Fueled by environmental concern , the anti - shaping movement , and the viral influence of hydration - obsessed ego - guardianship guru , recyclable pee bottles have become the must - have accoutrement of our time . One pollfound that up to 60 percent of American adults now use one . As eco - friendly as they might be , multi - use bottles might be harbour a dirty mystery .
That ’s because reusable water system bottles can become a beehive for microbes , include some harmful bacterium , viruses , and fungi that could potentially make you macabre .
The water itself is n’t the trouble ( as long as you ’re refilling it with sportsmanlike water system regularly ) . The actual issue lie in your mouth repeatedly shit impinging with the nursing bottle , transfer countless microorganisms , bits of food for thought , bodily fluids , and other detritus with each sip . Once inside the bottle , the moist surroundings can be a fostering basis for these microscopical “ bug . ”
How many bacteria are in a reusable water bottle?
A2017 studyled by investigator at Purdue University tested 90 reusable water bottle and find that most were crawling with bacteria . Around 70 percent had bacterium horizontal surface higher than what some countries allow in drinking water , while 60 percent were so foul that they transcend even the highest safety limits .
Even more concerning , nearly a quarter of the nursing bottle take coliform bacterium . These bacterium – such asCampylobacter , E. coli , and Salmonella – are discover in the digestive piece of ground of animals , including humans , and are linked tofoodborne sickness . Some bottles had alarmingly gamey grade , suggesting they could pose serious health risk of exposure if not cleaned in good order .
The researcher also showed that looking glass bottles had the down in the mouth contamination floor , potential because they are easy to clean and non - holey . Furthermore , bottle used for beverages other than urine ( e.g. , chocolate , tea leaf , sodium carbonate , yield juice , etc ) showed high-pitched bacterial growth because the liquid ’s sugars and nutrients provide “ food ” for the germs .
How often do people wash their reusable water bottles?
The same study found that the majority of multitude ( 84 percent ) clean their water bottles to some extent , but it seems that most were n’t doing a acceptable job . Just over 46 percent of respondents gargle the bottle daily , while over 30 percent went a week or more between washes . Shockingly , 15 percent never cleaned theirs at all , and 40 pct washed it monthly .
The headstone to solving this problem isregular cleaning(and not just a quick rinse).Another studyfound that the average reusable bottle contain around 75,000 bacteria per milliliter of liquidness , but that bacteria identification number “ quick increases ” to up to 2 million just one day later .
How to clean a reusable water bottle
A quick rinse with urine wo n’t be enough to murder all microbial threats , either . Experts recommend that you freshen up your recyclable bottle with a thorough sportsmanlike , ideally each day you utilise it :
Some hoi polloi use specialized water bottle make clean pill , which typically contain ingredients like bake washing soda and citric dot to eliminate bacterium and mould . However , there is limited peer - reviewed research confirming their effectiveness .
“ It is crucial to clean any rubber varnish role , straw , or lids that may have cranny where moisture can pile up — these area can be hot spots for mould ontogenesis if not properly cleanse and dried . Inspect them regularly for any signs of mold or mould growth , and instantly clean and sanitize the cups again if find , ” Benjamin Turner , instructor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham ’s Department of Biology , said in astatement .
