Whether at work, at the gym, at school or simply out running errands, most people carry around reusable water bottles to help them stay hydrated throughout the day. But most people don’t wash them as often as they’d wash a bowl or cup after using it. The thought is, if it’s only holding water, how dirty can it be?
Turns out, very dirty.
“There’s been studies that have shown that these reusable water bottles can carry actually more bacteria than common items that may be in your household, like kitchen sponges or even dog bowls,” said Dr. Chirag Panchal, a family medicine doctor with Orlando Health in Florida. “So, that’s why cleaning them regularly is just so important.”
This is true for the water bottle, and also any accessories that come with it, such as the reusable straws that are now commonly a package deal with the bottle. Think about it: your mouth goes right on the straw and any backwash (sorry) goes down the straw.
You should keep a few things in mind when it comes to reusable water bottle straw cleanliness. Here’s what to know:
