how to get plastic stink out of NEW polar bottles?

[caligurl]

i got a set of the purdy newest polar water bottles (http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=20854)... and they REEK! i washed them.... still reeked.... soaked them overnight with lemon juice.... still reek! even so..... i tried to use them yesterday (to make sure i can get them in and out of the cages... they are quite a bit taller than myother 2 sets of polar bottles)..... they made my water taste like plastic.. http://www.smileycons.com/img/emotions/215.gif

so what do i do? the tops are off.... they are airing out... but they still REEK!!!!!!! (i didn't have this problem with the last 2 sets i got... the old style with blue or red logos on them!) i'm really bad about not having flavors (or odors) in my water... if it stinks (or is warm... thus the polar bottles) i won't drink it.... or won't drink nearly enough!!!!!)

please HELP!!

[kerrybelle]

I would fill them with warm water & some baking soda and let that soak for awhile. Then rinse well. I do this all the time with my narrow mouthed Nalgene bottles.

Kerry

[caligurl]

oh! good idea! i never thought of that... but ya... they even put baking soda in cat litter to absorb the odor! (MUCH better answer than a couple of the ones i've gotten at bikejournal!)

[SouthernBelle]

OK, I'm sitting here sniffing my new polar bottles that just came in. If the baking soda doesn't work, rinse them in water with a little vinegar. Just make sure you have all of the soda out first!!!

[caligurl]

southern belle... so you have the new purdy ones? do they reek of plastic, too? or is it just mine??????

with the vinegar.... won't that leave a vinegar taste or smell? or do i need to so something special to them after? or just wash and rinse them REALLY REALLY REALLY good??????

(hmmmmm "funny" how both suggestions are ones that are used for cleaning/deoderizing refrigerators!)

i'll start with the baking soda.... and if it doesn't work... use vinegar! (was gonna try bleach.. but that kinda freaked me out that it would make my bottles take like.... bleach! i like these two ideas better!)

[Lise]

pour in the vinegar on top of the baking soda----> volcano! I do that for getting out stinks and amusing myself at the same time. When it's one foaming, I pour in some water to fill the bottle. It's usually very effective.

[caligurl]

lol! ok.... so i'm gullible.... should i do both together? or are you teasing a not blonde... blonde? http://www.smileycons.com/img/emotions/145.gif

[Pax]

Once you get the stink out let me know how you like the polar bottles, I can't keep water cool here in the time it takes me to get out of the garage. (did I mention it's really HOT here?). :D

[Kimmyt]

I've got one of the new polar bottles too, and noticed the smell! But I just put Gatorade in it the first time and now they smell like Gatorplastic so thats a bit better. :) I should try the baking soda thing, I know a lot of people swear by that for destinkifying Camelbaks.

K.

[caligurl]

Once you get the stink out let me know how you like the polar bottles, I can't keep water cool here in the time it takes me to get out of the garage. (did I mention it's really HOT here?). :D

oh.... i can already tell you that i LOVE polar bottles.. .that why i got another set of them!

i have 2 other sets (that didn't stink like these new ones!)

i had blue logo ones for my blue bike (http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=8927)! lol! used them for over a year! then got the red logo ones for my ruby (http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=8927)! have used them over 6 months!

but i really liked the look of the new ones (the foil is either white, blue, pink, green, etc!) i got the white.. that has silverish writing... looks like with ruby's silver accents! they new style are also taller than the red and blue logo ones!)

i fill them with ice cubes... the cold water... if i think about it ahead of time... i even put them back in the freezer for a while before i leave for my ride to get the water even colder!!!!!!

it get's hot here, too (california desert! over 100 all summer long!) lasts much longer than regular bottles!!!!!! i HATE warm water and have to really force myself to drink it! so the polar bottles are perfect for me.... now granted... they don't last all day or anything that spectacular in the summer! but they last longer than a regular bottle! (and my old bottles didn't have the strong odor!)

[caligurl]

ya know.... i considered another "trick" that is kind of a little bit like the gatorade trick!

a couple of weeks back i spilled some of my wine in the ice cubes... not a lot.. so instead of getting rid of the ice cubes... i used them... now we're talking sprinkles.... in the cubes.... MAYBE a tablespoon! (quick reaction time to save my wine!)

well... that little bit of wine in the bottles made my water taste a tad bit like wine! and for days after (i rinse and air dry... don't wash my bottles daily cuz i only ever put water in them...well.. except for the wine flavored ice cubes!) so i was thinking of purposely making wine ice cubes to see if that would help! lol! but it would probabaly just taste like plastic flavored wine!

the not as helpful guys (but some are!) at the other forum said it's probably cuz they are newly manufactured that they reek so bad! makes sense to me! they haven't been sitting a warehouse for very long.. cuz they are a really new remake/restyle!

[Lise]

Caligurl, I'm serious about the soda + vinegar. It's fun, and it gets the job done. But do it in the sink, because it will foam up like a volcano. We did it for fun as kids, and I do it now to get out stink, with a fun element to it. It's briefly messy. :D L.

[caligurl]

Caligurl, I'm serious about the soda + vinegar. It's fun, and it gets the job done. But do it in the sink, because it will foam up like a volcano. We did it for fun as kids, and I do it now to get out stink, with a fun element to it. It's briefly messy. :D L.


ok.... cool! i'll try that! http://www.smileycons.com/img/emotions/101.gif i like to make cleaning fun... and this sounds like it will do the trick for me!

[Kimmyt]

And then throw some Tums in there for good measure... :D

[Steph_in_TX]

My apologies for the hijack...Lise - if you like exploding things for fun, check this out. Thirteen mentos and a 2-liter of diet soda...messy, but highly entertaining!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNgl6z5Z7k4&search=mentos

[caligurl]

steph... that was AWESOME!!!!!!! i rated it 5 stars!!!!!!

[Lise]

Baking soda + vinegar is not that cool. It is cool, though. And you don't have to waste a perfectly decent liter of Diet Coke! :p I sent my sister the video and told her I have DIBS on doing it with my 6 year old nephew!

[caligurl]

i'm actually glad that baking soda and vinegar isnt' THAT cool... cuz i wouldn't be able to do it IN the house then!

[administrator]

I just spoke with Polar on the phone and the official word is that the INSIDE of the new pretty colored bottles is exactly the same kind of plastic as their previous styles of bottles.

The outside plastic is a bit different but since it is on the outside it shouldn't affect the taste...

The Polar rep I spoke to suggested washing in the dishwasher if you haven't already done so. Also, different manufacturing lots of the exact same formula of plastic can have varying amounts of smell, but they should all diminish quickly after a run or two through the dishwasher.

If you've purchased a polar bottle from TE we'll be happy to do a warranty exchange for you if the dishwasher and/or baking soda volcano doesn't do the trick :D

[caligurl]

thank you!

i will try the dishwasher method! i prefer to wash my bottle that way anways... but have read so many times NOT to do it.... that i thought i was being good!

(i also assumed the smell would go down eventually.... just want to rush the process!)

[Lise]

When I saw "administrator" in the thread, I thought, oh, no, we're in trouble for talking about exploding things! :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

I am so junior high sometimes.

Dishwasher. Good idea. Yeah, NaHCO3 (baking soda) + vinegar will not hit the ceiling. (The chemical formula makes me sound smart, and like a grown up. Right?) :p L.

[caligurl]

oh... i'm STILL gonna do the exploding thing first though! just cuz i wanna!

[chickwhorips]

that mentos and soda thing is great!

to bad both of them are so hard to find where i live otherwise i would have to try that..... over.... and over.... again! :D

[tprevost]

Cali -

What color did you get???? I got some orange ones!

T~

[chickwhorips]

are these waterbottles also good for chilly weather?

my problem here is that my drink gets so cold that i get a brain freeze! even if i put very warm water in my bottle at the beginning.

[caligurl]

hmmmmmmmm well..... i use them year round.... but i put ice in my bottles year round... and i'm in the desert... so your chilly may be different than my chilly!

of course.... my ice doesn't melt as quickly when it's cooler!

warm water in you bottles... i just CAN'T drink warm water.... unless i FORCE myself!!!!! i'm weird i guess!

[caligurl]

oh DUH! i just looked at where you are from!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

no wonder you put warm water... cuz it gets colder while you're out there!

talk about total OPPOSITES! me in the desert... you in alaska!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(i want to visit alaska... but not in the dead of winter!!!!!!)

[chickwhorips]

no wonder you put warm water... cuz it gets colder while you're out there!

talk about total OPPOSITES! me in the desert... you in alaska!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(i want to visit alaska... but not in the dead of winter!!!!!!)

actually i know how it is in the desert.
i moved up here from phoenix. the day i left phoenix it was 116*F at 10 am.
i froze when i got here while everyone else was in shorts. now when it hits 50 i'm in shorts!

where i live it doesn't get cold (interior ak get -50 or so) it just never warms up.

come up and visit any time! everyday is a vacation to me.

[bikergal]

I know some one who puts hot tea in her bottle so it must stay warm in there for a little while.

[caligurl]

hmmmmmm this is 3rd party.... from the other forum where i asked the same question (SO glad i didn't get a lot of the same idiotic answers here! you gals were actually helpful! well..... ok.. SOME of the guys were helpful.... but some were... well.. idiotic! but i digress:


Polar has a web site and a customer service number. I called them once when someone on BF asked about hot drinks in a Polar insulated bottle. "No, no,no" they said, "Plastic not suitable for heat." So contact Polar and ask what they would do, who better? Maybe get a new bottle?

so if that's true... that answers the putting hot liquid in a polar bottle question (and of course... we already have polars answer on the odor.... so no need to recall them on that!)

[Surlygirl]

I never could get the plastic smell, taste thing out of my polar bottles. I switched to Sigg aluminum bottles with a neoprene jacket and they keep stuff pretty cold. To clean I just throw a denture tablet in with water and they are good to go. They also come in lots of colors and designs.

[SouthernBelle]

Me again. I'm home and washed my bottles with just soap and water and I think they may smell even stronger! I would still try the vinegar and soda. Also try setting them out in the sun all day. I wouldn't store them with the tops on for a while when not in use.

Also, the tag on mine says it keeps hot things hot and cold things cold. Also says dishwasher safe. If it's dishwasher safe, it ought to take a pretty warm liquids though I would really hesitate to put boiling stuff in it.

Mine are white. One has a red logo, one has a blue.

Mine look like these: http://www.polarbottle.com/products.html

BTW, hate to say it, but they are much cheaper at Nashbar.
:rolleyes:

HTH,

[caligurl]

mine are in the dishwasher as i write this!

as for the warm liquid... i warned it was second hand info! it kinda makes send you could put warm (but not boiling) liquids... much like you can use a "cooler" to keep foods either warm or cool!

i'll see how they smell shortly!

[Duck on Wheels]

Keep us posted on how these tips work. I had almost decided to take my Polar bottle back to REI and return it, but now it's packed and on its way to Norway. Of course, I can still return it later if nobody finds a way to get it stink-free. I was really grossed out by the smell when I first unwrapped and opened the bottle. I mean, when it smells that plastic-y it must be giving off particles, and plastics are often made of some seriously dangerous stuff. I don't want that stuff in my drinks!

[caligurl]

ok..... they are out of the dishwasher and do smell better.... errrrr... not as strong... a LOT less strong... but there is still a slight odor there... as opposed to the red logo ones that i went ahead and washed too.... which, of course... don't smell plasticy....

maybe they need another wash... so i may stick them back in the next load and in the meantime may try the other tricks!

[Surlygirl]

Try these.
http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/sportsunlimited_1903_152179862

[tprevost]

where do you get those Surlygirl?

[Nanci]

I think the plastic smell just goes away after a few uses. But I often don't finish the Gatorade that's in there, and put it back in the fridge, and then top it off the next ride, so maybe that de-smells them!

Nanci

[SouthernBelle]

I so love these bottles. The only problem with it is that it's too tall for my back cage. I think I saw a shorter one on the company website. Need to see if I can find a short one!!

Oh, no bad taste. I carried 1/2 water, 1/2 pedialyte with a little crystal lite for flavor. It stayed cold until I drained the bottle.

[ladyfish]

Let us know if you find the shorter ones. They fit much better and are easier to retrieve with my small bike frame.

[Surlygirl]

These guys have a great selection of Sigg bottles. I have the large sport bottle I carry in the front bottle cage and the smaller one in the downtube cage.
http://colehardware.com/sigg/

[caligurl]

Try these.
http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/sportsunlimited_1903_152179862

those are pretty... but they aren't insulated... i will ONLY use insulated bottles!

[Surlygirl]

those are pretty... but they aren't insulated... i will ONLY use insulated bottles!

Guess you just have to put up with stinky bottles then.

[pooks]

My bike came with holes ready to install the water holder on the downtube, but that makes it very difficult to get to (for me, anyway).

How do you drill the holes to install more than one set? Or do some bikes come with multiple options for where to put it?

As for smell -- I bought my polar bottle at REI last week -- they had various shades of pastels which aren't really my style. I kept the white one and gave the baby blue one to my husband. Heh.

Anyway -- no smell.

[caligurl]

Guess you just have to put up with stinky bottles then.

actually.... no i don't... i have the original (red and blue logo ones) that don't stink!
http://www.smileycons.com/img/emotions/112.gif

[caligurl]

My bike came with holes ready to install the water holder on the downtube, but that makes it very difficult to get to (for me, anyway).

How do you drill the holes to install more than one set? Or do some bikes come with multiple options for where to put it?

As for smell -- I bought my polar bottle at REI last week -- they had various shades of pastels which aren't really my style. I kept the white one and gave the baby blue one to my husband. Heh.

Anyway -- no smell.

i only had preset holes for one water bottle on my mountain bike! so i only carry one and use a camelback! on my road bikes... i have 2 spots for holders!

[caligurl]

ok.... so friday night i re-washed the bottles in the dishwasher a 2nd time... soaked them in lemon juice overnight.... took them on the ride with me... and stuck my red logo (non-stinky ones) in the car.... finally told hubby i needed to have ice put in my "other" (meaning original ones) bottles so i could fill them at the next sag stop.... they new ones just had a horrible taste to them...

i'm gonna wash them a couple more times in the dishwasher... but then they are going back! i have NO problems with the old red and blue logo ones!!