Bacteria, fungi and even mold can thrive in a water bottle, thanks mainly to its moist environment. Simply rinsing the bottle out with water isn't sufficient, and care must be taken when cleaning bottles that have attached straws and narrow-mouth lids with lots of nooks and crannies.
Bacteria number can quickly increases to 1-2 million counts/ml in the bottles one day later.
However, some experts said that even though bottles may serve as a breeding ground for high numbers of bacteria, it might not be necessarily as dangerous as the findings have projected. Experts said water bottles are likely to be contaminated with the bacteria that are already in people's mouths.
Plastic Bottles and Bacteria Growth
Even unfinished beverages left at room temperature can have startling bacteria growth throughout the day. It's best to reuse plastic water bottles sparingly and wash them thoroughly because germs spread so quickly.
To study the presence of bacteria on the bottle, researchers used different parts of water bottles including the spout lid, screw-top lid, stray lid and squeeze-top lid, three times each, and found two types of bacteria present - gram-negative rods and bacillus, HuffPost reported.
germy. In fact, a 2017 study examining the cleanliness of 90 participants' reusable water bottles found that 60% contained more bacteria than what's allowed in public drinking water — an indication that, yes, an unwashed water bottle could very well be a breeding ground for germs.
Cleaning your water bottle at least once a week is important, no matter the material. However, a stainless steel water bottle is less likely to build up mold and bacteria. It's also rust-, corrosion- and stain-resistant.
Observe the expiration date for store-bought water. If you are filling containers with water to store, replace the water every 6 months.
However, to give you a perspective of how dangerous this can be for your health, studies have found that E. Coli can grow inside water bottles, which can lead to things like food poisoning or food poisoning symptoms, as well as gastroenteritis.
After use, each day, wash your bottle in hot water with a teaspoon of unscented dish soap added. Let it soak for a few minutes, rinse it well using warm water and then allow it to dry completely before the next use. If the bottle is dishwasher safe, run it through your dishwasher for thorough cleaning and sanitizing.
If you don't wash your water bottle regularly, bacteria will begin to grow inside the container and contaminate whatever drink you put into it.
How often should you be cleaning it? Both Stapf and Hutchings recommended washing your water bottle once a day. As far as sanitizing goes, experts recommend this at least once a week, but you can do it more often if you've been sick or you've taken your bottle outside.
All the experts agree that you should wash your water once a day everyday to keep your bottle relatively clean. However, there are other things that you can do to improve the cleanliness of your reusable water bottle. Use soap and water.
Meanwhile, ingestion of bacillus can lead to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and gastrointestinal issues. "Bacteria are known as biological drinking water contaminants. They're just one of four types of pollutants that might be present in the water coming out of your taps and into your reusable bottles.
In short, no, bottled water doesn't “go bad.” In fact, the FDA doesn't even require expiration dates on water bottles.
coli O157. Removing it from drinking water: Boil your water for 1 minute (at elevations above 6,500 feet, boil for 3 minutes) or disinfect it using chemicals. Specially designed filters and other water treatment technologies might also be effective.
On average, a reusable water bottle had 20,8 million CFUs of bacteria, which is 40,000 times more than a toilet seat (515 CFUs). The bottles were also 14 times dirtier than pet bowls and had five times more bacteria than a computer mouse.
A boil water advisory is issued when harmful germs (e.g., E. coli bacteria, Giardia parasite) may be in a drinking water supply. Drinking water contaminated with these germs can make people and animals very sick. Boiling will kill the germs and make the water safe to drink.
What containers can be used to store water? Water should be stored before a disaster occurs, in thoroughly sanitized food-grade plastic or glass containers with tight-fitting lids. Food-grade plastic containers will not transfer harmful chemicals into the water or food they contain.
Sanitize with a dilute bleach solution by rinsing the inside of the bottle with a dilute bleach solution. Use 1 teaspoon bleach per quart of water. Allow the bottle to thoroughly air-dry after washing and sanitizing.
Cleaning experts suggest that plastic water bottles typically need replacing after a year as they start to break down. Stainless steel bottles usually only need to be retired due to standard wear and tear.
Bad news, though: If you're not giving your Hydro Flask a regular scrub with a bottle brush, there might be a bacterial storm a-brewing inside its walls that could potentially get you sick.
If your thermos has not kept your food hot or cold, don't eat it. Harmful bacteria have likely already started to grow and it's not safe to eat, even if you re-heat it. It's best to throw it out and get a new thermos.
So it's not shocking that reusable water bottles, left unwashed, can become a breeding ground for bacteria and a safe haven for poop particles. Whether plastic or metal, screw top or squeeze, bottles that go days between cleanings can leave us gulping down germs with every drink.