You’re Probably Not Cleaning Your Koozies—but You Should Be

Koozies, those ubiquitous fabric sleeves designed to cover canned or bottled drinks and keep them cool, are a staple of warm-weather fun. Developed by Texan Bob Autry in the early 1980s, koozies are popular promotional and gift items. However, spills and stains require routine cleaning of the summer beverage staple. Ahead, you’ll find three easy methods for cleaning a koozie in the washing machine, dishwasher, or by hand.

How Often to Clean Koozies

It is best to wash a koozie after each use. In addition to spills and dribbles that can cause a foul odor to develop, your hands are in constant contact with the koozie, leaving behind bacteria and viruses that can lead to illnesses.

Koozies can be made from polyester, vinyl, or even leather, but they are most often made from neoprene, a type of synthetic rubber. The cleaning instructions apply to koozies made of neoprene, as well as polyester, vinyl, and other washable materials. Leather koozies, like other leather accessories, should be maintained using leather cleaner and conditioner.

How to Clean Koozies in the Washing Machine

Machine-washing koozies is the easiest and most effective option to keep the thermal drink sleeves clean and free from germs and bacteria.

When machine-washing koozies, use the delicate or gentle cycle and select cold water. Wash the koozies in a load with other lightweight items, and avoid washing them with heavy, bulky, or embellished items that have zippers, snaps, or other features that can snag and ding the koozie. Ideally, plan to wash koozies in a load with kitchen towels, potholders, aprons, and other items used during food prep to prevent cross-contamination.

After washing the koozies, lay them flat on a clean, dry towel or mesh drying rack to air-dry. Do not machine-dry a koozie.

How to Clean Koozies in the Dishwasher

Koozies can also be cleaned in the top rack of the dishwasher. However, exposure to steam can cause logos and other design elements to melt or peel. To reduce the potential for damage, opt for the air-dry setting and avoid the sanitizing cycle and other high-heat settings when using the dishwasher to clean koozies, or consider a different cleaning method.

How to Wash Koozies by Hand

In a sense, a koozie is a form of drinkware, and like any other type of drinkware, a koozie can be washed by hand using hot, soapy water, just like a dish. To wash a koozie by hand, fill a bowl or sink with hot water and add some dish soap. Place the koozie in the solution and swirl it around to allow the water and soap to penetrate the material. Then, allow it to soak for five minutes before removing it from the solution and rinsing it well under warm running water.

After washing, gently squeeze out the excess water, taking care not to twist or wring the koozie, which can weaken the material and cause logos and other design elements to crack or split. Lay it flat to dry.

How to Eliminate Odors in Koozies

Regular washing keeps foul odors from developing in a drink sleeve. However, if a koozie has been neglected or suffered a terrible fate that left it with a deeply embedded smell that routine washing can’t remove, try one of these deeper cleaning methods.

Hand- or machine-wash the koozie using Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Soap. Dr. Bronner’s eliminates deeply set-in odors and is gentle on both fabrics and machines.
Machine-wash the koozies with laundry detergent and distilled white vinegar. White vinegar is a powerful odor eliminator that is especially effective against mold and mildew. If the koozie has developed a sour smell, mildew has likely formed. Adding 1 cup of white vinegar to the wash, along with your regular laundry detergent, is the best way to eliminate it.
Dry a just-washed koozie outdoors. Sunshine is a natural deodorizer, and outdoor drying can help eliminate embedded odors without the need for specialty products.