think about how you feel after an intense workout. Stinky, sticky and a bit gross, right? However, the same goes for your shaker bottles. These useful and practical branded items can get filthy, especially if you use them regularly.
But that doesn’t mean you should give up exercising and throw away your supplements. Instead, you’ll just have to learn how to clean your protein shaker and prepare it for the next workout.
Why Should I Care About Dirty Protein Shakers?
Besides being a personal problem for gym enthusiasts, dirty protein shakers can also have a negative effect on your marketing strategy. Let’s assume that you plan on giving away branded protein shakers, hoping that they will improve your brand awareness. Sure, as your recipients use them in the gym, more and more people will notice your branding. But what happens when the bottle gets dirty? They either throw it away, effectively putting an end to your passive advertising strategy, or clean it. That’s why it’s vital to educate your audience about cleaning protein shakers.
Can I Clean Protein Shakers in a Dishwasher?
Generally speaking, as long as you put your glass, plastic or metal shaker cups on the top rack of your dishwasher, you shouldn’t do any damage to your product. However, the more you wash your protein shaker, the more you will destroy the measuring lines and rubber seals. And over time, you will degrade the product, causing leaks and rendering it unusable.
As a result, it’s best to clean the shaker by hand. But if that’s not a possibility, at least make sure to stack the bottle and lid separately. And remember that the agitator, or whisk ball, should be removed and washed by hand.
How Often Should I Clean Protein Shaker Bottles?
Ideally, you should wash your protein shaker after every use. That way, you can prevent foul odours. Additionally, since protein shakes often contain fruit, veggies and milk, they can easily cause cross-contamination if not washed regularly.
It’s worth noting that, according to Cape Code Healthcare, people who don’t wash their bottles can ingest mould and germs. In fact, after just a week without cleaning, a shaker cup can contain 300,000 bacteria cells per square centimetre. Therefore, make sure to clean your shaker thoroughly if you want to avoid foodborne diseases.
How Can I Clean My Protein Shaker?
Washing your protein shaker is pretty straightforward. However, you still need to be careful in order to avoid damaging it. But don’t worry, if you follow these steps, you should be able to clean your protein shaker with ease.
1. Remove the Lid
Before cleaning your personalised shaker, you need to remove the lid. That’s because the only way to completely remove bacteria is to wash each component separately. But try not to remove it forcefully, otherwise, you might end up breaking the seal.
2. Soak the Bottle
Next, fill your sink with warm water and add ¼ cup of mild dishwashing soap. Make sure to use a soap that’s certified for removing odours. Then put the shaker bottle inside the mixture and let it soak for 30 minutes.
3. Clean the Lid
As the bottle soaks, scrub the outside and inside of the lid using a soft bristle brush. If the lid features a narrow straw, use a soapy pipe cleaner to wash its insides. Just make sure to clean it thoroughly and remove every bit of gunk.
4. Check the Bottle
Remove the bottle from the sink and inspect it. If it’s still full of dirt, refill the sink with warm water and soap and let the bottle soak again for another 30 minutes.
5. Scrub the Bottle
Once you take the bottle from your sink, scrub it inside and out using a brush. While doing so, pay more attention to the mixing ball, as that’s the toughest area to clean. If necessary, remove it and clean it separately.
6. Rinse the Lid and Bottle
After cleaning your bottle and lid, rinse them to remove all the soap. Don’t forget to also rinse the mixing ball, but carefully to avoid damaging it.
7. Dry and Reassemble
Lastly, dry every part of the shaker using a clean towel. Remember that leftover moisture can spoil the taste of your next shake. Therefore, we advise you to leave the bottle upside down on a dish rack until it can dry out completely. Once dried, just put all the pieces together, and voilà, your shaker is now clean again.
But What If My Shaker Smells Bad?
When bacteria build up, they can cause foul odours in your shaker. That’s more common for bottles that haven’t been cleaned properly. Your shaker can also start to smell bad if you leave it in the car for long periods of time. That’s because leftover food and hot temperatures don’t mix too well, and can turn your bottle into a breeding ground for bacteria.
How Can I Remove Bad Odours?
Sometimes, just cleaning your protein shaker is not enough to get rid of pesky bacteria that cause foul odours. If that’s the case for your shaker, then you need to deodorise the bottle using a mixture of baking soda and white vinegar. Start by pouring ¼ cup of baking soda and ¼ cup of white vinegar into the bottle, leaving the lid off the top. Then, after letting the mixture sit overnight, rinse the bottles first thing in the morning.
Another solution is to use a paper towel dipped in vanilla extract. Leave it inside the bottle for 24 hours with the lid shut. With a bit of luck, the towel will soak up all the nasty odours, leaving your bottle with a refreshing vanilla smell.
Should I Freeze My Shaker?
Usually, low temperatures should be able to kill bacteria and, in theory, get rid of bad odours from your shaker. However, most brands don’t recommend freezing your shaker bottle. Simply put, cold temperatures can turn the plastic brittle, causing cracks.
When it comes to glass and metal bottles, it’s important to read the manufacturer’s recommendations carefully. While some can be safely put in the freezers, others cannot endure low temperatures.
Improving the Lifespan of Your Protein Shaker
Do you want to improve the lifespan of your shaker? Then make sure to check out these tips.
Always Wash by Hand
As previously mentioned, some shakers such as the Shakermate 700ml Protein Shaker Bottles are dishwasher safe. However, it’s still better to wash them by hand. That way, you avoid degrading the plastic and rubber while also removing foul odours much more efficiently. This should also prolong the lifespan of the branding, reducing the risk of peeling off.
Never Microwave
Unless stated otherwise, protein shakers are not microwave safe. In fact, the heat will melt the plastic, rendering the bottle useless. So never try to use a microwave in order to remove germs and bacteria from your bottle.
Store the Lid and the Bottle Separately
Before storing the shaker, take off the lid. Doing so will air out any odours that were trapped inside.
Only Use Safe Ingredients
Avoid filling your bottle with foods like shrimp, pickle juice, noodles or mustard. You should only use it to make healthy shakes that contain ingredients such as nuts, milk, bananas and more. Otherwise, you increase the risk of bacteria and bad odours.
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Protein Shakers — A Lifelong Gift
High-quality protein shakers are one of those promotional items that can last almost a lifetime. However, that’s only the case if the users wash them regularly. But with a bit of care, anyone can enjoy the benefits of a protein shaker for years to come.
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