Hydro Flask has two straw lid options, their original design and the newer Flex Straw that was released in early 2022.  They can be fairly tricky to clean, but we're going to review the step-by-step process so you can get a better deep clean on your Hydro Flask Flex Straw or original straw lid.  This includes showing the complete disassembly of each one, as well as giving some general recommendations.

Content Overview:

1. Video link (covers similar information as this post)
2. Are Hydro Flasks Dishwasher-Safe?
3. How to Clean a Hydro Flask Bottle
4. How to Clean a Hydro Flask Straw Lid (Original Version)
5. How to Clean a Hydro Flask Straw Lid (Flex Straw)

Recommended Products:

• Hydro Flask Original Straw Lid
• Hydro Flask Flex Straw Lid
• Complete Bottle Brush Kit - Best for Straw Lids
• Cleaning Tablets
• Replacement Straws
• Fun Add-On: FlavorFuze Straw Fruit Infuser (snaps onto Hydro Flask straw lids)

If you found this post helpful, you can use the links to buy any of the items you need off Amazon.  We get a small commission if you purchase that way, and every little bit helps our small business.  It enables us to keep making information videos and posts like this one.  We really appreciate the support!

​Let’s get this out of the way first.  We know it’s a pain in the butt, but we generally recommend hand washing all Hydro Flask products.  The reason why is that it’s pretty confusing to know which Hydro Flask products are actually dishwasher-safe and which ones aren’t.  Even if it says the product is dishwasher-safe, Hydro Flask mentions that some accessories like caps may last longer if they are hand washed.

​So to be safe, we recommend sticking to hand-washing as much as you can to help your Hydro Flask products work well for many years to come.

​This one's pretty self-explanatory, and here are two of the items we use most for deep cleaning our large bottles.

For cleaning the bottle, just use warm soapy water and your bottle brush.  We do this every day before going to bed.

For a deeper clean, you could use cleaning tablets like the ones made by Bottle Bright.  We recently tested Bottle Bright tablets to clean the tea and coffee stains from a 20oz Hydro Flask Coffee bottle, and the results were very impressive!  We're going to start doing this at least on a monthly basis, but we're not sure exactly what the best frequency is.  Let us know what you think!

Now on to the lids.  Get your brush kit, a sponge or rag, a butterknife or some other kind of picking tool with an end that won’t cut silicone, and a bowl with warm, soapy water.  It’s also a good idea to get set up at least a few feet away from your sink since you’ll be handling some pretty small parts, and you don’t want to accidentally drop them down the sink.

Start by disassembling the lid.  The straw is attached with a friction fit on the cap, so you can just pull it off.  Next, pop off the spout by pushing it past the open position.

Remove the spout seal either by tapping the lid upside down, using your fingernails, or use a small tool like tweezers or the butterknife.

The silicone vent hole insert doesn’t usually get that dirty, but for a really deep clean you can pop that out too.  Just use your thumb or fingernail to pry it out from the bottom.

And the last removable piece is the big o-ring under the threads.  This o-ring generally doesn’t get as dirty so you may not need to clean it as often, but it’s still good to clean it every once and awhile.  You need to use a butterknife or other kind of tool to get it out, but it’s not too difficult.

​Clean each piece thoroughly.
​

1. Use the straw cleaner to get inside the straw, from both sides if your cleaner isn’t long enough.
2. Use the detailing brush or toothbrush to clean up under the threads in those hard-to-reach areas.
3. Clean the air and spout holes in the cap with the straw cleaner.
4. Don’t forget to clean inside the detached spout itself.
5. We like to let each piece soak in the warm, soapy water for at least 15 minutes, take it out for a rinse, and then lay everything out on a towel to dry.

Once it’s all dry, we put it back together the way it was before.  This should be pretty simple since you saw how it all came apart, but there are a few things to double-check to make sure you don't have too much leaking.
​

1. Add the large o-ring first and make sure it’s properly seated to prevent leaking.
2. Insert the small vent piece simply by pushing it into the hole from the top-side of the lid.
3. Make sure you add the spout gasket in the correct orientation.  If you look closely, you’ll notice that one side has a slight taper that conforms better to the rounded bottom of the spout.  Make sure this side faces up or your cap might leak more (see the image below).
4. Pop your spout back into place
5. Reinsert your straw.

If you followed all of these steps, then you should be all set with your deep-cleaned Hydro Flask with the original-style straw lid!

Next we’ll look at the Flex Straw lid, which is honestly the better version.  In some ways it’s easier to clean because the pieces are harder to lose, but it’s also a little trickier to take apart. Like before, the first step is to disassemble the lid.  Pull the straw out of the red silicone insert, then pull the red insert itself out from the bottom.

Detaching the spout is a little different and trickier compared to the old lid, but you can still do it.  Lift the spout to about a 45-degree angle, then press it to the side and up.  We like to keep the lid on the bottle for more leverage, and we put the spout between our thumb and index finger then push with our arm muscles and not our wrist.  The spout should then pop out of place.

It takes a lot more force that you have to apply at an awkward angle compared to the original straw lid.  You might even feel like you're about to break it, but follow these steps and it should pop out!

The last removable piece is the large o-ring up under the threads.  This seal doesn’t get as dirty so you may not need to clean it as often, but it’s still good to include in your deep clean every once and awhile.  It's much more difficult to get out compared to the original straw lid, and you’ll need to find a tool with a fine-tip end to get it out.  I couldn’t get it with a butterknife, but I was able to use the pointy end of this letter opener to get up under the seal and lift it, just making sure to only use the plastic part of the letter opener and not letting it go all the way to the blade.  I’m sure there are better tools out there, and if you find something that works great for you, please comment on it below to let us and other people know.

​Clean each piece thoroughly.
​

1. Use the straw cleaner to get inside the straw, from both sides if your cleaner isn’t long enough.
2. Use the detailing brush or toothbrush to clean up under the threads in those hard-to-reach areas.  The small brush in our recommended brush kit also fits perfectly into the opening where the red silicone insert goes.
3. Clean the two holes in the red silicone insert with a straw cleaner.
4. Don’t forget to clean inside the detached spout itself.
5. We like to let each piece soak in the warm, soapy water for at least 15 minutes, take it out for a rinse, and then lay everything out on a towel to dry.

Once it’s all dry, we put it back together the way it was before.  This should be pretty simple since you saw how it all came apart, but there are a few things to double-check to make sure you don't have too much leaking.
​

1. Add the large o-ring first and make sure it’s properly seated to prevent leaking (see the image below).  This seal is difficult to get back into place, so be sure to double-check that it didn't get twisted around while you were re-inserting it.  We sometimes have to retry inserting it a few times before it's correctly in place without any kinks.​
2. Insert the red silicone insert from the bottom.
3. Pop your spout back into place
4. Reinsert your straw.

After these steps, you should be good to go with your deep-cleaned Hydro Flask Flex Straw!

If you found this video helpful, let us know!  And thanks again if you make a purchase through one of the links in the description.  It really helps our small business out.  Keep BottlePro in mind for accessories for your large bottles, and happy hydrating!

If you’ve had one of the original Hydro Flask straw lids, then you probably know how to take off the spout for cleaning.  A common question people have about the new Flex Straw lid is whether you can do the same thing.
​
The good news is that you can take off the spout, but it’s a little more difficult and you have to do it a little differently. 

​Here's how to remove the spout from your Hydro Flask Flex Straw lid for cleaning.

​First, open the spout to about a 45-degree angle.

​This is important to help prevent damaging your lid and to make it easier to pop the spout off.  You'll see why later.

Then grip the cap like this with the spout between your thumb and index finger.  (This is called the thenar web space for those who wanted to know!)

​Push the spout to the side while also lifting upward some, and it should pop out.

Once the spout is out, you can see how the grooves align with the pegs in the cap base, which is why it helps to pop it off at a 45-degree angle.

If you try to pop the spout off at a different angle or push it beyond open like with the original straw lid, then you run the risk of stripping the pegs or grooves so they don't line up as well.  Your lid may still work OK, but it probably won't open and close as crisply / nicely.

We’ve included a link to the Flex Straw lid below.  If you purchase after clicking the link, we earn a small commission.  Every little bit helps our business, and we really appreciate the support.  Thanks again, and happy hydrating.

​I had this problem with my 20oz Coffee bottle, and I wanted to put the stainless back in stainless-steel.  Hydro Flask has these recommendations and best practices listed on their website.  But instead, I wanted to try something that I remembered seeing on Shark Tank to see if it was the real deal.

​I ordered a pack of Bottle Bright tablets to see how they work to get the stains out.   They aren’t that expensive, and they seemed easier than using a homemade concoction.  They’re made with ingredients like hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and citric acid and are marketed as being completely safe and without any residual tastes or smells.  

​Here is the inside of my Hydro Flask before the test, and you can clearly see the coffee and tea stains.  I followed the instructions on the package, which state you should fill your bottle with warm water and then add one tablet for each liter.

One liter is just over 32 ounces, so given that I was testing this on a 20-ounce bottle, adding one full tablet was more than enough.

​I dropped the tablet in, and it immediately started fizzing.  After letting it sit for 30 minutes, I poured out the water and used my brush with some clean water to rinse the bottle to make sure I got all of the tablet residue out.

The tablet honestly worked better than I expected.  Most of the stains were cleaned out, and it almost looks like a brand-new bottle as you can see from the images below.  I didn't use any other cleaners for this test, so I know the tablet was responsible for removing the stain.

I took a quick sample taste of some water, and I didn’t notice anything that seemed off.  Glad to know that my bottle won't have a weird aftertaste.

​It's a pretty resounding YES on this one.  Overall, it was a very good first impression of the Bottle Bright tablets.  They simplified the cleaning process and took the guess-work out of the equation.

You could save a little money trying a different brand, and there are plenty of knockoffs available.  But in our opinion, it might be a good idea to stick to reputable brands instead of buying from an unknown company on Amazon.

​We hope this post and video has helped.  We’ve included links to the products, and if you purchase after clicking the link, we earn a small commission.  Every little bit helps our business, and we really appreciate the support!