I Conducted a Taste Test to Find the Best Self-Cleaning Water Bottles in 2025

I tested both the LARQ and Sans self-cleaning water bottles every day for several weeks, evaluating their different features alongside the price, available sizes and colors, battery life, return policy, warranty and any available app features. I also conducted an informal taste test, which I’ll describe below. 

Self-cleaning water bottle taste test

To be clear, UV purification isn't supposed to change the taste of water. However, I was curious if the added LARQ filtered straw would make a difference or if knowing the UV purification was there would have a placebo effect.

For this informal taste test, I filled both the Sans and LARQ water bottles with tap water, as well as a glass with tap water and another with water filtered by my countertop Brita water pitcher. Then, I enabled the water bottles’ normal modes: a 3-minute UC-V purification cycle for Sans and a 1-minute cycle for LARQ. I kept the filtered straw in the LARQ bottle for this part of the test, since the bottle comes with it.  

The taste test of LARQ, Sans, filtered water and tap water.

Anna Gragert/CNET

After tasting tap water from all four containers, my partner and I found that the Brita produced the best-tasting, smoothest experience, followed by the LARQ and then Sans. Though Sans reduced some of the tap water’s chemical-y taste, the LARQ did a better job with its included filtered straw. 

Next, I filled the bottles with filtered Brita water. I also kept the glasses of tap water and Brita-filtered water. The LARQ’s straw remained attached. At this point, my partner and I noticed an improvement in the taste of the Sans water, which tasted similar to the Brita water. As for the LARQ water, there was a subtle improvement in both flavor and smoothness, likely because the water was now double-filtered. 

Lastly, we tried LARQ’s adventure mode. When used with filtered water, it may taste slightly better, but the difference is hardly noticeable, likely because the filtered straw continues to affect the taste and texture of the water. As for tap water, adventure mode combined with the filtered straw provided a noticeable difference, with a less chemical taste.

In conclusion, because of its filtered straw, the LARQ seemed to have a more positive effect on the taste and texture of both tap and Brita-filtered water. The Sans self-cleaning water bottle reduced some of the tap water’s chemical taste, but it tasted best when used with Brita-filtered water. 

This was a very informal, non-scientific taste test that highly depends on your water source and tastebuds. I was just curious to see if my partner and I would notice any differences between the bottles, tap water and water filtered by my Brita pitcher. We are also not water sommeliers, so feel free to take our observations with a grain of salt. 

When considering which self-cleaning water bottle is best for you, these are some of the factors you should consider. 

Water cleaning type: Does the water bottle offer only UV-C light purification, or does it have another stage of purification, like a filtered straw? A filtered straw could remove additional contaminants, making your water cleaner and better tasting. This could be especially useful if you’re out hiking.

Materials: Stainless steel is considered more durable than plastic and doesn't leach chemicals into water when exposed to heat. If your water bottle contains plastic, you may also want to make sure it’s BPA-free, which means it was made without bisphenol A, a chemical compound in certain plastics and epoxy resins. The same concern applies, as BPA leaching into the water and being consumed has been linked to health issues including infertility, heart disease, obesity, cancer and Type 2 diabetes, according to Healthline. 

Additional features: Some self-cleaning water bottles provide additional features like hydration tracking via an app. The app may also help you keep track of your battery life and when a filter needs to be replaced.

Volume and size: Different self-cleaning water bottles offer different sizes and volumes. If you’d prefer a smaller self-cleaning water bottle that will definitely fit in a car cup holder, check the size before placing your order. However, if you care more about having as much water as possible for outdoor adventures, you might set your sights on a larger volume bottle.

Return and warranty policy: If you’re simply testing out a self-cleaning water bottle to see if it’s the right fit for you, make sure the brand offers a return policy for used products. Also, check the warranty to see how long it is and what it covers. 

Battery life: If you want to avoid charging your self-cleaning water bottle as much as possible, consider a bottle that offers a longer battery life. However, note that certain purification modes may deplete battery life more than others. 

Price: Self-cleaning water bottles are typically more expensive than ordinary reusable water bottles -- especially if they offer multiple stages of purification or additional features like hydration tracking. Consider your budget and ask yourself: What am I willing to pay more for? If you spend time hiking or outdoors near clear running water with no sediment, then a self-cleaning water bottle may be worth the cost for that extra purification. 

Anna Gragert/CNET

Yes, the idea of cleaning a self-cleaning water bottle is silly, but these water bottles only reduce some contaminants within the water and interior bottle. That means that the rest of the bottle -- especially the mouth you drink from -- needs to be cleaned. For the two bottles I tested, both need to be hand-washed and cannot be put in the dishwasher. Make sure to follow your manufacturer’s specific instructions. 

For the LARQ bottle, the cap and filter straw (after the filter is removed from its pod) should be given a “warm soapy rinse” every 1-2 weeks. I use a straw cleaning brush for this, especially because a sponge can’t reach the crevices in the mouth’s cover, where the UV-C light can’t reach. As for the bottle itself, LARQ recommends washing it with warm, soapy water once per month. I use a bottle brush for this. For the exterior, I used a moist cloth to wipe it down.

The only information I could find on cleaning the Sans bottle is under its warnings: “Clean the outside of the product with a clean, moist cloth. Never use any strong cleaning sprays or fluids, or similar chemicals on the product.” To clean the interior, I used straw and bottle brushes, as well as a sponge, with regular dish detergent. I wiped down the exterior with a moist cloth. 

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation can irritate the eyes and skin, so you should never look directly at your self-cleaning water bottle’s light or leave it with small children, particularly those under 3 years old. Both the Sans and LARQ bottles have safety features that disable the light (Sans) or switch it to an operating condition not harmful to humans (LARQ) when the cap is removed during a purification cycle. You should only use the UV-C light-containing water bottle lids with their intended bottles. 

As always, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and use the bottle as intended.  

Yes, UV self-cleaning water bottles are safe as long as they are used as directed. During purification, the UV light-containing cap should remain on the bottle, as it can cause skin and eye irritation if you look directly at it. 

UV light water bottles work to eliminate certain bio-contaminants on the bottle’s interior and the water it contains. To see which ones, check your water bottle’s product description. For additional information, check to see if the water bottle has been third-party tested.

The downside of UV disinfection water is that it only removes certain bio-contaminants and doesn't remove heavy metals, chlorine and more unless a filter is present. UV light disinfection can also only affect the inside of the water bottle and its water, so the UV light won’t treat the bottle’s mouth.