OK, I need your advice.
I started bringing a water bottle to work, because I believe wholeheartedly in the amazing power of WATER. So I like to drink a lot of it during the day. I rinse it out every day and wash it with soap twice a week.
However, a week ago, while I was drinking from the water bottle when I noticed there was some black crud in the drinking straw. This inspired me to grab some cotton-tipped applicators from the supply closet and clean out the straw. The cotton came away BLACK. I used six of them, then washed again with soap, and then christened the water bottle as clean.
But when recounting this story to a coworker, they said I should have thrown it out and bought a new one. That no matter how much I cleaned, it was not clean. But to be fair, this coworker spends about ten minutes wiping down her work station every morning. (I'm not saying she's wrong to do that, but that's a level of disinfection I don't embrace.)
What do you think? Can I still use my water bottle? Is there a way to prevent this from happening again besides the cotton tips?
This is a major problem of water bottles that have straws! Yes, I think you probably got it sufficiently clean to keep using it. But in terms of crud prevention, I think using a water bottle without a straw is the most viable solution.
ReplyDeleteI used to use gaterade squeeze bottles, but the place where I work doesn't have a water filter, which means I have to fill the cup with ice, which is impossible unless the hole is big. :(
DeleteI think it's fine. I started running vinegar through mine every once and a while and it stopped happening.
ReplyDeleteI'll try that!
DeleteYes I'd get rid of it or at least get something like a CamelBak or Contigo that allows you to complete disassemble it and dry it out completely. The problem youre having relates more to mold growth and residue from not drying completely than you not soaping it up well enough. So aside from getting a good straw cleaner brush thingy, you should let the disassembled components dry out, so get another bottle to use and interchange them. Otherwise you will be drinking mold. Yes I might be one of those more fastidious people but you wouldn't stand with your toothbrush being black like that would you?
ReplyDeleteWith straws I'd get a straw cleaner and either soak in bleach or vinegar water for an hour or so every few weeks. I know I drink more through a straw, but I'm too lazy to clean it so I just use a nalgene bottle.
ReplyDeleteClorox is your friend.
ReplyDeleteAgree with your friend that once there's visible mold you'll never get rid of all the microscopic mold particles...but I also don't think you have to throw it away. Like, there's mold floating all around the air, I think as long as it's microscopic it doesn't seem harmful
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't keep using it, but I'm kind of paranoid about mold. What I use for water and other beverages is a thermos that has a coffee-style flip-top drinking lid. It goes in the dishwasher nightly. Easy to fill, easy to empty, easy to clean.
ReplyDeleteFor my daughter's daycare water bottles we use a straw kind, but they also get washed in the dishwasher nightly. Plus we have to replace them about every 6-8 months because she bites up the straws and you can't buy just replacement lids or straws. (I wish we could.)
I use a large cup with a snap on lid and avoid the straw issue. Wash it out about twice a week. Been doing this for many years and don't seem to have any ill effects.
ReplyDeleteGot sick of this, so now have an all metal drink bottle. Doesn't seem to happen now.
ReplyDeleteHow do we get rid of the junk being peddled in the blog comments?
ReplyDeleteI deleted it all just now. It's so irritating to have to go through and do it.... who would click on any of that crap??
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