Life would be so simple if all the mysteries could be answered with a yes or a no. But that’s not how things work, and we need to take deeper digs at things to reach the answers.
Such is the case with the question of washing hydro flasks using dishwashers. Dishwashers are made to make lives easier. However, not everything is dishwasher friendly.
Without the proper knowledge, if you try and wash other things using the dishwasher, you either damage the machine or the thing.
Let’s start our exploration journey and see if your hydro flasks are dishwasher safe or not.
Original Hydro Flasks Are Not Dishwasher Safe
Your hydro flasks can basically last a lifetime.
Even if you are someone with a careless attitude towards your flasks, you can have them last for over half a decade. Provide it good care, and watch it last you a decade and even more.
This is relevant because, originally, hydro flasks weren’t made on friendly terms with dishwashers.
Even the company mentioned this on their website. This was common knowledge that hydro flasks are meant to be washed manually with hot water.
It was after 2020 when the company decided to remodel the flasks and make them dishwasher friendly.
Does this mean that any hydro flask before the pandemic year can’t be washed using a dishwasher? Well, people have run their flasks through dishwashers, and nothing happened. Their flasks still work fine as they did on day one.
But that’s a gamble. Because the dishwasher can rupture the vacuum layer inside the flask, and it then becomes good for nothing.
So our verdict here would be that older hydro flask models aren’t dishwasher safe. And you must only hand wash them.
New Hydro Flasks Are Dishwasher Safe
Hydro flasks made after 2020 were adjusted according to the dishwasher’s washing standards.
See, the problem with washing your flasks in dishwashers is that they run under high temperatures. That poses a threat to the vacuum layer inside the flasks. Vacuum means that there’s zero permeability for air inside.
Even a tiny minute compromise can fill up the insides of your flasks with air and deem it good for nothing. The hydro flask company knew this and launched its dishwasher-friendly model in 2020. Which makes the newer models safe to wash in the dishwasher.
A simple method to avoid all and any confusion is to flip the bottle and look for the instructions underneath.
Another problem with the newer models has also been addressed. With previous models, the colour and outer surface lost ink and dulled down when washed with a dishwasher. This problem was solved for the 2020 models and the ones after that.
Why aren’t hydro flask bottles dishwasher safe?
What differentiates a regular mug from a hydro flask? Hydro flasks maintain temperatures.
You put in warm fluids in there; they stay warm for half a day at least. Even more. You put cold liquid in there, and they stay chilled for a similar time. All this happens because of a sophisticated vacuum tube installed inside the flask.
The vacuum tube creates a gap between the outer and the inner wall of the flask. This way, the inside atmosphere becomes immune to the outside influence for a long, long time.
When you put your hydro flask in the dishwasher, the high temperatures inside risk damage to that vacuum tube.
Once there’s air inside the tube, your flask is no good. It’d be a surprise if a flask with a damaged tube could sustain temperatures for more than an hour.
Are Hydro Flask Lids Dishwasher Safe?
Some are, some aren’t. Down below, we shall list the safe ones for you and the ones that you must avoid putting in an operating dishwasher.
The Following Hydro Flask Lids Are Dishwasher Safe
- Hydro Flip Lid
- Wide Mouth Straw Lid
- Wide Mouth Flex Sip Cap (when disassembled)
Hydro flask still advises that to increase the life of these lids, hand washing is the best washing method. But they are dishwasher safe nonetheless. You can routinely hand wash them and sometimes put them in the dishwasher for deeper cleaning.
The Following Hydro Flask Lids are NOT Dishwasher Safe
- Standard Mouth Flex Cap
- Wide Mouth Flex Cap
- Standard Mouth Sports Cap
- Wide Mouth Flat Cap
- Stainless Steel Flat Cap
- Standard Loop Cap
- Narrow Loop Cap
Wash these ones with your hands. That’s the only way to keep yourself and the lids safe!
What Insulated Bottles Are Dishwasher Safe?
There are many insulated bottle options that are dishwasher safe.
The list probably should start with the 2020 models and the ones after that. The hydro flask company claims that those models are made compatible with the dishwashers. Then there are other flasks and insulated bottles as well.
Some of them are:
- Rambler 26 oz. Bottle with Chug Cap by Yeti
- Insulated TKWide Water Bottle by KLEANKANTEEN
- Porter Glass Wide Mouth Bottle by W&P
- Sustain Tritan Water Bottle by NALGEN
The list goes on and on. However, these options come with varied specifications. It is your task to research a bit and find out what suits your lifestyle the best.
What Happens If You Put Your Hydro Flask In A Dishwasher?
Well, it’s a valid question, no? After all, what happens when you put the hydro flasks in a dishwasher?
Well, dishwashers work on high and extreme temperatures. Those temperatures are set to ensure deep cleaning of the dishes and utensils.
The vacuum tubes inside the dishwashers aren’t durable enough to sustain such high temperatures. As a result, they leak, which causes air to enter the inside walls. Once that happens, the dishwasher becomes non-functional. Because vacuum means just the complete absence of air.
Another thing that happens is that the high temperatures wear down the colour and fade it away. As a result, your hydro flasks will look worn out way sooner than they should. Hand wash with warm water keeps the colours and design intact.
But washing them in a dishwasher fades them and makes them look ugly. And you’d not want that, right? Because believe it or not, cool hydro flasks are a fashion statement for sure!
Final thoughts
Hopefully, the above-mentioned points make a convincing case about the relationship between hydro flasks and dishwashers.
The safest way for washing any hydro flask is to hand wash them with warm water. But those who want to use the dishwasher must read the instructions first—both on the back of the flasks and on the hydro flask website. Hopefully, the question ‘Can you put a hydro flask in the dishwasher?’ is sufficiently answered for you. Avoid unnecessary damage to your flasks by exposing them to the high heat exuded by the dishwashers.