Doctors have warned people with refillable water bottles to clean them regularly or risk growing more bacteria than found on a toilet seat. Reusing and cutting down plastic consumption is good for the environment, but it can come with some health risks.
Whether its fashionable stainless steal flasks, glass containers or trendy beakers - refillable bottles are now an ever-present to help people consume more water and save money on buying the bottles found on supermarket shelves. However, according to a study from waterfilterguru.com, reusable water bottles contain an average of 20.8m colony-forming units (CFUs) of bacteria, which equates to 40,000 times more than the microbes on a toilet seat.
Speaking to the PA news agency, Dr Donald Grant, senior clinician at The Independent Pharmacy, said: "A common misconception when it comes to reusable water bottle hygiene is that as you're typically filling it with pure water and it's only coming into contact with your own mouth, there's little need to clean it often.
"However, every time you drink from the bottle, you're transferring bacteria from your mouth, which can then multiply in the container. If your bottle has a valve cap, you may need to lift or twist it with your fingers, and this can transfer bacteria you may have picked up from touching other objects or surfaces."
Private GP Dr Suhail Hussain says that elements of the water bottle which come in contact with its user regularly can lead to bacteria colonising and therefore sickness if left unwashed. Symptoms people may have from an unwashed water bottle can include a runny nose, sneezing, or red and itchy eyes.
How often to clean your water bottle
Dr Grant says that you need to be regularly washing your refillable bottle. Speaking to PA, he added: "To minimise your risk of getting sick, you should ideally clean your water bottle after each use. As a minimum, you should aim to wash it thoroughly at least a few times a week."
Hot water and washing up liquid are all you need, or just chuck it in the dish washer. If your bottle is needing a deeper clean, scrub the lid, cap or screw top and you can even soak your bottle in a half vinegar and half water solution over night.
