# Kids' water bottles that are easy to clean

Source: HiveTried, https://hivetried.com/baby/kids-water-bottle/easy-to-clean/
Category: Baby > Kids' water bottle. Updated 2026-10-08. Based on 160 counted first-hand reports from Target shopper reviews, Oct 2023 to Sep 2026.

**Question:** Which kids water bottle is easy to clean?

**Short answer:** Thermos Funtainer 12oz Water Bottle has the best record for easy cleaning: 22 of 23 parents said the bottle, lid and straw came fully clean. The gaps are small, since Reduce Hydrate Kids Water Bottle has the weakest record here at 17 of 21, and each bottle rests on a small group of reviewers who said how cleaning went. What tells them apart is what went wrong for the few who had trouble, and that differs from bottle to bottle.

**What stands out:** Each bottle has its own weak spot. 25% of reviews for the smaller Funtainer report leaks, 22% of reviews for the larger Funtainer report straw or spout problems, and 10% of Reduce reviews mention mold or hard-to-clean spots.

## Ranking (parents who said whether it worked)

| Rank | Product | Easy to clean | Share | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thermos Funtainer 12oz Water Bottle | 22 of 23 | 96% | yes |
| 2 | Thermos Funtainer Kids Water Bottle | 21 of 24 | 88% | yes |
| 3 | Owala Kids FreeSip Water Bottle | 16 of 19 | 84% | yes |
| 4 | Reduce Hydrate Kids Water Bottle | 17 of 21 | 81% | yes |

Ranked by the lower bound of a 90% Wilson confidence interval, so a product needs a high share and enough reports to rank high. An Amazon link is shown only when at least 60% say it works.

## Product notes

### 1. Thermos Funtainer 12oz Water Bottle

22 of 23 parents said the bottle, lid and straw were easy to get fully clean, the highest share here, and 55% of its reviews list easy cleaning as a plus. Leaks are the main complaint, at 25% of reviews, though 22% say it is easy for kids to use.

- Praised for: Easy for kids to use (23%), Keeps water cold (23%), Durable (15%)
- Complaints: Leaks (25%), Straw or spout problems (5%), Too expensive (5%)
- Reports counted: 40

### 2. Thermos Funtainer Kids Water Bottle

More reviewers weighed in on this larger Funtainer with the bail handle than on any other bottle here (24), and 21 of 24 said it was easy to get clean. The complaints are about the straw: 22% of reviews report straw or spout problems, 8% mention mold or hard-to-clean spots and 5% mention dents or breaks.

- Praised for: Keeps water cold (18%), Durable (13%), Doesn't leak (10%)
- Complaints: Straw or spout problems (23%), Dents or breaks (5%)
- Reports counted: 40

### 3. Owala Kids FreeSip Water Bottle

Parents like it for staying sealed and staying cold: 20% say it doesn't leak and 20% say it keeps water cold. On cleaning, 16 of 19 said it was easy, while 18% report straw or spout problems and 8% mention mold or hard-to-clean spots.

- Praised for: Doesn't leak (20%), Keeps water cold (20%), Durable (15%)
- Complaints: Straw or spout problems (18%), Too expensive (8%), Dents or breaks (5%)
- Reports counted: 40

### 4. Reduce Hydrate Kids Water Bottle

This plastic bottle with a straw lid has the weakest record here at 17 of 21, which is still a solid result. 38% say it doesn't leak and 30% say it is easy for kids to use, but 18% report leaks and 10% mention mold or hard-to-clean spots.

- Praised for: Doesn't leak (38%), Easy for kids to use (30%), Durable (18%)
- Complaints: Leaks (18%), Straw or spout problems (8%)
- Reports counted: 40

## Questions

**Which kids water bottle is easy to clean?**

All four did well. Thermos Funtainer 12oz Water Bottle has the best record (22 of 23), followed by Thermos Funtainer Kids Water Bottle (21 of 24), Owala Kids FreeSip Water Bottle (16 of 19) and Reduce Hydrate Kids Water Bottle (17 of 21). The gaps are small, so leaks, straw problems and price may matter more to you.

**How do I clean a kids water bottle?**

Take the lid and straw apart to wash them, clean every part the way the maker says, and let every part dry fully before you put the bottle back together. Check straws and valves for wear or cracks and replace them when they look worn.

**Do the two Thermos Funtainers clean up the same?**

Close to it. The smaller Thermos Funtainer 12oz Water Bottle has 22 of 23 and the larger Thermos Funtainer Kids Water Bottle has 21 of 24. The difference is in the complaints. The smaller one draws leak reports (25% of its reviews), the larger one straw or spout problems (22%).

**Do kids water bottles get moldy?**

Some reviewers reported mold or hard-to-clean spots: 10% of Reduce reviews, 8% of the larger Funtainer reviews and 8% of Owala reviews. Washing the lid and straw apart each time and letting every part dry fully is a good habit.

## Method

HiveTried counts first-hand reports only, drops reviews written for free products, shows brand-site reviews without counting them, and never accepts payment for placement. Full method: https://hivetried.com/how-we-count/