May 13, 2024 — In a world where hygiene is paramount, the thought 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 rigorously do you disinfect your trusty Water Bottle? According to experts, the best care is to wash thoroughly with soap and water every single day, ideally after each use. If you don't, you can 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 wash every nook and cranny of your bottle with soap and water, and don't forget to wash the removable parts too.
If you might have symptoms of food poisoning or flu-like Symptoms – corresponding to Sniffles or traffic jam – and may't determine why, your reusable water bottle might be responsible. And the absence of mold in your bottle doesn't mean your water bottle is germ-free, in keeping with the report. You often can't see the bacteria, so stay diligent along with your cleansing routine.
Just a few more suggestions: Keep a couple of water bottle readily available. In our grab-and-go culture, it will possibly seem difficult to seek out time to wash your bottle. Having two or more bottles will allow you to save time, advises Sumego. When selecting a water bottle, stainless-steel and glass bottles are essentially 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 prone to construct up bacteria and mold. Plus, your dishwasher is an important, hassle-free method to keep your water bottle squeaky clean.