You don’t need a hazmat suit. Just vinegar or bleach. These are the slime-killing ninjas of your kitchen. Fill a spray bottle with equal parts white vinegar and water. Spray your faucet, let it sit for ten minutes, then scrub with an old toothbrush.
For a water bottle, fill it with a mix of one teaspoon bleach and one quart of water. Shake it vigorously. Let it sit for 15 minutes. Rinse like your life depends on it—bleach tastes awful.
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Pro tip: Slime hides in the rubber seal of your bottle. Pop it out and scrub it separately. That gasket is a five-star resort for bacteria.
The Cheap Trick: Ice and Salt
Here’s a party trick for metal bottles. Fill the bottle with ice cubes, add a tablespoon of coarse salt, and shake like a polaroid picture. The salt scrapes off biofilm, the ice scrubs the corners. Rinse and say goodbye to slime.
Does it work on plastic? Sort of. Plastic scratches easily, which actually creates more slime-hiding spots. Moral of the story: buy glass or stainless steel. Your taste buds will thank you.
