What's Living In Your Water Bottle?

Reusable Water Bottles

How do you drink your water? Reusable water bottles have been gaining popularity since the 70's when they were first produced. The reusable water bottle market is now a multi-billion dollar industry.¹ This is due to their benefits to the environment and reduction of single-use plastics. Single-use plastic water bottles contain chemicals that can leach into the water we drink. Studies have found harmful chemicals and microplastics in the majority of plastic water bottles.² One of these chemicals is BPA, which has been linked to diabetes, obesity, fertility issues, early puberty and behavior changes.³ We also know that single-use water bottles have a negative effect on our environment. Plastic pollution has doubled in the last 20 years, this plastic pollutes our waterways and oceans and is toxic to wildlife communities.⁴

Water Bottle Safety

Reusing water bottles helps reduce the environmental effects caused by single-use plastic bottles. However, reusable bottles can grow bacteria over time. Everything that touches the water bottle can transmit bacteria from our hands to our mouths. Bacteria thrive in moist places, like reusable water bottles. Oftentimes, we cannot see the bacteria, but they can still cause food poisoning like symptoms.⁵ Thus it is important to frequently and thoroughly clean your reusable water bottle. Ideally, the water bottle should be cleaned daily, but this may vary depending on how often the bottle is used or if there is any visible dirt or residue.⁶

How Do I Clean My Water Bottles?

• Find out if your water bottle is dishwasher safe. Some water bottles will say dishwasher safe on the bottle itself, or you can check the company's website if needed. If the water bottle is dishwasher safe, remove the lid and store any small parts in the silverware tray. This will prevent them from falling through the rack into the bottom of the dishwasher.
• If it's not dishwasher safe, wash the bottle by hand using soap and hot water. Add a little bit of dish soap and water to the bottle and scrub the inside of the bottle. Some bottles are too narrow to fit your hand while holding a sponge. If this is the case, consider investing in a bottle brush to help reach the bottom of the bottle. Don't forget to scrub the inside of the water bottle cap, as well as the outside of the bottle.
• For a deep cleaning, add 1/2 teaspoon baking soda and 1/2 cup vinegar to the bottle to tackle excess buildup. It will foam for a couple of seconds after applying. When it stops foaming, you can then scrub using a brush or sponge before rinsing.⁷
• Have a reusable straw? Make sure you have a straw cleaning brush to clean the inside of it. Start by cleaning the outside and inside of the straw with the brush. Then create a bath of warm water and soap for the straws to soak in. This will help loosen any particles stuck inside of the straw so you can then rinse it out.⁸ Then you can put the straw in the dishwasher for its final cleaning.
• Choose a water bottle made from durable materials, and make sure you can see the bottom. Remember that any material (such as plastic, glass or metal) can grow bacteria. This bacteria can continue to grow and form what is known as a biofilm in the bottle. Biofilms can stick to the inside of the bottle, shielding that bacteria from cleaning supplies.⁹ However, using abrasive detergents to scrub away biofilm can create scratches inside of the bottle. These scratches provide small cracks in the water bottle's material which can harbor bacteria. You can avoid this by cleaning your water bottle gently and frequently and opting for a durable materials that isn't prone to scratches.⁹ Consider the following information when choosing the right water bottle for you lifestyle:
  • Plastic is the softest material, making it most susceptible to scratching.
  • Metal is very durable but does not provide a way to see inside of the bottle so you may miss buildup and forget to clean it as frequently.
  • Glass is least likely to scratch and makes it easier to spot buildup since it's transparent, however it may be more prone to shattering.

Importance of Drinking Water

Now that we have clean water bottles, this is why it's important to stay hydrated. Drinking water has many benefits to the body including temperature regulation, improving joint health, preventing infections, transporting nutrients in the body, and maintaining organ function. Sleep quality, mood and cognition also improve when well-hydrated.¹⁰

The current recommendation is 11.5 cups of water per day for women and 15.5 cups for men.¹¹ To conceptualize this it is about one and half to two 2-liter bottles a day. Try adding some fruit to your water to add flavor and a little sweetness! In conclusion, maintaining a clean reusable water bottle provides benefits to your health, as well as our environment. Remember to clean the bottle thoroughly and often for the best sanitation. 

Resources

1. Reusable Water Bottle Market Size & Share Report, 2030. (n.d.). https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/reusable-water-bottle-market
2. Mason, S. A., Welch, V. G., & Neratko, J. (2018). Synthetic Polymer Contamination in Bottled Water. Frontiers in chemistry, 6, 407. https://doi.org/10.3389/fchem.2018.00407
3. Pérez-Bermejo, M., Mas-Pérez, I., & Murillo-Llorente, M. T. (2021). The Role of the Bisphenol A in Diabetes and Obesity. Biomedicines, 9(6), 666. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines9060666
4. Chen, X., McDonald, K., & Rose, M. (2023, May 25). Report: Stemming the plastic-climate crisis. Pacific Environment. https://www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/resource-library/stemming-the-plastic-climate-crisis
5. Cleveland Clinic. (2024, April 30). Can your reusable water bottle make you sick? https://newsroom.clevelandclinic.org/2024/04/30/can-your-reusable-water-bottle-make-you-sick
6. Evangelista, A. (2024, April 24). How often should you wash your reusable water bottle. How Often You Should Wash Your Reusable Water Bottle. https://www.nuvancehealth.org/health-tips-and-news/how-often-you-should-wash-your-reusable-water-bottle
7. Ryan, C. (2024, March 14). How to clean a water bottle. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/03/14/smarter-living/wirecutter/clean-water-bottle.html
8. Clay, A. (2021, May 4). How to clean reusable glass and stainless-steel straws. TODAY. https://www.today.com/home/how-clean-reusable-straws-according-cleaning-expert-t217245 
9. Hariharan, A. V., & Sankar, M. M. (2024). Daily Use Water Bottles as a Hub for Microbial Population: A Comparative Study of PET vs. Stainless Steel Water Bottles and Outcome of Washing Strategy Intervention. Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences, 16(Suppl 2), S1242–S1245. https://doi.org/10.4103/jpbs.jpbs_55
10. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, January 2). About Water and Healthier Drinks. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/healthy-weight-growth/water-healthy-drinks/index.html 
11. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2022, October 12). How much water do you need to stay healthy?. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/water/art-20044256l