WASH Your Reusable Water Bottles.

[Debby]

I just came across an article that talks about how filthy reusable water bottles are if you are only giving them a quick rinse between uses! After testing 12 types of bottles, they actually found that they have more germs per square centimetre than your dogs favourite chew toy!!!! Even toilet seats aren't as bad apparently. So wash your water bottles with hot water and soap between uses.

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/08/12/water-bottle-germs_n_11458822.html


According to the researchers, the average bottle was covered in 300,000 colony-forming units per square centimetre (CFU/sq cm) — that's more than you would find on your dog's favourite chew toy! And the worst offender — slide top bottles — have a whopping 933,340 CFUs. Toilet seats, by comparison, have only 3,200 CFU per square inch.

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While not all bacteria is bad, the researchers found 99 per cent of the bacteria found on squeeze top water bottles were the harmful kind, which could lead to conditions like pneumonia and blood infections.

 

[AprilT]

Being a tiny bit of a Germanophobe when it comes to things like this, my bottles get rinsed/cleaned every time with a solution of soap and vinegar or bleach. At the very least, I run vinegar through it, all my dishes, laundry and most everything gets a bit of vinegar.

 

[Capt Lightning]

I'm afraid I regard that just as another bit of headline grabbing sensationalism. If I'm using the bottles frequently, I just rinse them with water and refill them. If they haven't been used for a while, I give them a better rince. Never caused me any trouble.

 

[Ruth n Jersey]

With my OCD everything gets washed with bleach or vinegar. Even the bird bath outside.

 

[AprilT]

I'm afraid I regard that just as another bit of headline grabbing sensationalism. If I'm using the bottles frequently, I just rinse them with water and refill them. If they haven't been used for a while, I give them a better rince. Never caused me any trouble.

You have a good strong immune system, some of us are mere weaklings.

 

[Pappy]

I've used one of these for years. I have four extra bottles so it lasts almost two weeks. Mama just puts the bottles in the dishwasher and cleans them that way.

 

[fureverywhere]

I have a wide mouthed two liter re-useable bottle I use almost every day. I'm pretty laid back about germs and stuff. Some soap and hot water n' a good rinse. But one day I noticed some shading on the inside. I took a wooden spoon and put a paper towel around the end with a rubber band. Instant bottle scrubber...you cannot believe the muck in the bottom and edges of this bottle. It's red on the outside so you can't see through it clearly. Now it gets a good scrubbing a couple times a week.

 

[NancyNGA]

I'm afraid I regard that just as another bit of headline grabbing sensationalism. If I'm using the bottles frequently, I just rinse them with water and refill them. If they haven't been used for a while, I give them a better rince. Never caused me any trouble.

I'm with The Captain on this. If it's too small to see, I don't worry about it. Boosts the immune system. When those colony-forming units appear as black dots, I throw the bottle away.
:lol:

 

[Capt Lightning]

As kids we often got dirty when we were out playing and came home looking as if we'd been "Up the lumb" (Scottish for chimney). We'd pick wild fruit and eat it without washing it and do all sorts of things others would regard with horror. This has probably built up a good imune system.
A bit of basic sensible hygene is good, but I don't get obsessed by it. I remember that if my mother saw someone being excessively fussy over such things, she would remark "Aye, guid folks scarce".

 

[Ameriscot]

I agree with Capt. Just be sensible. And parents who keep babies environment sterile are not doing them any favours. A bit of dirt and germs will help build their immunity.

My sister is really OCD about bacteria. She is a total fanatic about germs. She is always using antibact hand gel, even when she just washed her hands. She has read about babies and kids and their immune system but still wants everything sterile. I've told her she can't live in a plastic bubble but she always replies 'yes, I can'. No, you can't. I admit it's fun freaking her out sometimes though. She refuses to take holidays in countries where you can't drink the tap water. And when I told her about having to remove our sandals in temples, churches, small businesses in Thailand she was horrified! LOL.

 

[Pappy]

Heck, when we kids, we drank out of water hoses, and fast running streams. The old house, before plumbing, had a hand pump and a tin dipper that the whole family drank out of.
Come to think of it, maybe that's what's wrong with me in my old age.

 

[ossian]

I just came across an article that talks about how filthy reusable water bottles are if you are only giving them a quick rinse between uses! After testing 12 types of bottles, they actually found that they have more germs per square centimetre than your dogs favourite chew toy!!!! Even toilet seats aren't as bad apparently. So wash your water bottles with hot water and soap between uses.

Yes, but have you ever tried drinking from a toilet. Bottles are much easier.