To stay healthy, you should drink enough water every day. If you don’t like the taste of tap water but don’t want to lug around heavy crates of water, a water bubbler (e.g. from SodaStream) is a good choice. It can already be found in more and more kitchens and ensures that sparkling water is available at any time of day or night. To ensure that the sparkling water really tastes good, the sparkling water maker should be cleaned regularly. Find out the best way to do this here.
Sparkling water at the touch of a button
A sparkling water maker is a really clever device: at the touch of a button, it transforms boring tap water into a sparkling thirst quencher. Perhaps you have a SodaStream at home and fill your own sparkling water. However, you should not forget how important it is to clean the sparkling water maker thoroughly. Impurities are often hard to detect, so many just keep on sparkling. But at some point, the rude awakening comes and the sparkling water maker stops working or becomes moldy.
Why should you clean your sparkling water maker?
Even if you only use water with your SodaStream, limescale and germs collect in the appliance and bottles over time. Wet areas are an ideal breeding ground for bacteria and mold spores. However, because these are invisible to the human eye, they can enter the body unnoticed and, in the worst case, make you ill. The seals and nozzles in particular should therefore be cleaned regularly.
How often should the SodaStream be cleaned?
How often your soda maker should be cleaned depends on how often you use it and how calcareous your tap water is. In areas with more calcareous water, you should clean your sparkling water maker every week. If you have soft water, a 2-week cycle is sufficient. The main focus should be on the nozzle.
The bottles, on the other hand, should be cleaned thoroughly at least once a week. If you drink directly from the bottle, it should be rinsed out with water after each use. If you use syrups, you should rinse the bottle thoroughly after each use to prevent syrup residue from sticking to the bottom of the bottle.
Cleaning the bottles
There are usually three different types of bottles for sparkling water makers, which need to be cleaned in different ways:
Glass carafes
Glass bottles require relatively little cleaning as they can easily be put in the dishwasher. However, if you want to use them again straight away, you can of course also clean them manually.
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PET bottles
PET bottles require a little more effort. As they are not dishwasher-safe, they have to be cleaned by hand. Make sure that the water is not too hot, as the bottles do not tolerate temperatures above 50 °C. The bottle caps, on the other hand, can withstand higher temperatures, which is very helpful as mold and germs tend to accumulate in them.
PEN bottles
At first glance, PEN bottles are almost indistinguishable from PET bottles, but they do have one major advantage: they can be put in the dishwasher because they are made of heat-resistant plastic. These bottles are often sold under the name “Tritan”.
Cleaning by hand
- Fill the bottle 2/3 full with lukewarm water and add a little washing-up liquid.
- Use a bottle cleaning brush to thoroughly clean the inside of the bottle. (AttentionDon’t forget to clean the bottle cap as well!)
- Then rinse the bottle with clear water and let it dry upside down.
Tip: You can find special holders in stores that make drying easier and prevent dust from getting in.
For cleaning with special cleaning tabs, which many manufacturers recommend, you should fill the bottle with water up to the fill line and add a tab. Leave it to work for about 15 minutes while you turn the bottle upside down and then rinse with clean water.
Cleaning the nozzle and housing
You should also clean the nozzle regularly to prevent it from becoming clogged with limescale. Citric acid or vinegar are best suited for this.
- Fill the bottle up to the fill line with water and add 2 tablespoons of citric acid or vinegar.
- Now place the bottle in the water bubbler as usual and press the button for a second.
- Leave the liquid to work for about 15 minutes without removing the bottle.
- Then remove the bottle from the bubbler and rinse it thoroughly.
- Fill it with clear water, put the bottle back into the sparkling water maker and press the button again.
- Remove the bottle from the sparkling water maker and leave both to dry.
Tip: Other home remedies that are suitable for cleaning are denture cleaner tabs, baking powder and baking soda.
For severe calcification
If the sparkling water maker does not work despite cleaning, take a look at the proof of purchase. If you still have a warranty on the appliance, send it in to have it repaired by the manufacturer. If the warranty has expired, you can try to take the sparkling water maker apart yourself.
Then place the calcified individual parts in a vinegar solution and leave them to soak for fifteen minutes. If limescale and dirt still do not come off, repeat the process or use a descaler from the drugstore. They often dissolve even stubborn deposits.
Clean the housing
The housing of sparkling water makers can be easily cleaned with a soft cloth and a little washing-up liquid. Also remove any carafe holders and clean them with citric acid or vinegar.
Sometimes you can tell by the taste of the water or the lack of carbon dioxide that something is wrong with the appliance. To keep your sparkling water maker functional and free from germs for a long time, you should clean it regularly.
Sources: otto, gofeminin
