Whether you’re an athlete, regular gym attender or just like to keep on track of your nutrition, most of us have suffered from the struggle of getting our supplement shakers clean!
Even after multiple washes the smell still seems to linger – particularly if you’ve forgotten to wash it straight away after using it, then we’re forced to endure a smell which can only be described as rancid.
A dirty protein shaker allows bacteria to form as they feed off the left-over protein. The warm, moist environment further encourages this growth, which is where the bad smell comes from. These types of bacteria can heighten our chances of getting sick, which is why the horrible smell isn’t the only reason we need to properly clean our shakers!
The best thing to do is rinse out all the protein residue with hot water straight away, but unfortunately that’s not always possible to do.
To answer all your problems, upon successful completion of our Kickstarter campaign, VShake are launching our very own supplement shaker – a patent pending technology designed to be anti-odour, anti-bacteria and easy to clean. Sign up to our pre-launch club to be one of the first to receive an invite!
But for the meantime, here are a few ways to fix your shakers bad odour
Leave It to Soak in Warm Water and Washing Up Liquid
Before we get into the nitty gritty, starting with the basics, fill up a wash bowl with warm soapy water and leave your shaker to soak for 15 minutes. This will allow any hardened residue to soften making it easier to clean. Don’t forget to include the lid, as this can also incur a large build-up of bacteria due to the shape making it more difficult to clean. Once this is done, drain the water and clean the shaker with fresh warm, soapy water and a sponge as usual, before leaving it out to properly dry.
- Easiness – 9/10
- Cost – 2/10
Use Baking Powder to Clean the Shaker
If the smell remains, try using a mixture of baking soda with warm water. Baking soda is known for its natural deodorising effect, absorbing strong odours and leaving clean, fresh smells. The substance is also hailed for its ability to clean stains off plastic containers. Adding just a teaspoon of baking soda, topping up the shaker with warm water and leaving it to soak for 15 minutes before washing it as you normally would, can effectively eliminate the bad odour.
- Easiness – 7/10
- Cost – 3/10
Use Ground Coffee to Get Rid of the Odour
Similarly to baking soda, coffee has natural deodorising properties which make it a great household staple to use to clean out your shaker. After a simple clean, if there is still a residual smell you can leave leftover coffee grounds in the bottom of your bottle and place on the lid. This can be left overnight for maximum effect, before being rinsed well the next day to get rid of the awful smell permeating your shaker.
- Easiness – 5/10
- Cost – 2/10
Use Mouthwash to Eliminate Smelly Bacteria
Mouthwash can be another great household item to use to get rid of the funky smell lingering in your shaker. As it so often says on the bottle, the ingredients in mouthwash can eliminate odour by killing unwanted bacteria. Simply fill your shaker halfway with mouthwash, shake the contents around the bottle and rinse well with water.
- Easiness – 9/10
- Cost – 1/10
Use Citrus Fruits to Make DIY Cleaners
The citric acid of fruits like lemons and oranges can be a very powerful cleaner for bad odours. To use a lemon as a homemade cleaner, cut a wedge and leave it to sit inside the sealed shaker or use the juice of the lemon to rub all over the inner surfaces. Orange peels can also be used by mixing them with vinegar to create a homemade cleaning solution, leaving your shaker smelling fresher than ever.Easiness – 5/10
Cost – 4/10
