How to Clean a Waterpik™ Water Flosser
In 3 Easy Steps
Over time mineral deposits and other materials can collect in your water flosser, causing it to lose pressure and effectiveness.
Here are 3 steps for simple cleaning with water, vinegar, and your dishwasher to keep your countertop or cordless water flosser performing at its best. Complete this process once a month to ensure optimal performance. The steps vary slightly depending on the type of water flosser you are cleaning (countertop or cordless).
- Clean the outside of the unit, the tip, and handle (countertop models)
- Clean the water reservoir
- Clean the internal parts
Watch our How to Clean Video
Read the Full Descriptive Transcript (Click to Expand)
Introduction
0:00 - 0:06 [Upbeat music] Waterpik™ logo appears with "water flosser" written underneath. Narrator and Text on screen: How to clean your water flosser.
0:06 - 0:15 Narrator and Text on screen: Step 1 - Clean the outside with a soft cloth and non-abrasive cleanser. Cleaner is sprayed onto a cloth and used to wipe the exterior of a countertop water flosser.
0:15 - 0:24 Narrator and Text on screen: If your water flosser has a handle, remove the tip. Soak the handle and tip in a mixture of 1-part vinegar and 2-parts water for 5 minutes. The tip is removed from the handle and placed into a glass of vinegar and water.
0:24 - 0:31 Narrator and Text on screen: Rinse the handle and tip under warm water. The handle and tip are rinsed under running water.
0:31 - 0:39 Text on screen: Step 2 - Clean the reservoir Narrator: Clean the reservoir by removing it from the water flosser. Split side-by-side view of a Waterpik™ countertop water flosser and a cordless water flosser. The reservoirs are removed.
0:39 - 0:45 Narrator and text on screen: If your reservoir has a black valve, remove it and set aside. The valve is removed from the reservoir of a countertop model.
0:45 - 0:51 Text on screen: Place in the top rack of dishwasher Narrator: Place the reservoir in the top rack of the dishwasher. Air dry or turn off the heated dry cycle. A cordless water flosser reservoir and a countertop water flosser reservoir are placed in the top rack of a dishwasher.
0:51 - 1:00 Narrator and Text on screen: Air dry or turn off heated dry cycle. Door of dishwasher is opened. Narrator: You can also hand wash with warm soapy water and a small bottle brush. A countertop reservoir is washed with soapy water and a cloth. A cordless reservoir is washed with soapy water and a brush.
1:00 - 1:08 Narrator and Text on screen: Step 3 - Clean the inside of your water flosser. Add 1-part vinegar to 2-parts warm water. A tablespoon of vinegar is poured into a countertop reservoir that is partly filled with water. A tablespoon of vinegar is poured through the fill door into a cordless reservoir that is partly filled with water.
1:08 - 1:12 Narrator and Text on screen: Run mixture through your water flosser. The vinegar and water mixture is pumped through the handle and out of the tip into the sink.
1:12 - 1:17 Narrator and Text on Screen: Next, run a full reservoir of clean warm water. Clean warm water is pumped through the handle and out of the tip to flush the system.
1:17 - 1:25 Narrator and Text on Screen: For the best results clean once a month and replace tips every 3-6 months. Two water flosser tips are placed next to each other on a counter.
1:25 - 1:26 Text on screen: Happy water flossing!
1:26 - 1:30 [Waterpik™ musical jingle] Waterpik™ logo appears.
Step 1: Clean the Outside, the Tip, & Handle
- Clean the outside of your water flosser with a soft cloth and non-abrasive cleanser.
- Remove the tip from your water flosser. Soak the tip - and for countertop water flossers, the handle - in 1-part vinegar and 2 parts water for 5 minutes.
Step 2: Clean the Water Reservoir
- Remove the water reservoir from the unit. (Refer to your product manual if you need assistance).
- If your reservoir has a black valve, remove it by pushing on it from underneath. Clean the valve by massaging it under warm water for 30-45 seconds and set aside.
- Place the reservoir in the top rack of the dishwasher.
- Air dry or turn off the heated dry cycle.
- You can also hand-wash the reservoir with warm soapy water; for cordless water flossers you can use a small bottle brush.
- If you removed a valve, place it back in the reservoir before use. (Dome side up, push in place so the four prongs are visible on the bottom of the reservoir.)
Step 3: Clean the Inside of Your Water Flosser
- Add 1-part white vinegar to 2 parts warm water to the reservoir and run the mixture through your water flosser.
- Next, run a full reservoir of clean warm water through your water flosser.
- For best results, clean once a month and replace tips every 3-6 months.
It's easy to keep your WATERPIK water flosser clean so you continue to get the maximum benefit for your oral health.
If you have other product questions, check out our Product Support and Product Manuals.