Nalgene Bottles: 28 Most Commonly Asked Questions Answered
As more people become health conscious and start exercising regularly, water bottles become more popular. It’s therefore not surprising that there are more water bottle brands out there today than 10 years ago.
However, there are brands that have maintained their reputation as industry leaders for more than half a century – one such brand is .
Founded in 1949, Nalgene originally manufactured laboratory plastic products only. These included Petri dishes, pipette jars, test tubes, and bottles.
However, people started using their bottles to hold water during their outdoor adventures, prompting the company to focus on making bottles for this market. Ultimately Nalgene water bottles have proven to be some of the most popular ones out there.
And with this popularity has come to a lot of questions from potential users. Fortunately, we have decided to answer some of the most-asked ones in this post.
Why is it called Nalgene?
The founder of Nalgene named the company after his wife. Her name was Natalie Levey Goldberg – she was fondly referred to as Natalie Gene.
Why are Nalgene bottles so popular?
Nalgene bottles are popular because they are affordable and made of durable high-quality plastic. Also, these bottles are versatile and have a simple design – some are even designed for kids.
They are particularly good for people who regularly play sports or go on outdoor adventures.
Which Nalgene bottle is best?
The best Nalgene bottle is the wide-mouth Tritan water bottle. This bottle is made in the USA and is free of BPA. Also, it’s dishwasher safe, leakproof, and easily fits ice cubes and most filtration devices.
The only problem is that it’s usually too wide to fit in a cup holder or be handled with one hand only.
Is it bad to drink out of a Nalgene bottle?
No, it’s not bad to drink out of a Nalgene bottle. These bottles are safe to store water in and to drink out of.
How often should you replace a Nalgene bottle?
You can use your Nalgene water bottle for years. Even if you’re a heavy user, you won’t need to replace it more than once a year. Ultimately, signs of wear and tear like scratches and cuts will let you know that it’s time to replace your Nalgene bottle.
Does Nalgene replace broken bottles?
Yes, Nalgene replaces broken bottles – they come with a lifetime warranty. So if a bottle is delivered to you while cracked or broken, you can send it back for replacement. If you bought the bottle at a retail store, you can simply return it there.
But if this doesn’t work or you bought the bottle from the Nalgene website, you will have to send an email to contactus@nalgenecanada.com. The email should include the product’s order number and photos of it. Keep in mind that your bottle won’t get replaced if your pet broke it.
What happens if you break a Nalgene?
If you break a Nalgene product, the company will still replace it. However, this is difficult to do. You’ll need to subject your Nalgene bottle to undue pressure to break it.
How often should you wash a Nalgene bottle?
You need to clean your Nalgene bottle after every use or once a day.
Do Nalgene bottles get moldy?
Yes, mold can grow on Nalgene bottles, particularly if they are not cleaned or dried appropriately.
How do you clean your Nalgene bottle?
For normal everyday cleaning, you can hand wash your bottle with soapy water and a sponge/brush. Alternatively, you could use a dishwasher.
If you opt for the former, follow the steps below:
- Open the Nalgene bottle and add a little bit of dish soap to it
- Add water to the bottle, close it, and shake it till suds form
- Open the bottle and use a brush to scrub its inside. Remember to scrub the bottle’s outside and its lid as well
- Rinse the bottle and its lid thoroughly and leave them out on a rack to dry
If you choose to clean your Nalgene bottle using a dishwasher, follow the steps below:
- Remove the cap from the bottle
- Place the bottle and its cap on the top rack of your dishwasher. If the bottle is too big, place it at the bottom and leave its cap at the top
- Turn the dishwasher on and wait
How do you deep-clean a Nalgene bottle?
To deep-clean a Nalgene bottle, follow the steps below:
- Open the bottle and add warm or hot water to it until it’s ⅔ full
- Add a few drops of bleach to the water and close the bottle with its cap
- Shake the bottle and then let it sit for around an hour
- Open the bottle and use the solution and a brush to clean the inside and outside surfaces of the bottle. Scrub its cap as well
- Rinse the bottle and its cap thoroughly and then leave them out to dry
Keep in mind that this cleaning method can remove mold or a foul smell from your Nalgene bottle. If you’re looking for a more gentle way to deep-clean your Nalgene bottle though, you can use vinegar.
To do this:
- Fill your bottle halfway with warm water and fill the rest with white vinegar
- Close the bottle with its cap and let it sit overnight
- Rinse out the bottle and its cap the next day and scrub them with soapy water
- Rinse them thoroughly and leave them out to dry
How do you defog a Nalgene bottle?
If you notice that your Nalgene bottle looks foggy or cloudy, you can use ice and salt to restore it to its original state.
Just follow the steps below:
- Add ice cubes to the bottle until it’s half full
- Add around ¼ cup of salt to the bottle
- Shake the bottle to swirl the ice around
- Repeat the before-mentioned steps until the bottle looks clear
Why do Nalgenes stink?
This happens when you leave water in your Nalgene bottle for too long or don’t wash it regularly or properly. It’s more likely to happen if you regularly use your bottle for drinks with milk or sugar.
What can I do with old Nalgene bottles?
You can easily reuse your old Nalgene bottles around the house. Also, you can recycle them through a lot of commercial and residential recycling programs
Why do backpackers use Nalgene bottles?
Backpackers use Nalgene bottles because they are lightweight, durable, and allow you to keep track of the amount you’re drinking. This makes it easier to plan out how long your drinks will last. It also helps that Nalgene bottles can hold both hot and cold drinks.
Some backpackers even add hot water to a Nalgene bottle and then use it to warm a quilt or sleeping bag that they’re planning to use later on. Alternatively, you can use your Nalgene as a pee bottle when backpacking.
Nalgene bottles are big enough to hold the pee you expel at night and don’t leak.
Why do people put stickers on Nalgene?
Some people put stickers on their Nalgene bottles to personalize them and express themselves.
Are all Nalgene bottles BPA-free?
While Nalgene bottles were originally made of plastic with BPA, this stopped in 2008. Since then, Nalgene bottles have been made from a type of BPA-free plastic called Tritan.
Is it OK to put boiling water in a Nalgene bottle?
Yes, it’s okay to put boiling water in a Nalgene bottle. These bottles can withstand high temperatures without leaching or ending up damaged.
Can you use Nalgene for hot coffee?
Yes, you can use Nalgene bottles for hot coffee, especially the ones with wide mouths.
Can you put lemon in Nalgene?
Yes, you can put lemon in Nalgene bottles. You can even use lemon juice to refresh them.
Is it okay to put juice in a Nalgene bottle?
It’s okay to put juice in a Nalgene bottle as long as you clean it afterward.
Can you put carbonated drinks in a Nalgene bottle?
Yes, you can put carbonated drinks like soda in a Nalgene bottle.
Can I put alcohol in a Nalgene?
It’s okay to put alcohol in Nalgene bottles. They don’t react to it.
Can you put gas in a Nalgene?
While it’s not ideal, you can put gas in a Nalgene bottle.
Is it OK to freeze water in a Nalgene bottle?
Yes, you can freeze water in a Nalgene bottle. Just ensure that it’s only ⅔ full to make space for ice expansion.
Can you put ice in a Nalgene?
Yes, you can put ice in a Nalgene bottle.
Do Nalgene bottles keep water cold?
No, Nalgene bottles don’t keep water cold. This is because they aren’t insulated.
How do you keep Nalgene cold?
The only way to keep your Nalgene bottle cold is to put it in the fridge or freezer.
Nalgene bottles are solid!
As long as you’re not looking for something insulated, Nalgene is a solid water bottle option. This brand’s bottles are functional, versatile, and durable. Ultimately, they offer great value for money!