We compiled a guide to everything you better know about cleaning reusable water bottles.
Why Should You Clean Your Water Bottle?
Cleaning your reusable water bottle often will minimize any build-up of germs in your bottle.
Credit:Dougal Waters/Getty
So if youre not washing it frequently, youre notcleaning it enough.
How Often Should You Clean Your Water Bottle?
How often you should be washing your water bottle may surprise you.
If youre not washing your bottle daily, youll want to start cleaning it after each use.
Reusable water bottles should be washed once per day with soap and hot water, says Le.
Washing daily is important to reduce microorganisms from calling your water bottle home.
A daily cleaning of bottles can reduce the bacterial population.
And experts agree that you should sanitize bottles once a week.
There are other considerations that will influence regular cleaning.
Does The Material Of The Water Bottle Make A Difference?
There are a plethora of water bottle options, including plastic, aluminum, stainless steel, and glass.
The material can influence how well bacteria and mold attach and grow on a surface.
If you have a plastic water bottle, there can be more areas for microorganisms to lurk.
Cleaning your water bottle is a simple and straightforward task.
Youll just need hot water and soap.
Hot water facilitates the disruption of lipid cellular membrane with soap.
There are a few effective ways to sanitize.
you’re free to also use white vinegar after cleaning the bottle with soap and warm water.
In the morning, wash with warm soapy water as usual and rinse.
Remove the lid, and let the hydrogen peroxide sit for 10 minutes and rinse and clean well.
There are different types of molds and bacterias that may love living in your bottle.
Yeast, lactic acid bacteria,Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas bacteria have all been found in water bottles.
Pathogenic bacteria such asEscherichia coliandPseudomonas aeruginosacan cause food poisoning and gastrointestinal illness, he says.
Can You Get Sick From An Unclean Water Bottle?
Wondering what the likelihood of getting sick from a not-so-clean or regularly cleaned water bottle is?
Typically, our immune systems will fend off any issues.
So there isnt much need to worry but see to it youre cleaning your bottle after every use.
Dees understands that microorganisms may make people uneasy.
It can be scary to think about the possibility of germs growing in your water bottle, she says.
Microbes are everywhere, and thats actually totally fine, explains Dees.
