Contrary to popular belief, just because you can’t see “the yuck” doesn’t mean it’s not there…

Groove Only: 

• Remove the carbon filter as it is the only part of your bottle that is not dishwasher safe. 
• Give your Fresh™ Filter a quick 15-second rinse the first time you use it to dislodge any harmless, loose particles of carbon, then set it aside, as no additional cleaning is recommended. 
• If you accidentally run your filter through the dishwasher, discard and replace it with a new filter.

Groove, eddy, and Better Bottle with BigBite™ Valve: 

• Pull off the bite valve and straw from the cap.
• Clean it in the top rack of the dishwasher or by hand with warm, soapy water. 
• If you like to use a bottle brush, we don’t recommend forcing a brush through the Bite Valve slit. 
• For a deeper cleaning, add a drop of mild soap or tablespoon of bleach to a clean glass jar filled with water.  Drop the bite valve, straw and cap into the solution, and tightly close the jar’s lid.  Shake the mixture around for 30 seconds, and then let the parts soak for about 15 minutes. Rinse and shake dry.
• Now, to re-insert the Bite Valve into the cap:
• Flip the stem collar (the component the bite valve attached to originally) to the open position.
• Orient the bite valve so the finger tab points towards the front of the cap.
• Push the bite valve firmly onto the stem collar.

For more information and a few laughs, take the Hydration 101 Quiz

Unfortunately, we can’t offer up the bottle cleaning equivalent to the five-second rule, you just gotta do it.  It won’t take long, and your kids will be eternally grateful.

We recommend first removing your one-piece bite valve and straw for cleaning.  It’s easy to do.  (Yes, it looks like a lot of steps here, but it really is easy):

• Flip the stem to the open position by pulling on stem tab or pushing stem release button under the handle.
• Turn cap over and pull out the straw.
• Grab the flat finger tab on the base of the Big Bite Valve under the cap.
• In one firm motion, pull the Big Bite Valve component out of the cap.

Clean the bite valve and cap by hand or in the top rack of a dishwasher.

• If you use a dishwasher, a top-rack basket for small parts is ideal, and it’s good to avoid high-heat settings like 'sanitary clean' or 'heat boost' which may distort plastic components.
• If you clean by hand, use warm, soapy water.
• If you like to use a bottle brush, make sure it doesn't have exposed metal edges that could cut the silicone, then insert the brush into the open end at the base of the valve. We don't recommend forcing a brush of any kind through the Big Bite Valve slit (where you drink from) as this could damage the sealing surfaces of the Big Bite Valve.

To re-insert the bite valve back into the cap:

• Flip the stem collar (the component the bite valve passed through originally) to the open position. You should be able to look through both the opening in the cap and the opening in the collar.
• Turn the cap over and orient the bite valve so the finger tab points towards the back of the cap (where the handle loop is).
• Insert the tip of the bite valve through the cap and the collar until the end of the Big Bite Valve peeks through the outer end of the collar.
• Turn the cap over and grab the end of the Big Bite Valve and pull through until it sits in the grooves incorporated into the collar. If you pull the Big Bite Valve too far out these grooves will be visible. Just press the valve back down until these grooves are seated.  Turn the cap over and press on the base of the valve to make sure it is seated.
• Insert the straw (either end it doesn't matter) into the hole in the valve base. Don't over-insert the straw just until you feel resistance.

The Podium™ Bottle is dishwasher-safe and easy to clean. Remove the cap assembly, making sure the JetValve lockout is open, and place it with the bottle on the top rack of your dishwasher. Do not disassemble small parts of the cap, simply place the whole cap into the washer. Disassembly of the cap could lead to leaks or product malfunction.  For best results, we recommend avoiding high-heat settings such as 'sanitary clean' or 'heat boost' which may distort plastic components.  We don’t recommend forcing a brush or other cleaning tool through the JetValve cross-slit (i.e. where you drink).

We recommend cleaning the Podium™ Chill and Podium™ Ice bottles by hand using warm water and soap if desired. High heat from the dishwasher may distort the lightweight plastic bottle components. The Podium™ Chill and Podium™ Ice caps can be washed in a dishwasher. 

After rigorous 3rd party testing of all of our bottles, no harmful chemicals have been detected to come in contact with or leach into food/beverage surfaces.  We have verified that all materials used in our bottles meet the stringent guidelines set by California Proposition 65. Extraction tests were completed by independent 3rd party researchers verifying that the new material meets all requirements as set forth by organizations such as:  FDA food safety standards, European Community food safety standards, Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare, and California Prop 65.

Bisphenol-A is an ingredient used to make polycarbonate.  Due to consumer requests, CamelBak is proud to offer Bisphenol-A Free (BPA-Free) eddy bottles, Kids’ bottles, and Groove™ bottles made of a copolyester polymer called Tritan® from Eastman with the same great properties customers have come to expect from polycarbonate: vibrant color clarity durability dishwasher-safe and with no residual taste.  A FCN (Food Contact Substance Notification) notice #729 declared that Tritan is safe and meets all FDA guidelines for material that is to come in repeated contact with food.  

The Podium, Podium™ Chill and Podium™ Ice Bottles are made primarily from TruTaste polypropylene, a proprietary blend of polypropylene that is food-safe and taste-free.  Compared to ordinary bike bottles which are made of low-density polyethylene that can flavor or distort the taste of your water, a CamelBak TruTaste bottle means your water will taste like it should.

HydroGuard is a CamelBak proprietary antimicrobial technology embedded directly into the Podium, Podium Chill and Podium Ice bottle walls. HyrdoGuard is an EPA-registered compound with anti-microbial properties to inhibit the growth of bacteria that can cause odors, discoloration or deterioration of the bottle. HydroGuard does not protect the user against disease-causing organisms and bottles should be cleaned after each use.

The best way to care for your reservoir is to clean and dry it after every use, especially if you fill the reservoir with anything other than water.  However, theoretically, if someone didn’t clean it after every single use, and mold or discoloration happens to develop…

• Use hot water and 2 tablespoons of baking soda or bleach.  Mix the solution inside your reservoir and hold it up above your head while you pinch the bite valve, allowing the bleached water to run through the tube.  You can also use CamelBak Cleaning Tabs.
• Let the reservoir and cleaning solution sit for about 30 minutes.
• Wash the reservoir with hot water and mild soap. Be sure to completely rinse away any bleach or cleaning solution before using again.  You can also use CamelBak brushes from our Cleaning Kit to scrub your reservoir and tube.  Brushes are the best way to ensure you are scrubbing all of the areas of the reservoir clean.
• Once the reservoir is clean, be sure to air dry the reservoir so no moisture is trapped inside, which can cause mold to grow.

These steps will make your reservoir safe for use.  If you have spots left from the mold, they will never come all the way out because the reservoir is permanently stained, but still safe and usable.