Jug care

How to Clean and Store Your 5-Gallon Water Jugs

By the Fresh Alka Water family · October 16, 2026 · 4 min read

Clean jugs keep your water tasting fresh. Here's a simple routine for cleaning and storing your jugs at home, based on guidance from the CDC.

How often to clean

Give your jugs a good rinse every time you refill, and a full wash and sanitize every few weeks or any time a jug has been sitting empty. You can also use the bottle cleaning station at our store right before you fill.

How to clean and sanitize a jug

This is the method the CDC recommends for water storage containers:

1. Wash the jug with soap and water, then rinse it completely.
2. Mix a sanitizing solution of 1 teaspoon of unscented liquid household bleach in 1 quart (4 cups) of water.
3. Pour it in, cap it and shake well so the solution touches every inside surface.
4. Wait at least 30 seconds, then pour the solution out.
5. Let the jug air-dry before you fill it.

Don't forget the cap and the dispenser spout. They're the parts people miss most often.

Where to store your water

The CDC recommends keeping stored water:

• In a cool place, ideally between 50°F and 70°F
• Out of direct sunlight, so not on a sunny patio or in a hot car
• Away from gasoline, pesticides and other chemicals, so be careful in garages

Keep an emergency supply

San Diego is earthquake and wildfire country, and the CDC recommends storing at least 1 gallon of water per person per day for at least 3 days, and a 2-week supply if you can. Hot weather, pets, and people who are pregnant or sick all need more. For a family of four, that's at least 12 gallons for three days, or about two and a half 5-gallon jugs.

The CDC says to replace stored water every six months. An easy way to remember: swap your emergency jugs when the clocks change in spring and fall.

Need jugs?

We carry BPA-free and glass jugs from 1 to 5 gallons, caps, pumps and dispensers at our store in Grantville.