Learning how to clean a water dispenser can be simple. With calamansi, vinegar, or a multi-purpose cleaner, you can remove gunk and mold to ensure safe drinking water.
Updated August 25, 2023
Reading Time 5 minutes
You would think that your dispenser wouldn't get dirty because water constantly flows through it. Well, you thought wrong. Without proper cleaning, your water dispenser could become a breeding ground for mold, yeast, and even e-coli. [1]
So, if you want to ensure your family’s safety, we recommend disinfecting your water dispenser regularly. In this blog post, we’ll show you basic steps that you can easily follow.
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Most of the time, manufacturers provide cleaning instructions in the manual. So, we recommend reading yours to see the guide specifically designed for your water dispenser.
Before doing anything else, you should unplug your water dispenser. You’re about to work with the inner parts of the machine. So, it’s safe to disconnect it from the power supply.
Most homes in the Philippines have these types of water dispensers: Top-loading water dispensers – Because the jug is sitting upside-down on the dispenser, gravity dispenses the water. Bottom-loading water dispensers – The jug is loaded to the bottom of the dispenser. It comes with a pump that draws the water out
Here are the cleaning items you need to prepare: - Scrub sponge - Bucket - Microfiber towel - Rubber gloves For the cleaning materials, you can choose between these options: - Distilled white vinegar and calamansi - Multi-purpose bleach like Domex
Note: We understand that many Filipinos prefer natural cleaning products. However, when it comes to disinfecting, vinegar is only 80% as effective as bleach [2]. So, if your goal is to sanitize your water dispenser, we recommend using Domex multi-purpose cleaner.
After unplugging your dispenser, make sure that there’s no water left in the reservoir and remove the water jug from the top of the dispenser.
Look for the valve at the top of the dispenser and start scrubbing it with your sponge. If there are stubborn marks, use the scrub side to remove them.
The next step is to clean the reservoir’s internal parts. Disconnect the filter, then remove the no-spill adapter, which is where the water jug rests. Don’t forget to detach the drip tray from the front of the dispenser and the baffle from the reservoir.
Use your scrub to clean the parts you removed thoroughly. Then, dry the components with your microfiber cloth.
Pour your vinegar/calamansi cleaning solution into the reservoir. Once you’ve filled it, scrub its sides.
Drain the cleaning solution from the reservoir. Now, pour clean water into the reservoir and scrub its side to ensure no residue is left.
Check if the water has no aftertaste. If the water doesn’t taste right, repeat the steps until it does.
Wait for ten minutes before draining the reservoir completely. During this time, you can remove the drip tray and clean it with your scrub sponge. Dry the parts with a microfiber cloth.
Open the dispenser’s faucets and let them drain the water fully. Do the same for the drain valve, which you can usually find at the back of the dispenser.
Indeed, it’s easy to learn how to clean a water dispenser. However, once you know the process, make sure that you do it regularly. Don’t forget to clean and disinfect your dispenser at least twice a year. This way, your family can enjoy clean water that meets the Department of Health’s standards for drinking water quality [3].
[1] Aminzare, Majid, et al. (2017). Bacteriological Quality of Water Cooler Dispensers of Educational Settings in Zanjan University of Medical Sciences [PDF]. Journal of Human and Environmental Health Promotion, 2(2), 105-111. Retrieved from https://applications.emro.who.int/imemrf/J_Hum_Environ_Health_Promot/J_Hum_Environ_Health_Promot_2017_2_2_105_111.pdf
[2] Almeida, Catarina, et al. “The Efficacy of Common Household Cleaning Agents for SARS-CoV-2 Infection Control.” Viruses vol. 14,4 715. 29 Mar. 2022, doi:10.3390/v14040715
[3] Department of Health - Disease Monitoring and Analysis System. (n.d.). Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water of 2017 [PDF]. Retrieved from https://dmas.doh.gov.ph:8083/Rest/GetFile?id=337128
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) suggests cleaning and sanitizing water dispensers according to manufacturer-recommended intervals [4]. Most manufacturers advise doing this process every six months.
Germs and bacteria will develop inside the faucets, eventually making their way into your body when you drink the water.
You can also use a baking soda and water solution to clean your dispenser. The ratio is usually 2 tablespoons of baking soda for every cup of water.
Here are the steps for cleaning the inside of a water dispenser bottle: Pour hot water into the jug and let it sit for about three minutes. Take a long-handled, soft-bristled brush and scrub the inside of the bottle. Drain the water out and rinse the jug thoroughly.
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