How to clean your water bottle to forget about mold forever

Many of us have adopted the useful habit of always carrying a bottle of clean drinking water with us. Keeping yourself hydrated is important for your health. However, all your efforts can be wasted if the bottle is dirty and, most dangerously, infected with mold spores.

To do this, you need to know exactly how to properly wash a water bottle and when exactly is the right time to take care of it. OBOZ.UA tells you about all the basic rules and nuances.

Why you need to wash your water bottle regularly

Studies conducted in the United States have shown that the level of bacterial contamination of a water bottle is hundreds of times higher than even the toilet seat. On average, 20,800,000 bacterial colony-forming units (cfu) of gram-negative bacilli can be found on it.

This is because the bottle, especially its neck, comes into contact with the mucous membrane of the mouth and hands. Yes, most of the bacteria that get on the object in this way are not dangerous. However, if you don't clean the bottle, opportunistic pathogens can multiply and become a real threat. Therefore, the container needs to be washed daily or better at least twice a day: in the morning and in the evening, especially if you share its contents with other people.

How to clean a water bottle properly

To thoroughly clean your bottle, start by rinsing it warm. Remove the cap and rinse the item inside and out. Don't forget the cap.

Add a drop of dishwashing detergent to the bottle and lid, add a little water, close the bottle and shake it vigorously for 20-30 seconds. During this time, the soap solution should thoroughly rinse the container from the inside. Repeat the procedure if necessary.

Remove the lid with the remaining foam and brush it, getting into all the crevices. If the neck of the bottle is wide enough, use a brush to work the inside of the bottle. Then pour off the foam, rinse the bottle properly and let it dry.

If the bottle needs to be cleaned more thoroughly

If you use your water bottle every day or put other products in it, you may need to clean it more thoroughly. In this case, biofilm and sometimes mold can form on the surface of the object. There are several methods to remove them.

Vinegar

Distilled white vinegar kills bacteria and fungal spores. Dilute it with water in a 1:1 ratio, fill a bottle with the solution, and leave it overnight. In the morning, pour out the liquid and clean the bottle as usual.

Baking soda

To clean the bottle mechanically, you can add baking soda to the bottle. Take one teaspoon of baking soda and pour it inside. Fill the bottle with water, screw on the cap, and shake it well. The baking soda will gently scrape off all the dirt. For a more thorough cleaning, leave the soda solution in the bottle overnight and wash it in the morning as usual.

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