May 13, 2024 – The idea of reusing a drinking cup repeatedly without washing it may seem disgusting in a world where cleanliness is of the utmost importance. But take a moment to reflect about this: How thoroughly do you disinfect your reliable water bottle? Experts advise doing a thorough daily cleanse with soap and water, preferably right after every use. You might become ill if you don’t.
Just ask Lauren Garkow, a medical student in Los Angeles who discovered that her throat problems were caused by a dirty water bottle.
Garkow, 24, stated, “I got a paper towel to scrub it because I thought there might be a film on the inside and then I noticed the mold.” “I made sure to scrub all the way down to the bottom, and there was molded film inside of it all.”
Her problems with her throat cleared up quickly.
“The largest fallacy [about reusable water bottles] is that they’re actually safer than they are,” Cleveland Clinic internal medicine specialist Marianne Sumego, MD, stated. “People forget that they’re a drinking source, just like every other glass we use, and they feel like they can’t get sick from them.”
As mold and bacteria love damp surroundings, reusable water bottles are a breeding ground for them, according to a recent Cleveland Clinic study.
According to Sumego, “the amount of bacteria that can grow on your water bottle is frequently higher than what might be in your kitchen sink and other surfaces that we frequently identify as being dirty.” Recall that simply rinsing your bottle with water is insufficient. It is necessary to use soap and water to thoroughly clean all the crevices and nooks of your bottle, being sure to also clean the removable parts.
Your reusable water bottle may be the cause if you are experiencing flu-like symptoms or food poisoning and are unable to identify the source of your symptoms, such as congestion or the sniffles. Furthermore, the paper states that a water bottle’s lack of mold does not imply that it is germ-free. Since the bacteria are typically invisible, continue to clean thoroughly.
A couple more keys Keep multiple water bottles on hand. Making time to clean your bottle can seem difficult in our “grab-and-go” society. Sumego suggested that having two or more can assist you save time. Glass and stainless steel water bottles are the best hygienic options since their surfaces “don’t promote as much stickiness for bacteria,” according to Sumego. Choose stainless steel instead of other materials if you are susceptible to mold because it is typically of higher quality and less prone to develop germs and mold. You can also keep your water bottle spotless and hassle-free by running it through your dishwasher.