Stainless steel water bottles are an absolute joy to use. They are eco-friendly, comfortable, and simply provide a good way to drink your water. However, it’s also important to keep the stainless steel water bottle clean year-round. This is why you may end up wondering, can you put stainless steel water bottles in the dishwasher?
It is not recommended to put a stainless steel water bottle in the dishwasher. This can cause the bottle to lose its color and shape. Instead, it’s better to hand-wash the water bottle to keep it clean.
Dishwashers can accept a lot of materials but stainless steel is not one of them. Keep your water bottle out of the dishwasher if you want to ensure it continues to look the way you bought it.
Key factors include:
- Durability of the Material
- Damage to the Surface
- Interaction with Soap and Water
It’s important to note, the dishwasher is going to be fine when you put the stainless steel water bottle inside for a wash. However, it is the bottle that is going to take the brunt of the damage and it won’t be pretty!
In the worst-case scenario, you are going to have a water bottle that doesn’t look anything like it did when you put it inside!
This is why it’s important to ask the right questions including “Can you put stainless steel water bottles in the dishwasher?” as soon as possible.
This guide will go through what can happen when you put stainless steel inside a dishwasher and why it is not a good idea.
Table of Contents
Best Water Bottle for Dishwasher (EDITOR’S CHOICE)
No products found.
Reasons To Not Put Stainless Steel Water Bottle In Dishwasher
1. Ruins the Color
The main concern is going to be with the external surface of the stainless steel water bottle.
When you wash a stainless steel water bottle in a dishwasher, you are going to notice its powder coating begin to chip away. This might be gradual at first, but it is going to get worse with each wash to the point of ruining the look.
This is damaging when you are carrying the water bottle around and can ruin the integrity of your bottle.

2. Can Alter the Shape
For those wondering “Can you put stainless steel water bottles in the dishwasher?” you will start to realize small changes to the shape of the bottle.
This is not going to be a dramatic change but it will have to do with the imbalanced nature of the coating stripping away.
You are going to see a change in the shape of the water bottle and it will take away from how well it works.
This is critical for those who want to make sure they are washing the water bottle wisely.
If the shape gets altered in any way, it might not look how you want it to. This alone is a major point of concern if you have paid a lot for the new water bottle!

3. Lead to Odd Taste
Another factor to look at when asking “Can you put stainless steel water bottles in the dishwasher?” is the taste.
Yes, the taste can get altered when you wash the bottle in the dishwasher.
The reason for this has to do with the stripped coating. This can begin to damage the inside of the water bottle too.
When this happens, you are going to notice a metallic taste in the water.
It might be subtle at first but it is not going to be fun to deal with. A lot of people end up tossing their stainless steel water bottles as soon as this happens!
Related Questions
1. How Do You Clean Stainless Steel Water Bottles?
The best way to wash a stainless steel water bottle is to take a cloth and scrub along the sides. This includes the inside of your water bottle. Do this with a bit of soap if you believe it needs to be cleaned thoroughly.
2. Can I Put My Water Bottle In The Dishwasher?
Plastic and/or glass water bottles can be washed in the dishwasher without ruining their shape or exterior surface. It is not recommended to wash stainless steel water bottles in the dishwasher as it can ruin the coating.
Final Thoughts
“Can you put stainless steel water bottles in the dishwasher?”
In the end, it is not a good idea to put your stainless steel water bottle in the dishwasher. This will ruin its coating along with how it looks.
Here is more on the kitchen and its accessories – dealing with a tall fridge, how to clean stainless steel using Magic Eraser, storing a fridge in the cold, microwaves that can burst, and microwaves that ruin the Internet.