Simple Cleaning Hacks to Get Smells Out of a Protein Shaker

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Remove bad odors with vinegar, baking soda, & more
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If it’s been a few days since you washed out your protein shaker, you might be met with a rancid, unpleasant smell. Odor-causing bacteria thrive in the warm moist environment, so washing your shaker after each use not only prevents smells but keeps you healthy. Luckily, there are several simple ways to deodorize your shaker using household items. Read on to learn how to remove odors, clean your shaker bottle, and prevent smells from forming in the first place!

Fixing a Protein Shaker that Smells

Soak your protein shaker overnight with equal parts white vinegar and water. Or, fill it with water and 1 tsp (6 g) of baking soda and soak it overnight. As another alternative, rinse the shaker with mouthwash or lemon juice.

Section 1 of 3:

Ways to Deodorize a Protein Shaker

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  1. Distilled white vinegar naturally absorbs smells and kills odor-causing bacteria. [1] Simply fill your protein shaker with equal parts vinegar and water. Then, let it sit overnight to deodorize. [2]
    • Soak the shaker lid in a bowl of equal parts vinegar and water, too.
    • Tip : Add a little bit of lemon juice to the mixture to fight odors and help mask the vinegar smell.
    • Pure vinegar might damage the inside of the bottle because it’s very acidic. So, be sure to dilute it with water.
    • Note : Wash out your protein shaker with dish soap and water after using this deodorizing method or any of the others. We’ll explain the best way to wash your shaker in the section below!
  2. Baking soda is another natural deodorizer that lifts and neutralizes smells. [3] Fill your shaker with water and add 1 tsp (6 g) of baking soda. Then, shake the bottle up and let it sit overnight.
    • Place the lid of the shaker in a mixture of water and baking soda to deodorize, too.
    • This is a great method to use if you can’t wash your shaker right away.
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  3. Pour 1 tbsp (17 g) of baking soda into your shaker and fill it about halfway with white vinegar. This causes the solution to bubble up. Just gently shake or stir the mixture until the bubbles disappear. Then, fill the shaker with water and let it sit overnight. [4]
    • If you have the lid on the shaker, keep it open so the pressure doesn’t build up.
    • Soak the shaker lid in the vinegar, baking soda, and water solution, too.
    • Do this over a sink or towel just in case the foam spills out of the shaker.
  4. Mouthwash kills odor-causing bacteria in your mouth, so it can also help deodorize your protein shaker. [5] Simply fill the shaker about ⅓ to ½ to the top with an odor-fighting mouthwash. Then, seal the shaker, swish the mouthwash around for 1 minute, and dump it out.
    • Repeat as many times as you need to neutralize the odors inside the shaker.
    • Soak the lid in mouthwash to get rid of smells around the mouthpiece.
    • Make sure your mouthwash contains ingredients that kill bacteria, like chlorhexidine, chlorine dioxide, cetylpyridinium chloride, and eucalyptol or menthol essential oils.
    • Mouthwash residue can get sticky, so be sure to rinse out the shaker well.
  5. Coffee grounds don’t just make a great cup of joe—they also absorb odors. [6] Place a few spoonfuls of fresh or leftover coffee grounds into your protein shaker. Then, put the lid on and leave the grounds inside overnight. [7]
  6. Lemon juice is a great deodorizer that can kill some odor-causing bacteria. [8] Squeeze the juice of 1 lemon into your protein shaker, put on the lid, and shake up the juice for 1 minute. Or, slice a lemon in half and rub it inside the shaker and lid. [9]
  7. Vanilla extract is another great household product that neutralizes smells. [10] Just sprinkle a few drops of vanilla extract on a paper towel and put it in the shaker. Seal it up and leave the paper towel inside overnight. [11]
    • While vanilla extract can absorb odors, it might not get rid of them completely.
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Section 2 of 3:

Cleaning a Protein Shaker

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  1. If your shaker has a lot of stuck-on protein residue, soak it first to loosen up the grime. Fill a clean bowl or sink with warm water and a few squeezes of dish soap. Then, separate the shaker and lid and submerge them in the soapy water. [12]
    • Some tips online say to use hot or even boiling water to soak the shaker and lid, but manufacturers don’t recommend this. The plastic bottles aren’t designed for hot liquids and could melt. [13]
  2. Rinse the shaker with warm water. Then, wet a sponge and apply a few drops of dish soap. Scrub the inside of the shaker to get rid of any stuck protein powder. Then, rinse it off with water to remove all of the suds. [14]
    • Make sure you scrub the shaker ball, too.
    • Alternatively, fill the shaker with warm water and dish soap. Then, screw on the lid and shake the bottle to disperse the soapy water and lift off any stuck-on residue.
    • Instead of using dish soap, cleaning expert Susan Stocker recommends filling the shaker with water and vinegar. Simply close the lid and shake the bottle to get it clean.
  3. Scrub the lid with a straw cleaner to get rid of stubborn residue. Protein residue can get trapped in the lid and mouthpiece, which can lead to strong odors. Wet a straw cleaner or pipe cleaner with water and apply a bit of dish soap. Then, use it to scrub around the mouthpiece and any other nooks and crannies. [15]
    • Simply rinse the lid with water to flush out any grime and soapy residue.
    • Make sure the mouthpiece is open so you can reach under it with the straw cleaner. Leave the mouthpiece open while you rinse the lid, too.
  4. Place a clean towel on your counter and set the lid on top, keeping the mouthpiece open. Then, lay the shaker on its side. This allows air to circulate through the shaker and lid and dry completely. [16]
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Section 3 of 3:

Preventing Odors in a Protein Shaker

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  1. The best way to keep your protein shaker from smelling is washing it as soon as you’re done drinking your shake or back from the gym. Simply scrub the bottle and lid with warm water and dish soap, then rinse it out. [17]
    • If you’re at the gym and can’t wash the shaker yet, rinse it out and fill it with water to prevent smells from building up until you can wash it.
  2. Bacteria love warm, moist, and dark environments, so it’s important to dry your shaker. Separate the lid and bottle and lay them on a towel to dry. Just keep the parts separated when you store your bottle to prevent bacteria from developing inside the shaker. [18]
  3. Plastic containers tend to absorb and hold odors more than glass and metal containers. So, it might be worth it to switch to using a glass or metal protein shaker instead of a plastic one. [19]
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      Tips

      • If none of these methods remove the odors from your protein shaker, it might just be time to replace it. Most plastic bottle manufacturers recommend replacing your container every 6 to 12 months. [20]
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      • While you might see people recommending that you freeze your shaker bottle, this isn’t actually an effective way to eliminate odors. Freezers are not cold enough to kill odor-causing bacteria. [21]
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      Things You'll Need

      Cleaning a Protein Shaker

      • Dish soap
      • Large bowl
      • Pipe cleaner or straw cleaner (optional)
      • Clean towel

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      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you'd like to learn more about removing odors from a protein shaker, check out our in-depth interview with Susan Stocker .

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7447605/
      2. ↑ https://www.housedigest.com/1509535/deodorize-smelly-protein-shaker-vinegar/
      3. ↑ ​​ https://oconto.extension.wisc.edu/files/2011/02/Baking-Soda.pdf
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/ffbSCB3Ht3s?si=st-R386BpgvXtqzV&t=22
      5. ↑ https://www.ada.org/en/resources/ada-library/oral-health-topics/mouthrinse-mouthwash
      6. ↑ https://extension.psu.edu/eliminating-odors-from-the-refrigerator-and-freezer
      7. ↑ https://www.tipsfromatypicalmomblog.com/2015/01/how-to-clean-your-stinky-blender-bottle.html
      8. ↑ https://www.consumerreports.org/home-garden/cleaning/what-to-clean-and-what-not-to-clean-with-lemon-a1493706190/
      9. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/10-ways-to-use-a-lemon-around-the-kitchen-good-ideas-from-the-kitchn-217997
      1. ↑ ​​ https://fcs-hes.ca.uky.edu/files/hf-lra.125.pdf
      2. ↑ https://www.tipsfromatypicalmomblog.com/2015/01/how-to-clean-your-stinky-blender-bottle.html
      3. ↑ https://www.mensjournal.com/health-fitness/how-make-your-protein-shaker-not-stink/
      4. ↑ https://blog.blenderbottle.com/the-basics-how-to-clean-your-blenderbottle-shaker
      5. ↑ https://www.blenderbottle.com/pages/use-and-care
      6. ↑ https://www.muscleandfitness.com/workouts/workout-tips/12-hacks-cleaning-your-gross-protein-shaker-bottle/
      7. ↑ https://youtu.be/NsvjuEwOvTs?si=eorIPiFFax-DYEfQ&t=41
      8. ↑ https://www.blenderbottle.com/pages/use-and-care
      9. ↑ https://youtu.be/NsvjuEwOvTs?si=eorIPiFFax-DYEfQ&t=41
      10. ↑ https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/steel_glass_and_or_plastic_bottles_what_is_the_best_choice
      11. ↑ https://barbend.com/how-to-clean-your-protein-shaker-bottle/
      12. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/will-freezing-your-jeans-kill-the-germs-and-keep-the-fit

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