TL;DR
Carbonating bottles are hand-wash only in warm -- never hot -- water, because heat weakens the pressure-rated plastic that makes them safe to carbonate in. The machine base is wiped, never submerged. If you add flavor syrup after carbonating, rinse the bottle and wipe the nozzle the same day, since sugar residue is what makes everything sticky and eventually smelly.
Three parts, three rules
A sparkling water maker is simple: a base that holds the gas cylinder and the carbonating mechanism, a nozzle that goes into the bottle, and the pressure-rated bottles themselves.
The base is a wipe-only appliance. It contains the gas connection and, on powered models, electronics. Water inside it is a problem, which is the same rule that governs everything in the small appliance cleaning guide.
The bottles are the part with an unusual restriction: no dishwasher and no hot water on most models. The nozzle is the part everyone forgets.
Why carbonating bottles cannot go in the dishwasher
Most carbonating bottles are made from a pressure-rated plastic that is engineered for a specific temperature range. Dishwasher heat and hot water can soften or distort that plastic, weakening a bottle that will later hold pressurized gas.
That is a safety issue rather than a cosmetic one, which is why manufacturers print an expiration date on the bottle base. A distorted or expired bottle should be retired.
Some newer bottles are specifically labeled dishwasher safe. Read your own bottle -- the label on the bottle itself is the authority, not a general rule from the internet.
How do you clean a soda maker bottle?
Wash the bottle by hand with warm water and a small amount of dish soap, using a soft bottle brush that reaches the base. Rinse thoroughly until no soap remains, since residue kills carbonation and tastes of soap. Then stand the bottle upside down on a rack to drain and dry fully before capping it.
Soap residue is the most common complaint after cleaning, and it comes from an incomplete rinse in a narrow bottle. Rinse twice.
Never cap a damp bottle for storage. Trapped moisture in a sealed bottle is how a musty smell develops.
The nozzle and the syrup problem
If you only carbonate plain water, the nozzle stays fairly clean. If you add syrup and then carbonate, or if syrup ever backs up, sugar gets into the nozzle and dries into a sticky film that attracts everything.
Wipe the nozzle with a damp cloth after every syrup session, and follow the manual for any deeper nozzle cleaning your model supports. Do not force objects into the nozzle opening.
Most manufacturers advise adding syrup after carbonating, into the bottle, precisely to keep sugar out of the machine. Following that order removes the problem rather than managing it.
The base, the drip area, and the cylinder bay
Unplug any powered model before wiping. Wipe the exterior with a cloth dampened in warm soapy water, then a clean damp cloth, then dry.
The drip area under the bottle is where overflow lands. Sticky overflow there glues the bottle in place and eventually attracts insects. Wipe it whenever you see a spot.
Wipe the cylinder bay when you change a gas cylinder, but keep it dry. Do not spray any cleaner into the bay or at the gas connection.
Never use bleach on a food-contact bottle or nozzle, and never combine bleach with vinegar, a descaler, ammonia, or rubbing alcohol in one container, because those combinations produce toxic gases.
Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission guidance on small appliance care
Mineral spots and cloudy bottles
If you use hard tap water, a faint white haze can build inside a bottle. That is mineral scale, not dirt, and scrubbing does not remove it.
A rinse with a diluted food-safe acid such as citric acid or white vinegar, followed by a very thorough plain water rinse, dissolves it. Keep the acid in the bottle and away from the machine.
Cloudiness that survives a descaling rinse is usually plastic hazing from age or heat exposure. That bottle has done its work and should be replaced. Mineral scale behaves identically in a water filter pitcher, lid, and reservoir and in a countertop water cooler and its dispenser taps.
Caps, seals, and where smells come from
Bottle caps have a seal or a gasket, and sugar and moisture collect under it. Pull the seal out if it comes out, wash it, and dry the groove before reassembling.
A bottle that smells stale usually has a cap problem rather than a bottle problem, because the cap is the part that stays damp when stored.
Store bottles uncapped or loosely capped so air moves through them. Sealed damp containers develop odors quickly -- the same reason a cold brew pitcher and its mesh filter basket is stored open.
A simple schedule
After every use: rinse the bottle, and wipe the nozzle if syrup was involved.
Weekly: wash bottles and caps properly with warm soapy water, and wipe the base and drip area.
Monthly or as needed: descale a hazy bottle with diluted food-safe acid and rinse thoroughly, and check bottle expiration dates.
Cleaning removes soil and sugar residue so the water tastes clean and the machine stays hygienic. It does not sanitize the kitchen or prevent illness. If the counter around the machine is the real problem, house cleaning services can reset the whole room.
FAQ
Can you put soda maker bottles in the dishwasher?
Only if the bottle itself is labeled dishwasher safe. Most carbonating bottles are not, because dishwasher heat can weaken the pressure-rated plastic that lets them hold carbonation safely. Wash those by hand in warm water with a soft bottle brush, and rinse thoroughly to remove all soap.
How do you get the soap taste out of a carbonating bottle?
Rinse the bottle two or three more times with warm water, filling and shaking each time, then let it drain upside down. Narrow bottles hold soap film in the shoulder and base. Using less dish soap in the first place is the simplest prevention, since carbonation exaggerates any residual taste.
How do you clean a sticky soda machine nozzle?
Wipe the nozzle with a warm damp cloth after any use that involved syrup, and follow your manual for any deeper cleaning procedure. Do not push objects into the nozzle opening. Adding syrup to the bottle after carbonating, rather than before, keeps sugar out of the machine entirely.
Can you use vinegar to clean a sparkling water maker?
Diluted vinegar or citric acid is fine inside a bottle to dissolve mineral haze, followed by a very thorough rinse. Keep acid away from the machine base and the gas connection. Never combine vinegar with bleach or any chlorine product in one container, because that reaction releases chlorine gas.
Why does my carbonating bottle smell musty?
Moisture trapped under the cap seal is nearly always the cause. Pull the seal if it removes, wash it and the groove, and dry both fully. Store bottles uncapped or loosely capped so air can circulate, and never cap a bottle that is still damp inside after washing.
Do carbonating bottles expire?
Yes. Most carry a printed expiration date on the base, because the pressure-rated plastic degrades over time. Retire a bottle that is past that date, visibly hazed, scratched deeply, or distorted. Cleaning a compromised bottle does not restore it, and pressure vessels are not worth improvising with.
Sugar syrup travels farther than anyone expects, which is why the counter, the cabinet door, and the floor near the machine usually need attention too. Every home is different, so the real number depends on size, condition, and what you want covered. Get a quote and we will walk you through it.