How to Clean a Protein Shaker: Get Rid of the Smell and Mould

Open your gym bag, and there it is. That sour smell from a protein shaker you forgot to wash. If you go to the gym, you probably know it.

The good news: a smelly protein shaker can usually be saved. This guide shows how to clean a protein shaker every day, how to deep clean it when it smells, and what to do if you find mould. We make an electric shaker, so we cover that too.

The Short Answer

Quick answer: Rinse the shaker right after you drink. At home, take it apart and wash every part in hot, soapy water. Let it dry with the lid off. If it still smells, soak it overnight in baking soda and warm water.

Why Does a Protein Shaker Smell?

Quick answer: Leftover protein shake feeds germs. When the shake sits in a closed, damp shaker, germs grow on the film it leaves behind. That is what you smell.

Protein shakes are rich food. That is good for you, and it is good for germs too.

Primrose Freestone teaches microbiology at the University of Leicester. She told the BBC: "Anything other than water is heaven for bacteria and fungi, especially protein shakes" (BBC Future).

She also explained the film that milk leaves on a glass. Bacteria love that film. A protein shake leaves the same kind of film inside your shaker.

A 2017 study backs this up. Researchers tested 90 reusable bottles. Bottles that had held drinks like tea, coffee, sports drinks, soda or juice had much higher bacteria counts than bottles used only for water (Food Protection Trends).

So a shaker needs more care than a water bottle. The smell mostly hides in three places:

• The lid seal: the rubber ring and the groove under it.
• The threads: where the lid screws on.
• The spout and cap: the small flip part you drink from.

The Daily Wash (After Every Shake)

Quick answer: Rinse it within minutes of drinking. Then wash every part in hot, soapy water, leave the soap in for 10 minutes, rinse well, and air-dry with the lid off.

Freestone told the BBC that a rinse with water is not enough. Her method is simple. Use hot water over 60°C and washing-up liquid. Swirl it around, leave it for 10 minutes, then rinse well with hot water. Let the bottle air-dry, because germs like damp places. She says to clean it this way after each use, or at least a few times a week (BBC Future).

Here is how we do it for a shaker:

1. Rinse right away. At the gym, add a little water, shake and pour it out. This stops the shake from drying on.
2. Take it apart at home. Remove the lid, the mixer ball or whisk, and the seal if it comes out.
3. Wash in hot, soapy water. Use water as hot as your shaker allows. Check the label first.
4. Scrub the hidden spots. Brush the lid groove, the threads and the spout.
5. Leave the soap in for 10 minutes. Then rinse every part well.
6. Air-dry with the lid off. Stand the jar upside down on a rack. Never close a wet shaker.

A soft brush helps here. Hard bristles can scratch the jar, and scratches hold residue. Our cleaning brush pack has soft, sponge-like bristles.

Does your shaker leak from the lid? A dirty or loose seal is often the cause. See why a protein shaker leaks and how to fix it.

Still Smells? The Deep Clean

Quick answer: Soak the jar and lid overnight in warm water with a spoon of baking soda. If the smell stays, soak them once in white vinegar and warm water. Never mix vinegar with bleach.

Do a deep clean once a week, or any time the smell will not go away.

Step 1: Baking soda soak

1. Fill the jar with warm water.
2. Add 1 tablespoon of baking soda and stir.
3. Drop in the lid, seal and mixer ball.
4. Leave it overnight.
5. Scrub, rinse well and air-dry.

Step 2: Vinegar soak (only if it still smells)

1. Mix 1 part white vinegar with 2 parts warm water.
2. Soak the jar and lid for 1 hour.
3. Scrub the seal groove and threads.
4. Rinse a few times with clean water and air-dry.

Good to know: Never mix bleach with vinegar. When chlorine bleach meets an acid, it gives off chlorine gas, and vinegar is an acid. The Washington State Department of Health warns that this gas hurts the eyes, nose and throat and can cause breathing problems. Use one cleaner at a time.

The Washington State Department of Health lists vinegar as an acid product and explains the chlorine gas risk (Washington State Department of Health).

Did the smell come back after two deep cleans? Then it is time for a new lid or a new shaker. Freestone put it plainly: "If your bottle starts to smell, you've reached a point where you should chuck it away" (BBC Future). Our view is a little softer. Try the deep clean first. If that fails, replace the part.

Found Mould? What to Do

Quick answer: Do not drink from it. Take it apart, soak and scrub every part, and check the lid seal. If you still see dark spots in the seal or in scratches, replace that part.

Mould looks like black, green or pink spots. It often hides under the lid seal or along the threads.

Mould is not just ugly. If mould grows in your bottle, it can trigger symptoms in anyone with allergies (BBC Future).

1. Stop using it until it is clean.
2. Take every part off, including the seal.
3. Do the vinegar soak and scrub every groove.
4. Look again in good light. If spots stay in the seal or in deep scratches, replace that part.
5. Dry it fully before you put it back together.

For an InstaCuppa electric shaker, you can buy a spare lid instead of a new shaker. Check that it matches your model first.

Thinking of a new shaker? Read steel vs plastic shaker bottles before you buy. To check what your jar is made of, see how to check if your shaker is BPA-free.

This is general cleaning advice, not medical advice. If you feel unwell after drinking from a mouldy bottle, see a doctor.

How to Clean an Electric Protein Shaker

Quick answer: Run the motor with water and a drop of dish soap, then rinse every part. Check your IP rating before you wash the base under the tap. Dry it fully before you charge it.

An electric shaker has a motor and a battery in its base. So the base needs a bit more care.

Check the IP rating first. An IPX7 rating means the device is protected against short dips in water, up to 1 metre deep for up to 30 minutes (RS Components). It does not mean the base can soak in the sink all day.

Our electric protein shaker is rated IPX7. Here is how to clean it:

1. Quick clean: add water and a drop of liquid dish soap. Close the lid and run the motor for a few seconds. Our product video shows this self-clean.
2. Pour it out and open it up. Take off the lid and rinse the jar, lid and blade area.
3. Rinse the base under the tap if it is IPX7 rated. Do not leave it soaking.
4. No IP rating? Wipe the base with a damp cloth only.
5. Dry fully before charging. Let the charging port dry before you plug it in.
6. Keep the motor base out of the dishwasher.

For battery and charging tips, read electric protein shaker problems.

InstaCuppa Electric Protein Shaker 600 ml

IPX7 rated, USB-C charging, BPA-free jar, sports sipper lid.

See the Electric Shaker

Which Cleaning Method When?

Quick answer: Rinse at the gym, wash with soap every day, use baking soda once a week, and save vinegar for smell or mould that will not go.

What about the dishwasher? A Purdue University researcher studied water bottles. People who cleaned their bottle with a brush or a dishwasher tended to have the lowest bacteria counts inside (BBC Future). Only use a dishwasher if your shaker's label says it is safe.

5 Habits That Stop the Smell

Quick answer: Rinse within minutes, never store it closed and wet, carry powder dry, wash the lid as well as the jar, and do a weekly deep clean.

1. Rinse within minutes. Do not let the shake dry on.
2. Never close a wet shaker. Store it with the lid off.
3. Carry the powder dry. Mix it with water just before you drink.
4. Wash the lid, not just the jar. The seal and threads are where smell hides.
5. Deep clean once a week. A baking soda soak keeps the smell away.

Making other shaker mistakes? See the 7 protein shaker mistakes gym-goers make. The same ideas also work for your gym bottle: read how to clean a water bottle.

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