May 13, 2024 — In a world where hygiene is paramount, the concept of reusing a drinking cup day after day without washing it even once may sound repulsive. But stop for a moment and ask yourself: How fastidiously do you disinfect your trusty Water Bottle? According to experts, the perfect care is to clean thoroughly with soap and water each day, ideally after each use. If you don't, you may get sick.
Just ask Lauren Garkow, a medical student from Los Angeles who realized her dirty water bottle was the wrongdoer behind her Neck problems.
“I noticed there seemed to be a film on the inside, so I took a paper towel to scrub it, and then I noticed the mold,” said Garkow, 24. “I made sure to scrub all the way down to the floor, and the entire inside of the floor was covered with a film of mold.”
Soon after, her throat problems disappeared.
“The biggest misunderstanding [about reusable water bottles] is that they are actually safer than they are,” said Dr. Marianne Sumego, an internist at the Cleveland Clinic. “People feel like they can't sick of them, and they forget that it is a source of drinking water – like any other glass we use.”
Reusable water bottles are a breeding ground for bacteria and mold, as these germs thrive in moist environments, in keeping with a new report from the Cleveland Clinic.
“Your water bottle can often harbor more bacteria than your kitchen sink and other surfaces we regularly perceive as dirty,” Sumego said. Remember: Rinsing your bottle with water isn't enough. You need to clean every nook and cranny of your bottle with soap and water, and don't forget to wash the removable parts too.
If you will have symptoms of food poisoning or flu-like Symptoms – akin to Sniffles or traffic jam – and may't work out why, your reusable water bottle could possibly be guilty. And the absence of mold in your bottle doesn't mean your water bottle is germ-free, in keeping with the report. You normally can't see the bacteria, so stay diligent along with your cleansing routine.
A number of more suggestions: Keep multiple water bottle readily available. In our grab-and-go culture, it could seem difficult to seek out time to clean your bottle. Having two or more bottles will aid you save time, advises Sumego. When selecting a water bottle, stainless-steel and glass bottles are probably the most sanitary because these surfaces “don't attract bacteria as much,” says Sumego. If you're sensitive to mold, opt for stainless-steel since it's typically higher quality and fewer more likely to construct up bacteria and mold. Plus, your dishwasher is an important, hassle-free method to keep your water bottle squeaky clean.