Care Guide

Care Guide

How to keep your Little Sippers bottle clean, leakproof, and mould-free for years of daily use.

The single most important habit

Leave the lid off overnight. Most mould and odour problems in kids water bottles aren't caused by insufficient washing — they're caused by sealing moisture in. Wash, rinse, and let everything air-dry separately with the lid off until morning.

Daily clean (60 seconds)

  1. Empty any leftover water.
  2. Unscrew the character head from the body.
  3. Pull out the silicone straw and mouthpiece for separate washing.
  4. Rinse everything under warm running water.
  5. Hand wash with a drop of dish soap, using a bottle brush for the body and a small straw brush for the straw.
  6. Rinse thoroughly until the water runs clear.
  7. Air-dry every part separately overnight with the lid off.

Weekly deep clean

  1. Disassemble fully — body, lid, gasket, straw, mouthpiece.
  2. Soak all parts in warm soapy water for 15 minutes.
  3. Use a straw brush to scrub the entire length of the straw multiple times.
  4. Brush the inside of the lid and the mouthpiece where residue settles.
  5. Rinse thoroughly under hot water.
  6. Air-dry on a rack with the lid off.

If mould has already shown up

  1. Fill with a 1:1 solution of white vinegar and warm water. Add a tablespoon of baking soda — it will fizz.
  2. Let it sit for 30 minutes (longer for heavy mould — up to overnight).
  3. Scrub the straw and any visibly mouldy parts with a stiff straw brush.
  4. Rinse thoroughly. Hot water until the vinegar smell is completely gone.
  5. For final sanitisation, either run lid + straw + body through a dishwasher cycle (top rack), or boil the silicone parts for 10 minutes.
  6. Air-dry overnight with the lid off.

Dishwasher rules

The stainless steel body and silicone parts are top-rack dishwasher safe at standard temperatures. We recommend hand-washing the printed character body to keep the design looking new — repeated hot dishwasher cycles can fade exterior printing over time.

What to avoid

  • Bleach — harsh, hard to rinse fully, unnecessary for routine cleaning.
  • Steel wool or abrasive scourers on the exterior — they'll scratch the finish.
  • Sealing the bottle wet after washing — the single biggest cause of mould.
  • Leaving milk or juice in the bottle overnight. Always empty and rinse before bed.

Replacement straws

Soft silicone straws are wear parts. After 6–12 months of daily use, they may develop stains or micro-tears. Email hello@littlesippers.com.au with your order number and we'll send replacements.