If you have a Hydroflask, you probably take it with you everywhere, so you are going to want to know how to wash it. Doing dishes by hand can be a hassle, and if you happen to have a dishwasher, this is a great way to save time with most of your dishes. So you are probably wondering, are Hydroflasks dishwasher safe?
Newer Hydroflasks are dishwasher safe, but older ones are not. Hydroflasks made during or after 2020 have a powder coat on the outside that is designed specifically so that it doesn’t fade in the dishwasher. Hydroflasks made before this date don’t have that coat, and therefore should only be hand washed.
Now that you know the basics it’s time to get more into the specifics so that you can know for sure if the Hydroflask you own is dishwasher safe.
How Can You Tell If Your Hydroflask Is Dishwasher Safe?
If you know when your Hydroflask was made, this is the best way to tell if it’s dishwasher safe. If it was made in 2020 or later, your Hydroflask can go in the dishwasher. Hydroflask does state on their website that their coffee mugs are not powder coated and therefore are not dishwasher safe. But any other Hydroflask made after 2020 should be okay.
If you’re not necessarily sure when your Hydroflask was made, there are a couple of ways that you can tell. Newer Hydroflasks have a bit of a different design than the old ones.
Both the new and the old bottles have a Hydroflask logo on the outside. However, only the old ones have the little trademark symbol (®) next to that logo. So if yours doesn’t have one of those symbols, it’s a newer Hydroflask and it should be dishwasher safe. If it does have the symbol, it’s old and is not dishwasher safe.
Another way to tell is by looking at the metal band around the Hydroflask top (where the lid screws on). Old Hydroflasks have a longer metal part that goes down the grooves where you screw the lid into. But new Hydroflasks just have a sleek, straight metal band at the very top of the bottle. If you can tell them apart, this is another way to identify your bottle.
Can The Dishwasher Wear Down Your Hydroflask Overtime?
If you are putting a Hydroflask that is dishwasher safe in the dishwasher, it shouldn’t wear it down too much. It is possible for it to wear down a little bit faster than it would if you were to hand wash it every time. However, you won’t be doing any damage.
The problem is when you put an old Hydroflask (not powder coated) in the dishwasher. At minimum, you might get lucky and nothing bad will happen. At the most, the vacuum seal may get broken and your Hydroflask won’t keep liquids hot or cold anymore.
Hydroflasks have two walls: An inner wall, and an outer wall. There is a vacuum seal in between these walls that works as insulation, keeping drinks hot or cold for a long amount of time. But putting your Hydroflask in the dishwasher will make it get really hot, and this could break the vacuum seal and compromise this effect.
Putting your non dishwasher safe bottle in the dishwasher could also cause some wear and tear. Your bottle might become dull, discolored, or flaky. So it’s definitely important to listen when your Hydroflask says that it’s not dishwasher safe.
How Should You Wash A Hyrdoflask That Isn’t Dishwasher Safe?
All you have to do to clean your Hydroflask is scrub it with warm, soapy water. If it’s really dirty, you could let it sit in this water for a few minutes before you start scrubbing it. It’s best to use a soft washcloth to scrub the outside of your Hydroflask so that you can avoid chipping off any paint.
For the inside of your Hydroflask, you can use some sort of bottle brush made for cleaning water bottles. These are usually long with bristles on the end that will scrub inside of your bottle.
After scrubbing your Hydroflask, just rinse it with clean, warm water and place it on a rack to dry. It’s important that you let it air dry all the way before putting it away so that you avoid any bacteria growth in the leftover stagnant water.
Which Is Better For Hydroflasks: Hand Washing Or Dishwashing?
Most people you ask say you should just stick to hand washing when it comes to Hydroflasks. It doesn’t take too much effort, and it comes with less risk. You probably won’t get chipped paint or a broken vacuum seal just from handwashing, so a lot of people prefer this method. Plus, if you’re unsure if your Hydroflask is dishwasher safe in the first place, handwashing will prevent any problems.
However, as long as your Hydroflask is dishwasher safe, there isn’t really any problem with putting it in there. If it’s more convenient for you, go for it. It’s also a good way to deep clean the Hydroflask, since it gets hotter.
Overall, it really just comes down to preference. If you have a dishwasher safe Hydroflask and enjoy putting it in the dishwasher, there is no harm in doing so. It’s only if you have an old Hydroflask (made before 2020) than you should worry about handwashing it.
Final Thoughts
It can be confusing figuring out whether your Hydroflask is dishwasher safe or not. If you are in doubt, it’s best not to risk it and to stick to handwashing. But if you know that your Hydroflask has that new powder coating on it and is dishwasher safe, then use it to your advantage!
So whether you are carrying your drink to the beach or while camping out in your hopefully waterproof tent, You will be prepared to clean that dirty Hydroflask in the specific way it requires.
