NEW YORK (AP) — You keep only clear, good-tasting water in your trusty reusable bottle. Do I still need to wash?
experts say reusable bottles No matter what kind of liquid is in it, it will get dirty, so it’s important to clean it regularly.
water bottle When you take a sip, you pick up bacteria from your mouth, and when you touch the straw or lid, you pick up bacteria from your hands. They are covered in small nooks and crannies that are hard to reach and can become a breeding ground for mold, bacteria, and other microorganisms if left unscrubbed.
“It sounds trivial, but it’s really important,” said Michelle Knepper, a nurse at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
An unclean water bottle can cause stomach aches, itchy throats, and even worsen allergies and asthma.
Experts disagree on when and how you should wash your skin, but they all agree on one thing. It’s better to do something than nothing, so wash your water bottle gently and lovingly.
“Is it that big of a deal? No. But just washing your water bottle isn’t difficult,” says Dr. Mike Wren, a family medicine physician at Baylor College of Medicine.
Tips for making a squeaky clean water bottle
Experts say filth doesn’t care what the water bottle is made of. Reusable metal, plastic, and glass bottles all harbor bacteria, but plastic bottles are more prone to scratches and dents on the inside, where microorganisms can live.
The best cleaning routines are simple. Using a sponge or bottle brush, scrub inside and out with warm soapy water, rinse and dry to prepare for the next refill. Thin or pipe cleaner-shaped tools are useful for getting into straws and narrow gaps.
Scientists recommend placing the bottle in the dishwasher if safe, or dissolving denture or retainer cleaning tablets in the bottle overnight for a deeper clean. Rubbing with warm water and vinegar or baking soda is also effective.
Many experts recommend a quick clean with soapy water every day and a deep clean once a week. If daily cleaning feels a little tedious, Len said, try to clean it at least every other week or so while maintaining other good habits, like washing your mouthpiece in the sink after every refill.
However, if you use your reusable bottle to hold other beverages, such as protein shakes or exercise drinks, it is very important to clean it daily. Sugary drinks leave behind residue that bacteria love to eat.
Do you need to throw away your bottled water every day?
Is it okay to leave water in a reusable bottle overnight? Experts disagree.
Some people recommend emptying it every few hours, while others recommend emptying it every few hours. Ren says it’s probably okay to leave the water in overnight, but you’ll need to empty the old water at least every few days.
“Guidelines are guidelines,” Wren said. “Everyone is going to do it a little differently.”
Do not drink if there is visible mold on the bottle or if the liquid inside has a strange odor. avoid refills disposable plastic bottle This is because chemicals can leach into the water, and the water is full of cracks and crevices where bacteria can hide.
While water bottle cleaning routines may not all look the same, it’s important to stick to the habit, says Ivy Sun, a hospitality expert at Georgia Southern University who studies water bottle contamination. She washes her and her children’s bottles every day with soapy water.
“This is just a very small step that we are taking, but it could make a big difference to our health,” Sun said.
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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. AP is solely responsible for all content.
