How To Keep Waterpik Clean

Water flossers are fantastic cleaning devices that can be used as part of your daily oral hygiene routine. These devices allow you to direct a stream of water into your mouth, so you can clean your teeth, and remove excess food and plaque that a toothbrush may not be able to dislodge.

In this guide, we look at how to clean a Waterpik water flosser. As you will see below, this is an important task and something you should do often to keep the device working effectively.

A Simple Water Flosser Cleaning Guide

Regular cleaning of your water flosser is important as it improves its effectiveness and longevity. These can be tricky devices to clean properly as there are often parts people forget about. As a result, we have created these 5 steps that you can follow below. Bear in your mind that it may vary slightly between countertop models and handheld models so some steps may need adjusting.

Step 1: Clean the Exterior Casing Of the Water Flosser.

Firstly, the exterior casing of the product should be cleaned. This step should be completed as often as necessary. Look at the casing, and check for any dirt, scratches, and marks. Countertop models will have a larger surface area to clean but this still should only take a few minutes to wipe down.

To clean the exterior, you can use non-abrasive wipes or a soft cloth. Gently wipe the exterior to get rid of any dirt.

Step 2: Empty, Clean, Rinse, and Dry the Water Reservoir.

tooth cleaning tool on sink

One of the most important parts to clean is the water reservoir. The water reservoir is a prime area where bacteria and stale water can accumulate. Ideally, you should empty and clean the reservoir after every use.

First, remove the reservoir from the device using the eject button. If you have countertop models, you can then clean the small black valve that is revealed when the reservoir is removed. Next, you can clean the reservoir either in a dishwasher (the material is dishwasher safe, but place it on your top dishwasher tray if possible) or by hand using hot soapy water.

Once this cleaning is done, ensure that it is completely dry, and any excess moisture is removed. You can air dry it if you want.

Step 3: Clean the Internal Mechanisms and Parts.

Inside the main unit of the flosser, mineral deposits can build-up – this can reduce the overall effectiveness of the device. You cannot disassemble the flosser to clean it, however, you can pass water through it for a deep clean to remove any mineral deposits.

First, fill the reservoir with a concentration of warm water, and white vinegar (white vinegar is an excellent cleaning agent). The mixture should be approximately 16 ounces of warm water (this depends on the Waterpik model you have), and a maximum of 2 tablespoons of white vinegar.

Once the reservoir is filled with the water and 2 tablespoons of white vinegar, re-attach it to the unit. Tilt the device so that the water reservoir empties and the solution filters through the unit, and eventually out of the nozzle. Do this until the reservoir is empty.

After the reservoir is empty, you must then repeat this process, but with clean warm water only. This ensures that any excess white vinegar is removed and any mineral deposits are washed away.

Step 4: Clean the Handle.

portable dental oral irrigator

Next, you should clean the handle of the water flosser. First, use the eject button to remove the tip from the handle (If you are unsure how to do this, you can read the instruction manual).

Keep the handle in a solution of warm water and white vinegar (This solution should be 1 part white vinegar, and 2 parts warm water). Let the handle soak for a minimum of 5 minutes in the vinegar solution. Next, remove the handle, and rinse it carefully under a warm tap. Finally, ensure it is dried completely – you can air dry it if you wish as opposed to using a cloth.

Step 5: Remove and Clean the Water Jet Tip.

Before re-attaching the tip, it should be cleaned separately from the handle. First, remove the tip. Next, you should soak the tip in a separate solution of warm water and white vinegar (you can use hydrogen peroxide for this step too). The concentration should be as before – two parts water, and one part vinegar or hydrogen peroxide.

The tip should soak in the water for a minimum of 5 minutes. Once the tip has soaked, remove it, and rinse it under warm water to remove any vinegar or cleaning agent. Finally, dry the tip completely, and re-attach it to the handle once the handle has also been washed.

Pro-Tip: Waterpik recommends replacing the water flosser tip every 3-6 months as eventually they can become clogged with minerals, regardless of how often you clean them.

With these simple steps, you will have a cleaner water flosser, improving its effectiveness alongside your dental hygiene.

Why Is It Important to Clean Your Water Flosser?

woman using tooth cleaning tool

Cleaning your oral hygiene devices is just as important as cleaning and flossing your teeth. Consider this – what happens if you clean your teeth with a toothbrush that has dirty bristles? You are effectively cleaning your mouth with bacteria!

Waterpik flossers have various parts and compartments that can easily build-up bacteria. If you leave them on your countertop they are exposed to all of the particles floating around your bathroom. For example, if you do not clean the tip and water spray tube properly, stale water and bacteria could easily accumulate. Also, the water reservoir can be a potential breeding ground for bacteria if it is not cleaned properly and emptied of stale water.

Pro-Tip: Failing to clean your Waterpik Water Flosser regularly can also reduce the water pressure and result in a build-up of minerals.

Storing and cleaning your water flosser is vital and you must take this process seriously. If you regularly clean your device using the above steps, you can ensure you are getting the best use from it. Storing it in a cupboard instead of on your countertop will drastically affect how much it is exposed to and how dirty it will get.

What Are the Advantages of Using a Waterpik Water Flosser?

You should now have a clear idea of how to clean a Waterpik water flosser. But why would you want to use such a device? Surely brushing your teeth twice daily is enough? Whilst brushing is indeed vital for oral hygiene, a Waterpik water flosser also offers many benefits including:

It reaches areas that a toothbrush cannot
Removes tough patches of plaque, and food debris
Helps improve your overall oral hygiene
Can help cleaning dentures, braces, and implants

woman practicing oral hygiene with tooth cleaning tool

Firstly, a water flosser provides a direct flow of water into your mouth. This direct jet can be used to target specific areas of your mouth that your brush may not be able to reach. As a result, you can ensure to completely remove plaque, and bacteria from your mouth.

Think of a water flosser as a safeguard, and the second wave of reinforcements in the battle against plaque and food debris. As a result, Waterpik devices generally help boost your oral hygiene and can improve the quality of your teeth and gums.

Secondly, these devices can be incredibly useful if you have dental fixtures. This includes braces, dentures, and implants. Oftentimes, fixtures like these can be difficult to clean. Also, the various gaps and cracks are prone to food build-up which can cause bacteria. Using a Waterpik water flosser, you can reach these gaps, and clean your fixtures effectively.

Waterpik FAQ

Can a Water Flosser Device Damage Your Mouth?

Providing you use the water flosser as it is intended, and as the manufacturer instructs, it should never damage your teeth or gums.

Can You Use a Waterpik Water Flosser Instead of Brushing?

No, these devices are not meant to be a substitute for brushing. You should brush first, and then use the water flosser afterwards.

How Often Should I Clean My Waterpik Water Flosser?

Ideally, you should do a deep clean on a regular basis (i.e. the 5 steps listed above), around once per week. In addition to this, you should wipe the Waterpik flosser after each use, and clean the water reservoir after each use.

Where Should I Store My Water Flosser?

Storing your water flosser in a cupboard is much more hygienic than storing it on your bathroom countertop

Keeping Your Waterpik Water Flosser Clean

We hope you found this guide on how to clean a Waterpik water flosser useful and informative. Now that you already know the steps, make sure you always keep them clean to prolong their effectiveness and prevent bacteria from building up in your water flossers.

Additional Resources

How Often Should You Use a Water Flosser
How Does a Water Flosser Work
How to Use a Water Flosser