The simple answer is yes, and fast too! Even if you only use it for water, there will still be bacteria growth in it. A higher chance, if you’re using plastic water bottles. This is why I recommend using either glass or stainless steel. They are more hygienic, however when it comes to the best coffee mugs to keep coffee hot, go with stainless steel.
There is an even faster growth of bacteria in your water bottle if you use it for other things than water. Say it starts off with water, then you use it for coffee, then water than juice towards the end of the day. It will have sugars and other residues that will fasten the growth of illness-causing bacteria in your bottle.
Thus, it is highly suggested to keep separate bottles exclusively for water, and the other for coffee, energy drink, or smoothies. Unless you can wash them thoroughly in between each use, then keep it solely for water. Note that this doesn’t stop bacteria from growing, it just won’t grow as fast, so you still have to wash it properly.
Moving on to your trusty coffee buddy, How often should you wash your coffee mugs? You need to wash your coffee mug or any reusable drinking container after every use. Just like how you wash your glasses at home every time you use it. I know most reusable water bottles or insulated travel mugs do say “dishwasher safe” on their labels. But this is something I highly discourage. Not only will it cut your drinking container’s lifespan short, but it also doesn’t clean them very well.
How To Keep Bacteria From Growing Rapidly In Your Water Bottles?
It is also important to keep your water bottle, yours and yours alone. Do not share anything that you drink in. As soon as you take that first sip, you’re introducing the cup to bacteria and other microorganisms. So, imagine someone else’s mouth drinking from it? Gross, right?
Do not leave water in your tumblers for more than 12 hours. Ever wondered why water tastes funny after a day or two? It’s because water goes flat because of carbon dioxide mixing with it. Thus, lowering its PH and making it taste weird.
Do not touch the rim of your cup or glass or anything you drink on. Always hold it in the body of the container, not the rim. Also, when taking the lid off your water bottle, do not just put it down anywhere! Your best bet is to put it on top of a clean paper towel. Otherwise, rinse it and wipe it dry before putting it back on your drinking cup.
Keep your water bottle in either cold or at least room temperature. Exposing it to heat like leaving it in your car’s cup holder exposed to the sun then drinking the water can most definitely give you a stomachache.
How Should You Wash Your Reusable Drinking Cups?
First, rinse it off in running water. Then fill it halfway with warm water and add a few drops of soap. Put the lid on and shake the container for a few seconds. Throw the water out and rinse with warm water again.
Air dry in a cool, clean place. Put a paper towel down the kitchen counter. Make sure that the rim of the bottle does not touch the surface of the counter itself. You can lean it on the wall of the kitchen counter so that the inside of the bottle dries too. You can also simply wipe it dry with a paper towel.
Looking for more cleaning tips? Are you also one battling with molds and already about to give up? Hold on do not let molds win, You may find How Do You Get Mold Out of a Yeti Cup your lifesaver.
The effort on taking care of mother nature requires consistency of efforts and commitments to a point of making it a lifestyle. Similarly, you need to take care of your reusable drinking container consistently would mean you are taking care of your investment and most importantly yourself too!
Hope this helps you in keeping your water bottles clean and safe to use at all times. Leave us a comment below and share with us your own personal ways of preserving the quality and cleanliness of your precious and daily drinking companion.
