When you make the switch from bottled water to a reusable bottle, the one tricky point may be how to clean it. Bottles with wide necks are easy to reach inside, but the ubiquitous bottles with tiny openings at the top can defy even the smallest bottle brush. Though brands like Sigg sell special cleaning tools for their bottles, they still aren't easy to use&mdash and aren't necessary. Read on for simple tips on keeping your bottle clean and safe to drink from.

If you have a dishwasher, your job is pretty easy&mdash just wash your bottle away from the heating element, in the top rack. For those of us not so lucky (or for owners of bottles that are specifically listed as not dishwasher safe) there are a few options:

• Soak the bottle in hot, soapy water, or add a little baking soda to hot water. Sprinkle half an inch (or so) of baking soda in the bottle, fill up with hot water, close the lid, and shake for about a minute; then let it sit for half and hour, empty it, and rinse.
• Fill the bottle about a quarter-full with vinegar, and the rest of the way with warm water. Let this sit overnight, and then rinse well. After washing, storing the bottle in your freezer is one way to keep it perfectly sanitized.

How do you clean your reusable bottles? Let us know.

(Image: Flickr member Mangpages licensed under Creative Commons)