When is the last time you gave that water bottle of yours a good scrub? You might rinse it out daily but do you spend a few extra minutes really cleaning your water bottle each day? With flu season upon us, you’ll want to make sure you take these steps to keep bacteria at bay.

Daily: wash it with warm water and soap.

One of the easiest ways to clean your water bottle is to wash it daily with warm, soapy water. We recommend purchasing a bottle brush set to really get into the base of the water bottle to help rid any bacteria.

Weekly: Throw it in the dishwasher.

Before you clean your water bottle in the dishwasher, make sure your water bottle is actually dish washer safe. An easy way to do this is going to the brand’s website to view their care instructions—it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Weekly: Clean it with vinegar.

No harsh chemicals needed. You can use vinegar to clean your water bottle and rid it from any lingering germs. After washing it with soapy water, rinse well and then fill your water bottle 1/5 to ¼ the way full with white vinegar. Fill the remainder with water and let it sit overnight. Give it a good rinse in the morning and you’ll be set!

And if you’re really worried: water bottle cleansing tablets.

Some water bottle companies sell cleansing tablets that are meant to really clean and rid your water bottle of any pesky germs. So if flu season is going around your work, gym or home, this might be a great solution to deep clean your water bottle.