Reusable water bottles sure are great, aren’t they? After reading our last article about the best bottles on the market for 2018, you may have stocked up on a few of the bottles on that list. Hey, we can’t blame you! Those bottles are the best for a reason, after all.
Unless you bought all collapsible reusable bottles, then storage space may be now be at a premium. How do you make room for all those water bottles? You would hate to throw any of them away (unless they’re plastic, that is!), especially since they’re still in good condition. Your kitchen cabinet is out of the question for storing more bottles, though.
Don’t worry! We’re reusable water bottle aficionados on this blog just like you. We’ve all been there where we no longer had room for our growing bottle collection. Luckily, there are plenty of creative ways of stashing your bottles. If you have the room elsewhere in your house and you possess a bit of basic handiness, then you can make any of these great and fun storage solutions work for you.
Our Fun Ideas for Storing Your Reusable Water Bottle
Divvied up in a Drawer
This storage solution will only work if you have slimmer water bottles, but hey, it’s worth mentioning!
You’re probably used to always standing up your reusable water bottles, right? What you don’t realize is how much space you’re wasting that way. Wouldn’t it be nice to lay your bottles down flat? You can if you have a spare kitchen drawer or two.
To keep the bottles neat, you’d set up dividers between each bottle. This way, there’s no rattling, shaking, or movement of the bottles as you open and close the drawer. This project does have a DIY element, as you’ll have to make the dividers from scratch. Utensil dividers won’t work, as they’re too slim. That means it’s time to get crafty!
The board you use to make your own dividers should be at least 1×4. Pine is a durable material for the job. Once you measure the width of your average bottle, you can cut the wood and create your own dividers. Nail guns and wood glue will hold everything together and help you finish the project.
If you’d like, you can also alter this project and make a retractable drawer where your bottles stand vertically. You must have a wide, deep cabinet for this to be feasible. Otherwise, the bottles will fall down each time you open the drawer. This is also a considerably more advanced project, as the drawer can retract.
In a Hanging Shoe Organizer
Are you maybe a little too serious about collecting reusable water bottles? Do you have dozens and dozens of bottles but nowhere to put them? Then you’ll love this idea!
You know those hanging shoe organizers? You probably do. They’re transparent, made of a thick yet malleable plastic, and can hang anywhere. They’re also super versatile, as you can stash toys, clothes, and yes, water bottles in the deep, wide cubbyholes.
This requires no creating or DIYing on your end. You only need to buy a hanging shoe organizer if you don’t already have one. Then find a place to hang it where you can quickly and easily grab your bottles. Wash and dry your bottles before you put them in the cubbyholes. Viola!
In Wire Bins
Here’s another project that requires little time and effort. If you always forget where you keep your reusable water bottles, this is a solution for you. By putting your bottles in hanging wire bins, you’ll never lose sight of them again.
Wire bins affixed to your kitchen walls can organize this often messy space in a lot of ways. If you have little odds and ends that always hog up counter space or precious room on your tabletop, then you can stash these in the bins and enjoy a neater kitchen, too. Wire bins are a win-win!
In a Small Container Under the Sink
If you have fewer than 10 bottles, you can buy a small plastic container and stuff all your bottles in there. Then, put the basket under your sink and you never have to guess where your bottles are, as they’ll all be grouped together.
There are admittedly two downsides to this storage option. The first is that it doesn’t accommodate those people who have a lot of reusable bottles (which very well may be you). Second, it’s not the most attractive or crafty storage solution. If you’re overeager to get your bottles out of your kitchen cabinet, though, then this could work.
In That Old Magazine Rack
Remember when magazines were all the rage and you and your family were subscribed to several? Yeah, we can hardly remember it, either. If you still have a rack or two lying around, then your reusable water bottles could find their new home here.
Wicker or plastic racks will do just fine. The width and size of these magazine racks make them perfect for holding a few of your less-used water bottles.
In a Stackable Storage Rack
Stackable storage racks are available all over the Internet or in stores near you, sometimes even in multi-packs. These plastic racks are often transparent, but some come in colored plastic, too. Regardless, they’re meant exclusively for reusable water bottles like yours.
You can fit one or two bottles per rack. You’d lie the bottles down flat with the lids protruding out. Then, keep stacking storage racks as high as space allows. We’d recommend placing your stack of storage racks on the counter if you can swing it.
In an Empty Wine Rack
If you have a wine rack in your home but only a bottle or two of vino is in there, then fill the empty gaps with your reusable water bottles. This may look a little funny to out-of-home visitors, but hey! Just tell them you’re being creative.
Sterilizing Your Water Bottle
If you plan to leave your water bottle for a while, then may we suggest you sterilize it first? This way, it will be as clean as possible and ready for its new home until you decide you want to use it again.
Here are some disinfection methods and tips to follow:
- Cleansing tablets: We’ve written about the effectiveness of water bottle cleansing tablets on this blog before. Some reusable water bottle manufacturers sell their own tablets. If your doesn’t, then don’t stress. You can always buy generic water bottle cleansing tablets. Likewise, denture cleaning tablets will get the job done, as odd as that sounds.
- Distilled bleach: One of the best sanitation methods is using a mixture of water and bleach. You pour the water in first, about a quart. Then, blend in the bleach. Don’t exceed a single tablespoon for each water quart, as that’s too much bleach. Feel free to pour this mixture into your bottle and let it suds up for a few. You should then wash out the bottle thoroughly. If you distilled the bleach well, then there should be no adverse health effects to worry about when using your bottle.
- Vinegar: We dedicated a whole blog post to the power of white vinegar. Go back and check it out if you missed it (here is the post). Apple cider vinegar can be used in place of white vinegar, but it will have more of an odor and potential aftertaste. You can use pure vinegar in your bottle, but only a fifth of the cleaning substance. If you’d prefer, you can distill the vinegar with water, but it’s not necessary. As you remember, you want to leave the water bottle out on the counter for the whole night. Dump and clean it the next day.
Don’t Set It and Forget It!
If you follow any of the storage option tips above, then your reusable water bottles might not necessarily end up in your kitchen. You may stash them in your laundry room, your wine cellar, or even in common areas like the living room. If this is the case, then you have to make a concerted effort not to forget your bottles entirely.
Like anything that sits left untouched and unused for too long, it’s possible for the bottles to begin accumulating dust. Depending on how dry or humid the room is, mold and mildew could possibly grow. Bacteria can develop as well, propagating.
If it’s been a few weeks since you’ve touched your reusable water bottle and you want to drink from it, we must advise you to wash it thoroughly. Use soap and water. Unscrew the cap and clean the interior of the bottle out with a scrubber or even a toothbrush. Don’t forget the lid. This is most important, as you put your mouth on the lid. You don’t want any unpleasant surprises with that first sip!
Conclusion
Having too many reusable water bottles only becomes a problem when you realize you don’t know where to put them all. Creative bloggers and other water bottle enthusiasts like you have cracked the code
- Where to store your water bottle? Safe and Creative Storage Solutions for Your Reusable Water Bottles
- Where to store your water bottle? Safe and Creative Storage Solutions for Your Reusable Water Bottles
. Whether you hide your bottles in a hanging shoe bin, a wine rack, or even make your own DIY kitchen contraption, there are plenty of storage options at your fingertips. You just have to know where to look for them.
Before you leave your water bottles for an indefinite period, make sure you disinfect them. You can use water bottle cleaning tablets (or denture tablets), distilled bleach, or white vinegar. Once you do retrieve your bottle to use it, clean it again to ward off bacteria, mold, and dust.
References:
- https://www.thekitchn.com/the-best-ways-to-organize-your-water-bottles-248444
- https://www.home-storage-solutions-101.com/water-bottle-storage.html,
- https://www.popsugar.com/fitness/How-Disinfect-Reusable-Water-Bottles-18674061