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How to clean a reusable water bottle, according to experts
If you have a reusable water bottle at home, it’s important to clean it thoroughly and regularly.
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Walmart
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You should clean your bottle every day or at least every other day, at the end of the day so that the next morning it’s ready to use when you wake up, according to our experts. In the sections below, we outline the different steps required for cleaning based on what materials you use.
Cleaning your water bottle daily is a necessity, according to experts we spoke with. Though it’s unlikely someone will get a severe infection simply by drinking from a water bottle that is not clean, it’s important to clean it regularly, especially when you consider your daily diet.
When you eat meals throughout the day without brushing and flossing, you’re left with small particles of food sitting in your mouth. The bacteria that develops in your mouth as a result, is known as flora. You can then backwash these particles into the bottle and develop into substrate, where microbes will begin to produce, according to Tierno.
In fact, this is what causes bottles to smell bad and water to develop a bitter taste, he says. When you eat while drinking from your water bottle, the bacteria in the bottle digests the food transmitted from your saliva. The smell that results is a telltale sign you need to clean your bottle.
The answer depends on a couple of factors. Nachman does not recommend it since dishwashers require detergent pods, which are much more powerful than standard liquid dish soap and could risk damaging your bottles. Additionally, Tierno discourages dishwashing as it may not be as thorough as cleaning a water bottle by hand. Dishwashers may have difficulty properly spraying and cleaning the entirety of the bottle and pieces.
That said, there may be some benefits to using the dishwasher to clean your water bottle. Some dishwashers have “germicidal” cycles, which are sometimes called the sanitize cycle. These use high heat to kill germs and can be effective with water bottles, according to Tierno.
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
I'm a commerce editor who covers various topics including home, kitchen, food and lifestyle. For this article, I spoke with experts in the fields of microbiology, infectious diseases and pathology.
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