Stylish, reusable water bottles are everywhere these days, tempting even those who aren’t primarily motivated by eco-consciousness. But few of us think about how to clean these bottles properly, and skipping this step can put your health at risk — not fatally, but definitely with a nasty bout of diarrhea-causing bacteria.
Many assume that rinsing with water is enough since they only drink water from the bottle. However, research shows that’s far from sufficient — you should wash your bottle at least once a week with hot, soapy water to truly clean it.
Microbiologists checked exactly how many bacteria linger on bottles with typical use.
Researchers at the Langone Medical Center examined 12 water bottles and found over 300,000 (!!) colony-forming units (CFUs) per square centimeter on average. CFUs represent bacteria and fungi that can multiply quickly.
Among the most popular bottles tested, one where the cap touches the bottle’s mouth had as many as 900,000 CFUs per square centimeter.
That’s a staggering amount and definitely risky if you want to avoid unpleasant infections.
The researchers emphasize how crucial it is to clean your bottle regularly — rinsing with water just won’t cut it. The problem usually isn’t the water itself, but the germs transferred from your mouth and hands.
When bacteria or fungi find a cozy, moist spot inside your bottle (which is pretty much guaranteed), they start to multiply, and simple rinsing won’t stop them.
You must use warm water and soap, or these germs will stick around, multiply, and could cause serious problems.
Luckily, these bacteria rarely cause deadly or severe illnesses, but no one wants to spend days battling vomiting and diarrhea because of their water bottle.
The researchers also highlight the importance of cleaning the inside of the bottle thoroughly. Special brushes designed to fit narrow bottle necks are now available. Also, pay attention to what you drink from your bottle — if it’s just water, washing once a week is enough; if you use other drinks, clean it more often.
And here’s the key: don’t just clean the bottle, but also the neck where your mouth touches it. That’s where most bacteria gather. Along with drinking water, washing your bottle once a week should do the trick, but if you want to be extra safe, rinse it after every use — your health will thank you.
