Your Smelly Koozies Can Be Saved. Here's How To Actually Clean Them

On a blistering hot summer day, nothing hits quite like a refreshing, cold drink. But keeping your drinks as cool as possible in the heat presents a bit of a challenge. Luckily, you can find affordable can and bottle koozies just about anywhere, and they excel at keeping your drinks at the ideal temperature. But have you ever noticed that after a few uses your favorite drink koozie starts to develop a smell? Between the scent of the neoprene liner, potential mildew build up, and stains from old drinks, these little drink holders can quickly produce a stench that will make you think twice about taking it to the beach. But don't worry, a bad-smelling koozie can be rescued simply by washing it with a mixture of soap and vinegar.

You'd be surprised how many foul smells vinegar can remove from your laundry, and koozies are no exception. Washing your koozies regularly will help eliminate odors and potential bacteria build up, essentially extending the life of the product. The soap and vinegar mixture works for all kinds of koozies. However, you may have to change up the washing method depending on the materials your koozie is made of.

For neoprene and polyester koozies, you have a few options for cleaning. The easiest method is to toss them in the washing machine alongside your regular laundry. Add in your favorite laundry detergent and then, during the final rinse cycle, pour in roughly 1/2 cup of diluted white vinegar to finish the job. Avoid using vinegar in the washing machine if you've already added bleach or if you're washing clothes with elastics, as the acidic vinegar can cause the elastic to wear down. If you have a foam koozie or you've made one from this clever pool noodle DIY to keep your cold drinks insulated, the washing machine won't be a suitable option. Instead, choose hand washing with a gentle soap and diluted vinegar.

All koozies can be hand washed and, while time consuming, this method is great for koozies that feature a logo that might otherwise chip in the washing machine or in the dishwasher. For hand washing, simply soak your koozie in your water-soap-vinegar mixture for a few minutes, swirl it around in the water, then rinse out the soap completely. Whether you choose machine or hand washing, you should always try to dry your koozies outdoors. Sunlight is an all-natural ingredient that helps remove musty odors from laundry. Plus, you don't need to worry about the rubber liner getting too hot in the dryer. That said, over time, drying your koozies in the sun can cause the color to fade, so keep that in mind.