Does water mold in a water bottle? Yes. Mold is a totally natural (and usually harmless) microorganism that loves damp, moist spaces. When you think about it, that's exactly what your water bottle is - a damp, moist space with very little air flow.
More than 100,000 unique types of mold exist; some are harmless, and others are toxic. Stachybotrys chartarum, or black mold, is one of the most toxic mold species. And, if you aren't cleaning your reusable water bottle properly, it is one of the culprits who might be living in there.
Mold can grow and accumulate in bottled water to the extent that it is visible, feeding on organic matter present in the source water or introduced during or after the bottling process.
"It takes a few days, most likely—unless it's sugar water, at which point it'll grow within 48 hours," he says. "Usually it's over the course of five days, which is usually how often people wash their water bottles. At that point there's as very good likelihood you'll have some kind of growth."
In short, no, bottled water doesn't “go bad.” In fact, the FDA doesn't even require expiration dates on water bottles. Although water itself doesn't expire, the bottle it comes in can expire, in a sense.
If left in the open, your water may taste slightly different since it will absorb carbon dioxide. For this reason, the recommended period is to consume the water 3 days following the day it was opened. For best refreshment, you can recap your water and store in the fridge, out of sunlight to keep a crisp taste.
Unopened bottled water can last up to two years. Opened water bottles, however, can last a few weeks. Pure tap water usually expires after six months from the time it gets packaged.
A: If you find yourself drinking moldy water, the most important thing to do is to seek medical attention immediately. Mold contains many potentially harmful toxins and spores that can cause serious health problems if ingested.
For smaller bottles place in a container and cover with undiluted vinegar for 10 minutes, before rinsing washing well. For larger bottles fill with one part vinegar to four parts water, shake and leave to overnight. Discard the vinegar the next day, rinse well and allow to air dry.
Some people are sensitive to molds. For these people, exposure to molds can lead to symptoms such as stuffy nose, wheezing, and red or itchy eyes, or skin. Some people, such as those with allergies to molds or with asthma, may have more intense reactions.
Molds grow in moist environments. They form in drinking water bottles because the bottle is in a moist environment. Drinking water bottles are often left in humid conditions with limited air supply, which creates a perfect place for mold to grow. There are about 100,000 mold types in existence and most are harmless.
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.
You may notice nausea and stomach upset, as well as fatigue, headaches or, if mold is present, allergy symptoms such as sneezing or nasal congestion, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). When choosing a water bottle, make sure it has a large opening so it's easier to clean.
Sometimes during colder months when water freezes, rapid changes in temperature can cause the calcium minerals to separate from the water, bond together and precipitate, or turn into a solid form. When the water thaws, the calcium stays in its solid form and may appear as white pieces or flakes floating in the water.
Water stored in plastic containers should be filled to the top so there is no air space and should be stored in a cool, dry location away from petroleum and insecticide products, and away from strong odor food or perfumed products. Vapors from these substances could permeate the plastic and affect the water.
Though mold is common in homes, it's not as common for mold to grow in the interior of water pipes or filters. While it's not likely, the bad news is that it is possible for your drinking water to contain mold.
Plastic water bottles contain chemicals, and those chemicals can leach into the water. This plastic leachate can have detrimental health effects on consumers. At certain levels of exposure, some of the chemicals in plastic, especially the chemical known as bisphenol A (BPA), have even been implicated as carcinogens.
Ingesting moldy water can cause instances of recurring bronchitis and other respiratory infections. It may also be responsible for causing fungal infections such as athlete's foot and thrush when exposed to harmful strains of mold, over a long-term period.
These symptoms usually first appear 2 to 9 hours after exposure and last for 1 to 3 days. Other affected persons have progressive shortness of breath and cough, as well as weight loss.
People who live, work, or go to school in moldy buildings complain of pain, fatigue, increased anxiety, depression, and cognitive defects such as memory loss.
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.
The type of mold that grows in water bottles is usually black mold (Stachybotrys Chartarum). It thrives in warm, moist environments with low exposure to sunlight. That means bottles left in a gym bag or school satchel are a perfect place for it to grow.
'" While Lydia Buchtmann from the Food Safety Information Council agrees it isn't a "huge risk", she says there is a possibility of developing gastro or food poisoning from a dirty water bottle, which is why she recommends washing them daily.